Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Betting Big On Rate Cuts? Consider Buying These 2 Dividend Stocks

Published 19/06/2019, 02:53 pm
Updated 02/09/2020, 04:05 pm

Consensus is emerging in the market that the U.S. Federal Reserve’s next move will be a cut in interest rates. The bond markets, for example, are pricing in the assumption that the Fed will make at least two quarter-percentage point cuts this year due to the increasing risk of recession.

That pessimism, in our view, isn’t without reason. The U.S.-China trade war has started to hurt investor sentiment and, more importantly, is now forcing companies to cut their revenue forecasts.

With corporate America beginning to feel the pain, a growing number of economic indicators are also flashing red. The New York Fed’s Empire State Manufacturing Index, released on Monday, showed the biggest monthly decline since the last recession.

If these market readings are correct and the Fed is ready to cut interest rates, then it makes sense for equity investors to seek shelter and add some safety to their portfolios. Stocks that generally outperform in a slowing economy are those that pay regular dividends. To help you get started, we have picked the following two income-producing stocks to help ride through the market volatility:

1. NextEra Energy

It’s not unusual for utility stocks to outperform the market in times of distress. Their business model based on recurring cash flows and their ability to pay regular dividends are some of the traits that attract investors. That’s the main reason the utility sector has continued to be one of the best performers this year with the S&P 500 Utilities gaining more than 13%.

In this space, we particularly like Nextera Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE), the Florida-based utility that has scaled up by providing clean energy. NextEra is the largest U.S. provider of renewable power, generating electricity from the wind and sun. It operates a large natural gas pipeline business as well as a growing energy storage operation.

The big difference between NextEra and other traditional utility companies is that its growth wasn’t funded by a massive injection of debt. Instead, the company very smartly used government subsidies and tax breaks offered to clean power producers. It mostly sells the output to old-school utilities, many of which must procure power from green sources to meet state mandates.

NextEra Energy price chart

NextEra plans to invest $40 billion on its development projects through the end of next year. This should help fuel growth, especially at a time when the renewable market opportunity is huge and the company has already built an impressive scale. Shares closed yesterday down 0.5% at $205.38, but have advanced 19% this year versus the S&P 500's gains of 17%.

With a dividend yield of 2.45%, NextEra pays an annual dividend of $5 a share. The company plans to grow that between 12%-14% through the end of 2020.

2. Welltower

Just like utility stocks, real estate income trusts, or REITs, are also a bet on the direction of interest rates. Their yield becomes attractive once the rates on safe haven government bonds fall.

Welltower Inc (NYSE:WELL), one of the largest healthcare-focused REITs, is an attractive option to consider if you’re looking to earn a higher yield. The company manages more than 1,500 properties and is focused on healthcare — a relatively safe bet within REITs due to the ageing population in the U.S. and increased spending on such facilities.

Its portfolio has a good mix of facilities to take advantage of this shift, including senior housing, outpatient medical facilities, and long-term care. These revenue-generating streams are solid, especially when the U.S. is going through a huge demographic shift where, according to some estimates, 10,000 baby boomers turn 65 each day.

Welltower price chart

Welltower is already benefiting from this trend. Its net income jumped 61% last year and is expected to grow a further 29% to around $1 billion in 2019, assuming the company meets the low-end of its profit guidance. The shares fell 0.7% to $83.04 yesterday, which only slightly dented it's almost 20% gain so far this year.

Over the past decade, this REIT has boosted its payout to $3.48 a share annually, which translates to a yield of more than 4% at the current stock price.

Bottom Line

After a powerful rally in income-producing stocks fueled by low interest-rate expectations, these two names may not have much more room to the upside. Both NextEra and Welltower are trading close to their 52-week highs and their valuations seem a bit stretched at the moment.

But if the bond market is correct and we’re soon going to see a rate cut, we shouldn’t rule out another leg higher in the values of these stocks.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.