Frankly Speaking

Frankly speaking, dividends will continue to deliver

Australian shares currently offer some extremely attractive dividend yields. BHP has had a dividend yield of 5.6 per cent, while the Big Four banks are yielding between 5.5-7.5 per cent.  The associated franking credits typically add another 3 per cent to the gross yield.

For people who rely on income from their investments, it doesn’t get much better. By comparison, the yield on 10-year Australian Government Bonds was 1.53 per cent in May 2019. While the gross rental yield on Australian residential property was 4 per cent in the year to May. Rental yields in Darwin were the highest (4.5 per cent) while the Sydney (2.9 per cent) and Melbourne (3.0 per cent) markets were lowest.

Dividends provide stability

Returns from shares come from a combination of capital gains and dividend income. While the market tends to focus on short-term price fluctuations driven largely by investor sentiment, dividend income is remarkably stable.

Over the past 20 years, dividend income has accounted for roughly half the total return from Australian shares of 8.3 per cent a year. This trend should continue in 2020, with dividends returning around 4 per cent and capital growth 4-5 per cent.

When companies earn a profit, directors must decide how much to pay out to shareholders in the form of dividends and how much to reinvest in the company to grow the business. In the decade of low economic growth following the GFC, companies took a cautious approach and rewarded shareholders with higher dividends.

As growth picks up companies are becoming more open to allocating a greater share of profits to growth and capital, but less to labour.

The focus for share investors should be on selecting companies with quality assets and strong management teams, good growth prospects and sustainable earnings. This is what will determine the future growth in dividends and/or the share price. Relying too heavily on dividends from Australian shares could also mean missing out on opportunities elsewhere.

Keep an open mind

International shares outperformed the Australian market over the past year and while dividend yields are traditionally lower on overseas markets, more overseas companies are beginning to provide dividends. At the same time, technology is making it possible to invest in assets that were previously inaccessible.  Exchange traded funds (ETFs) offer investments in high dividend global shares, leading tech stocks and global property.

Our resident investment expert Jodie Ryan focuses on achieving stable and consistent returns for the long term.

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