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Traders aiming to earn a second revenue will discover the UK inventory market filled with dividend alternatives. Some FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 names have seen yields dip just lately, whereas others have climbed.
However a rising yield isn’t at all times excellent news. Typically it displays an organization generously elevating dividends, however different occasions it indicators a sinking share value.
Taylor Wimpey‘s (LSE: TW.) been firmly within the highlight this week. On 22 September, the housebuilder was relegated from the FTSE 100 to the FTSE 250 after its market worth tumbled by greater than 40% previously 12 months. It now sits at round £3.5bn. Because the share value slid, the yield rose to almost 10% – a degree revenue traders would possibly wish to take a look at.
So is it price pondering within the present local weather, and what number of shares would it not take to generate £1,000 a month?
Doing the maths
Let’s crunch the numbers. To safe £12,000 a 12 months in dividends at a ten% yield, an investor would wish a £120,000 stake. With the shares priced near £1, that works out at about 120,000 shares.
It’s not a small quantity, however it’s doable to construct in direction of it. For instance, saving £500 a month might develop to £120,000 in roughly 11 years, assuming the yield stays constant. With £300 a month, the identical aim would possibly take nearer to fifteen years.
In fact, all this rests on the belief that the dividend continues to be paid on the present price. And that’s the place some pink flags begin to seem.
Dividend reliability
Taylor Wimpey’s newest half-year outcomes confirmed earnings falling 65% in comparison with final 12 months, reflecting the broader weak spot within the UK housing market. Extra regarding is the dividend payout ratio, which has ballooned to about 388%. This implies it’s returning far additional cash to shareholders than it generates in earnings – one thing that may’t final endlessly.
That implies the dividend is at actual threat of being minimize until income rebound. For income-focused traders, that’s a significant component to weigh up.
Then again, Taylor Wimpey’s steadiness sheet is in first rate form. With £6.25bn in belongings, comfortably forward of liabilities, the corporate doesn’t look like in fast hazard. Ought to the housing market get better, the inventory’s depressed valuation might look enticing and immediate a big turnaround.
Balancing the portfolio
For these chasing a second revenue, Taylor Wimpey’s definitely a inventory to think about. However I feel it ought to solely type a part of a broader basket of dividend shares. Counting on a single firm in a cyclical sector’s dangerous, particularly when payouts already look stretched.
A extra balanced method is to unfold funds throughout 10-20 dividend shares, aiming for a steadier yield within the 6%-7% vary. That means, the portfolio is much less susceptible to swings in anyone business.
Taylor Wimpey is likely to be tempting at at this time’s ranges, however traders ought to weigh up the dangers fastidiously. For me, it’s an fascinating addition to consider, somewhat than a core holding for a dependable second revenue.

