In much the same way those investing in high yield dividend stocks, can do certain things to increase their chance of success...
Evaluate High Yield Stocks Carefully
When a stock carries a high yield, there is an underlying reason. Here are some questions to consider to help you understand the stock:- Is the high yield a result of a sudden drop in price?
- Is the high yield above the industry average?
- Is the high yield above the stocks average?
- Is the high yield a result of a widespread economic downturn?
- Is the high yield a result of a company specific problem?
Be Honest In Your Evaluation
They say statistics can be used to prove anything. In the same vein, if you are determined to buy a stock, an analysis can be constructed to support the position. Instead of trying to find a reason to buy the stock, look for all the reasons NOT to buy the stock. Then weigh the positives against the negatives. Does the stock still look as appealing?Start With List of Higher Quality Stocks
If you are looking for high yield, the temptation is to use a stock screen to search for yield and apply it to the entire universe of stocks. Yield is easy to find. Add in growth and sustainability, then the list will dramatically shrink. Currently, I track over 200 dividend growth stocks. The list is made up of Dividend Aristocrats, Achievers, Champions and few other dividend stocks for good measure. Below is a list of the stocks from my database yielding more than 5% and with 15 more years of consecutive dividend growth:National Health Investors (NHI) is a real estate investment trust that invests in income-producing health care properties primarily in the long-term care industry.
Yield: 5.1% | Years of Growth: 18
Southern Company (SO) is an Atlanta-based energy holding company and is one of the largest producers of electricity in the U.S.
Yield: 5.5% | Years of Growth: 17
W. P. Carey Inc. (WPC) is a leading global net-lease REIT that provides long-term sale-leaseback and build-to-suit financing solutions for companies worldwide.
Yield: 6.1% | Years of Growth: 19
Owens & Minor Inc. (OMI) is a leading domestic distributor of medical and surgical supplies to the acute care market, a health care supply chain management company, and a direct-to-consumer (DTC) supplier of testing and monitoring supplies for diabetes.
Yield: 6.1% | Years of Growth: 21
AT&T Inc. (T) provides telephone and broadband service and holds full ownership of AT&T Mobility.
Yield: 5.5% | Years of Growth: 21
The above yields aren't nearly as eye-popping as those from a high-yield screen. Investments that usually show up in a screen like that are REITs (interest rate risk), telecommunications (technology risk), financials (equity and interest rate risks), along with MLPs and utilities (slow growth). Ultimately, we want to determine if the yield is sustainable. If we go looking for high yield, we will find it, but it may not be what we really want.
Full Disclosure: Long NHI, SO, T.
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(Photo: Gravity X9)
Tags: NHI, SO, WPC, OMI, T,
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