My favourite FTSE 100 ‘safe share’ pays 5% a year in cash, so I’d buy more today!

This FTSE 100 giant is crushing the coronavirus crisis and there’s way more growth to come. Meanwhile, its shares pay a bumper cash dividend.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

On Monday, and again earlier today, I argued that the FTSE 100 has been a serial underperformer for decades. Furthermore, within the FTSE 100 hide shares that have produced stellar returns, while others have left investors nursing horrible losses.

The FTSE 100 is a mixed bag

At one end of the FTSE 100 lies Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY), whose shares have produced nothing but losses over any reasonable timeframe. Oddly, whatever medium-term timeframe you choose, the Lloyds share price seems to have halved. Ouch.

At the other end of this scale lie booming businesses whose share prices have duly followed suit, rising above and beyond the wider market. For example, over the past five years, 18 FTSE 100 shares have doubled or better. Remarkably, the leader has almost quintupled in value over the past half-decade. Wow.

Passive income stocks: our picks

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

Mixed value in the FTSE 100

However, I’m not going to talk about the FTSE 100’s star performers, because I find their share prices simply too rich for my blood. Instead, I’m going to review a modest performer – one that churns out juicy cash dividends, while offering the prospect of future capital growth.

GlaxoSmithKline is my favourite ‘safe’ share

GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) may look like a boring, safe business – and it is. But there are also exciting projects waiting in the wings that could propel its share price significantly higher.

Long-term shareholders – and I’ve owned GSK shares pretty much continually since the early 90s – know that GSK shares won’t shoot the lights out. They haven’t doubled over the past five years, like those of long-term British rival AstraZeneca.

GSK’s solid FTSE 100 financials

GSK’s main attraction right now is its generous dividend, which is rock-steady. Check out GSK’s yearly cash dividends since 2015:

2019: 80p

2018: 80p

2017: 80p

2016: 80p

2015: 100p (includes 20p special dividend)

Thus, I’m willing to bet any sum that this FTSE 100 dividend won’t be less than 80p for 2020!

At their current price of 1,616p, GSK shares offer a dividend yield a whisker short of 5% (at £16, the yield would be exactly 5%). That’s seriously attractive in a world of near-zero or even negative interest rates from government and corporate bonds.

What’s more, GSK’s 80p yearly dividend is covered 1.34 times by recent earnings of 107p per share. Also, I suspect a higher coverage ratio will emerge as GSK’s ongoing earnings start to grow again. Likewise, on a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.1 (13 on a forward basis), GSK shares are cheap by historical standards.

GSK’s best may be yet to come

Over the past five years, GSK shares have risen by 18.3%. That’s a vast improvement on the FTSE 100’s overall performance of nearly -20% since July 2015. Plus GSK’s dividend yield has easily beaten the FTSE 100’s over this period.

However, GSK is so different today under change-leader and CEO Emma Walmsley that it may as well rename itself. As a world-leading vaccine producer, it’s at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus. Likewise, its growing pipeline of 52 new clinical entities, plus huge spending on research and development (£4.6bn last year), will fuel a brighter future.

To sum up, this FTSE 100 giant (valued at £81.5bn) combines a defensive business model and diversified (and rising) revenues with a rock-solid balance sheet, modest net debt, high margins and strong cash flow. What’s not to like? That’s why I’d buy more GSK shares today.

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

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.

Cliffdarcy owns shares of GlaxoSmithKline. The Motley Fool UK has recommended GlaxoSmithKline. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Investing Articles

Building a second income stream in 2025 is now more important than ever

With the backdrop of today's economic landscape, Mark Hartley investigates the importance of a second income and how to build…

Read more »

Google office headquarters
Investing Articles

Down 29% and 26%, these ‘Magnificent 7’ growth stocks are still on sale!

Both of these mega-cap growth stocks are more than 25% off their highs right now. And Edward Sheldon believes they…

Read more »

Investing Articles

My favourite UK stock is up 365% in 5 years and analysts still say it’s a strong buy!

Harvey Jones loves this top UK stock but was wondering whether it would finally run out of steam. Its response…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Is the stock market going to crash when the tariff window expires?

The stock market’s rallied on news of a 90-day pause to some US tariffs. But could it be set to…

Read more »

Investing Articles

2 investment trusts to help investors become Stocks & Shares ISA millionaires

One of the biggest challenges for new Stocks and Shares ISA investors is which investments to make. Dr James Fox…

Read more »

Investing Articles

The Greggs share price has plummeted for good reason! It’s now a proper dividend stock

Dr James Fox explores whether the beaten-down Greggs share price represents a potential buying opportunity or a value trap.

Read more »

Working from home due to social distancing
Investing Articles

A year ago, £10,000 in Tesco shares — at today’s price — is now worth…

Tesco's provided solid investor returns since April 2024 thanks to strong share price gains and healthy dividends. Can it keep…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Just released: our 3 top small-cap stocks to consider buying in April [PREMIUM PICKS]

Small-cap shares tend to be more volatile than larger companies, so we suggest investors should look to build up a…

Read more »