Share your opinion and earn yourself a free Motley Fool premium report!

We are looking for Fools to join a 75 minute online independent market research forum on 15th / 16th December.

To find out more and express your interest please click here

£3k to invest? 3 cheap FTSE 100 dividend stocks I’d buy to retire early

The stock market crash has left these three FTSE 100 dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations with good income potential, says Roland Head.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

This year’s stock market crash has hit share prices hard. Many of us are sitting on losses. But I believe this sell off has created some great buying opportunities for long-term investors. Today, I’m going to look at three FTSE 100 dividend stocks which look too cheap to me at current levels.

Demand will keep rising

One company that has said very little so far about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is Vodafone Group (LSE: VOD). The telecoms firm’s strong cash flow and high yield means it’s often seen as a classic FTSE 100 dividend stock.

Vodafone’s latest update was in February, covering the final three months of 2019. Management reported an extra 500,000 European mobile contract customers. It also said plans to cut costs and improve network utilisation were on track.

Since then, Vodafone CEO Nick Read has continued to sell small non-core operations and prepare for the flotation of the group’s radio tower network later this year. The proceeds from this sale should help Read to cut the group’s borrowings, which are currently a little high.

Back in February, the company left its guidance for the year to 31 May unchanged. My sums suggest the 7% dividend yield should be covered by free cash flow. I expect demand for mobile and broadband data to continue rising after the pandemic eases. In my view, this is a good opportunity to buy this FTSE 100 dividend share.

A long-term winner?

My next pick is commercial property REIT British Land (LSE: BLND). This group’s London offices and major shopping centres are currently much emptier than usual, due to the lockdown.

Investors are worried that demand for stores and offices will fall after the pandemic. I agree that there might be some changes, but I think these will be smaller and more gradual than we might expect.

British Land’s portfolio was valued at £11.7bn at the end of September, giving a net asset value of 856p per share. Although I expect this to fall, I think the last-seen price of 375p is too cheap.

In my view, a lot of bad news has already been priced into this FTSE 100 dividend stock. I expect British Land to make a gradual recovery and a return to dividend payments over the next 12 months. I think this is a good time to buy.

1 FTSE 100 dividend stock I’d buy and hold forever

Family firms often have conservative balance sheets and very reliable dividend histories. The firm’s owners — the family — often depend on dividends for their income. They’re careful to hire management who will run the business sustainably, with a long-term focus.

In my opinion, City asset manager Schroders (LSE: SDR) is a classic example of this type of dividend stock. This FTSE 100 firm has been trading for more than 200 years and hasn’t cut its dividend for at least 30 years, which is as far back as I could find records.

Schroders’ share price has fallen in the stock market crash. The stock now trades on just 16 times forecast earnings. If you buy the non-voting Schroders (LSE: SDRC) class of shares, you can access a 5.4% dividend yield. I see this as one of the best dividend stocks in the FTSE 100 and would like to add the shares to my own portfolio.

Roland Head owns shares of British Land Co. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British Land Co and Schroders (Non-Voting). Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Can the Rolls-Royce share price do it again in 2026?

Can the Rolls-Royce share price do it again? The FTSE 100 company has been a star performer in recent years…

Read more »

Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

After huge gains for S&P 500 tech stocks in 2025, here are 4 moves I’m making to protect my ISA and SIPP

Gains from S&P tech stocks have boosted Edward Sheldon’s retirement accounts this year. Here’s what he’s doing now to reduce…

Read more »

View of Lake District. English countryside with fields in the foreground and a lake and hills behind.
Investing Articles

With a 3.2% yield, has the FTSE 100 become a wasteland for passive income investors?

With dividend yields where they are at the moment, should passive income investors take a look at the bond market…

Read more »

Smart young brown businesswoman working from home on a laptop
Investing Articles

Should I add this dynamic FTSE 250 newcomer to my Stocks and Shares ISA?

At first sight, a UK bank that’s joining the FTSE 250 isn’t anything to get excited by. But beneath the…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in BT shares 3 months ago is now worth

BT shares have been volatile lately and Harvey Jones is wondering whether now is a good time to buy the…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

After a 66% fall, this under-the-radar growth stock looks like brilliant value to me

Undervalued growth stocks can be outstanding investments. And Stephen Wright thinks he has one in a company analysts seem to…

Read more »

Content white businesswoman being congratulated by colleagues at her retirement party
Investing Articles

Don’t ‘save’ for retirement! Invest in dirt cheap UK shares to aim for a better lifestyle

Investing in high-quality and undervalued UK shares could deliver far better results when building wealth for retirement. Here's how.

Read more »

Black woman using smartphone at home, watching stock charts.
Investing Articles

1 growth and 1 income stock to kickstart a passive income stream

Diversification is key to achieving sustainable passive income. Mark Hartley details two broadly different stocks for beginners.

Read more »