Our highly qualified pensions experts advise on all aspects of pension and retirement planning, whet
A vital part of planning for a secure financial future is the creation and ongoing maintenance of th
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The value of regular dividend payments has increased steadily after the financial crisis of 2008. Dividends paid out by UK-listed companies through to 2018 rose by 85%, with £19.7 billion paid out in the first three months of 2019 – a first quarter record according to Link Asset Services. In May, however, a number of high profile companies, including Vodaphone and Marks & Spencer, slashed their dividends by 40%, creating a less rosy picture.
Companies usually pay regular dividends quarterly or twice a year, as one interim and one final payment. You don’t have to be a direct shareholder to benefit – dividends are also paid to many pension and ISA funds.
The impact on both institutional and individual shareholders means companies are reluctant to cut their dividends, even when it may make economic sense to do so.
The record figures this year have been attributed to several one-off ‘special’ dividends. For example, the global resources company BHP Group paid a huge £1.7 billion special dividend, following the sale of its US shale oil interests. But even excluding these, regular dividend payments still rose 5.5%, to £17.6bn prior to the cuts in May.
Many of the largest companies listed on the UK stock market are global conglomerates. The low value of the pound has also helped boost profits, once overseas earnings are converted into sterling, and this has helped push up dividend payments.
Given the general history of consistent gains, it is not hard to see how dividends can help boost overall investment returns. Those looking for dividend payments might want to consider equity income funds, which aim to invest in companies that have a track record of growing their dividend payments.
Established oil giants, utilities, pharmaceutical, tobacco and financial companies have traditionally had good track records for paying dividends, although there’s no guarantee these will continue. It’s worth noting that many banks stopped paying a dividend following the financial crash, although a number have now reinstated these payments.
Many investors choose to reinvest their dividend payments to benefit from higher compound returns – reaping a further investment return on their investment return. This can significantly increase the value of holdings over longer periods of time.
In contrast, smaller, fast-growing companies often pay low – or no – dividends, as surplus profits tend to be reinvested in the business.
Dividends can be a useful way for investors to earn an attractive income from their investments without having to dip into their capital.
As so often in investment decisions, the devil is in the detail, now more than ever, so sound advice is crucial.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your circumstances with one of our team of advisers.
The value of your investments and the income from them can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Investing in shares should be regarded as a long-term investment and should fit in with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.
