The reliable revenue flows of Imperial Brands (LSE: IMB) has long made the stock a perfect pick for those seeking reliable dividend growth year after year.
While rising legislative action may have been denting volumes recently, Imperial Brands’ suite of market-leading labels are steadily growing market share to offset these troubles. Sales volumes of Growth Brand cartons like JPS and West jumped 4.3% during the 12 months to September 2016, helped by the vast sums Imperial Brands is throwing at marketing activity.
And aside from its traditional activities, Imperial Brands’ rising presence in potentially explosive growth markets like e-cigarettes and caffeine strips offers plenty of earnings potential for the years ahead.
The City expects these factors to drive earnings 10% higher in the current fiscal year alone, pushing the dividend to a chunky 173.2p per share. This figure yields a delicious 5.1%. And I expect Imperial Brands’ bubbly profits outlook to keep pushing dividends skywards.
Property powerhouse
I also believe property play Persimmon (LSE: PSN) is a hot income bet for 2017 and beyond.
Fears continue to ciruclate over the impact of June’s Brexit decision on homes demand in the months ahead. But while a possible backdrop of rising unemployment and falling real wage growth may hamper buyer affordability to some extent, I reckon favourable lending conditions should stop demand falling off a cliff.
Besides, the probability of the UK’s protracted housing shortage persisting long into the future should keep property values well supported, in my opinion.
The number crunchers broadly share my optimistic take, and Persimmon’s robust long-term earnings outlook is expected to create a dividend of 110p per share for 2017. This figure yields a stonking 6.5%.
Think outside the box
I’m also convinced Tritax Big Box (LSE: BBOX) has what it takes to keep doling out delicious dividends.
The breakneck growth of e-commerce is playing into the hands of Tritax, the real estate investment trust shaping its property portfolio towards vast distribution and warehousing spaces. And the company counts a plethora of blue-chip retailers and manufacturers amongst its tenants, operators that are in great shape to ride out any near-term slowdown in the domestic economy.
With earnings predicted to keep growing into 2017, Tritax is expected to raise the dividend to 6.4p per share. This number yields a stunning 4.9%.
Medical marvel
It can be argued that AstraZeneca’s (LSE: AZN) earnings outlook may be less assured than the stocks detailed above.
The company is still battling the impact of patent losses on key drugs, and the loss of exclusivity on labels like Crestor has caused earnings to fall in each of the past four years. Meanwhile, the unpredictable nature of drugs development makes the timing of a possible rebound hard to call.
Having said that, I believe that chief executive Pascal Soriot’s R&D revamp is delivering the goods — AstraZeneca currently has around 140 products in the pipeline — and that the firm’s focus on fast-growing therapy areas like diabetes and respiratory should deliver splendid long-term returns. On top of this, AstraZeneca is also enjoying splendid sales success in lucrative emerging markets. Sales to these regions climbed 6% during January-September.
And in the meantime, an expected 280 cent dividend in 2017, yielding a brilliant 5.5%, should keep income seekers happy.
