4 dividend stars for your stocks portfolio: Aviva plc, Intu Properties plc, National Grid plc and Halfords Group plc

Royston Wild explains why income chasers MUST check out FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) giants Aviva plc (LON: AV), Intu Properties plc (LON: INTU), National Grid plc (LON: NG) and Halfords Group plc (LON: HFD).

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Today I’m running the rule over four FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) income greats.

Property guru

If we maintain robust economic conditions here in the UK, it should provide handsome rewards over at Intu Properties (LSE: INTU).

Real estate investment trusts (or REITs) are required to pay out 90% of earnings to their shareholders. And with the City expecting the bottom line to keep growing in the near-term and beyond, I reckon investors can look forward to plump payouts.

Indeed, dividends of 13.8p and 14p per share are chalked-in for 2016 and 2017 alone, creating chunky yields of 4.8% and 4.9%, respectively.

And I expect Intu Properties’ steady acquisition programme to continue fuelling dividends in the years ahead.

Electrify your income flows

Few companies can boast the sort of earnings visibility offered by electricity network operator National Grid (LSE: NG).

Needless to say, power is one of those commodities we can’t live without regardless of the wider economic climate and whether we’re in the EU or out of it. But unlike Centrica or SSE, National Grid doesn’t face the worry of rising competition, such is the nature of electricity provision in Britain.

And National Grid is bolstering its long-term earnings prospects through a steady asset expansion programme here in the UK as well as the US.

The City subsequently expects National Grid to pay dividends of 44.5p per share and 46.6p in the years to March 2017 and 2018. These figures produce massive yields of 4.5% and 4.6%.

Cycle star

Cycle and car specialist Halfords Group (LSE: HFD) has endured its fair share of troubles over the past year, as seasonal factors have dented demand for its bikes and the costs of huge restructuring have crimped the bottom line.

Still, I believe there’s plenty for investors to remain excited about. Halfords is chucking the kitchen sink at revamping its store network and boosting its online footprint, as well as expanding the number of highly-successful Autocentres it operates.

With a stream of new cycle ranges also in the pipeline, the numbers crunchers expect Halfords to pay a dividend of 17.3p per share in the year to March 2017, and to 18p next year.

Halfords subsequently sports yields of 5% and 5.2% for these years.

Financial firework

The impact of massive restructuring is expected to send dividends at Aviva (LSE: AV) spiralling higher in 2016 and beyond, too.

Not only has massive cost-cutting worked wonders in transforming the balance sheet, but the capital-boosting acquisition of Friends Life has given dividend chasers further cause. And with revenues continuing to flow in from across the globe — new business values surged 24% in 2015 — I reckon shareholders can look forward to plump returns.

This view is shared by the City, with projected dividends of 23.5p per share for 2016 and 26p for 2017 yielding 6.3% and 7.1%, respectively.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Royston Wild has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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