Question:
I am considering investing in some income stocks, because bond yields are so low. I have liquidity for about seven years, and plenty of exposure to the overall market. Can you suggest some income stocks to get a high yield?
Answer:
At Henssler Financial, we have two income-producing portfolios, the High Yield Portfolio, which focuses solely on the dividend paid, and the Dividend Growth Portfolio, which focuses not only on the dividend but the growth of principal.
Most dividend paying stocks will be in the utility sector. Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is one of our core dividend holdings, paying 4.8%. In the telecommunications sector, CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) yields about 6.5%, and Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) yields 5.3%.
While utilities and telecom stocks cover their yield well, we feel there are more growth opportunities in the industrial sector; however, industrials do not pay as high of a dividend. Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE: WM) pays 3.6% and General Electric (NYSE: GE) pays 2.7%. Both have solid growth rates of 7% and 5.5%, respectively. However, General Electric is not included in the income portfolios.
As for high dividends yields, tobacco industry giant Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO) pays 6.5%, and French oil giant Total S.A. (NYSE: TOT) pays 5%.
While dividend-yielding stocks can produce income in low-interest rate environments, there is a potential for the principal to change. Therefore, we suggest that they are not as safe as Treasury or municipal bonds.