Not satisfied with the bank account interest rates? Here’s how to create a portfolio of high-dividend stocks that might serve as a higher-paying alternative to bank and money market accounts.
In November 2015, I described a low-risk strategy that I dubbed “No Debt Dividend Payers” for creating a portfolio of high-dividend stocks that might serve as an alternative to bank and money market accounts.
Anyone who purchased equal dollar amounts of the five stocks making up that portfolio on November 30, 2015 and sold a year later would have enjoyed a 25% total (dividends plus capital appreciation) return vs. 6.00% for the S&P 500. None of the five stocks cut their dividends during that period and three of them raised their payouts.
Now that I have your attention, I’ll describe the selection strategy in detail, give you this year’s list, and explain how you could use the free Finviz stock screener to run your own list.
No-Debt, High Dividend Screen
Access the Finviz homepage and then select “Screener.” Finviz uses “filters” to specify screening criteria. Select “All” on the Filters bar to see the available filters. Use the dropdown menu associated with each filter to select filter values.
Start with Basics
Start by using the Country filter to confine your list to U.S.-based stocks. Our economy, already the world’s strongest, is likely to remain so at least through 2017.
Investors typically use market-capitalization, which is the value of all outstanding shares, to gauge company size. Generally, the higher the market-cap, the safer the stock. Specify a $300 million minimum market-cap to rule out the riskiest stocks.
Since, higher than bank dividend yields is the point of this strategy, use the dividend yield filter and specify “over 3.00%.”
No Debt is Key
It’s important to minimize the risk of a dividend cut by any of your stocks while you hold them. Generally, stocks cut payouts when business slows, and/or debt-servicing costs rise to the point that they are no longer generating enough cash to pay the dividends.
Most analysts expect higher interest rates, which translate to higher debt-servicing costs, next year. We’ll avoid that risk by sticking with no-debt stocks. The debt/equity ratio compares total debt to shareholders equity (book value). The higher the debt, the higher the ratio. Use the Debt/Equity filter to specify the lowest available value, “under 0.10.”
Must Be Profitable
Assure that passing stocks are currently profitable by specifying “positive” for profitability gauge Return on Equity. Then, require that analysts expect even higher earnings next year by specifying “over 5%” for “EPS Growth Next Year.”
Check Big Players
Confirm that the smart money likes our picks by requiring a minimum 30% for Institutional Ownership and that passing stocks are rated “buy or better” by stock analysts.
Make the Trend Your Friend
Finally, use the “200-day simple moving average” filter and select “price above SMA.” Stocks often move in trends and that requirement pinpoints uptrending stocks.
No Debt – High Dividend List
My screen came up with four stocks. Click here to see which stocks the screen is turning up today.
• American Software (AMSWA): Enterprise management software. Dividend yield 4.1%.
• Delek Logistics (DKL): Operates crude oil pipelines and related services. Organized as a master limited partnership (MLP). Yield 9.3%.
• Moelis (MC): Only holdover from last year’s list, offers financial advisory services. Yield 3.8%.
• Medifast (MED): produces weight loss management and associated products and services. Yield 3.1%.
As always, consider the stocks listed by this or any screen, to be research candidates, not a buy list. The more you know about your stocks, the better your results.
For tips and information on the best utilities and dividend stocks from Harry Domash, please check out Dividend Detective.
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