4 top stocks I feel could pay me passive income for life

Jon Smith explains why he’s factoring in the dividend history of stocks, not just the current yield, when trying to find passive income gems.

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.

Young woman wearing a headscarf on virtual call using headphones

Image source: Getty Images

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.

Stocks with high dividend yields are the ones that catch my eye. Yet when I’m trying to find shares that can pay me passive income (hopefully) for life, it’s not just the yield I need to focus on. Rather, I’m bothered about the dividend history.

Here’s why, along with some of the stocks I think tick the box.

A proven track record

The best way I can flag up the difference in income potential is to illustrate it with two stocks. Stock X has a dividend yield of 4%, and has a track record of a decade of consecutive dividend payments.

Should you invest £1,000 in H&T Group right now?

When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if H&T Group made the list?

See the 6 stocks

Stock Y has a yield of 6%, which has risen substantially over the past year as the share price has fallen. It has a patchy record of paying dividends, which is high during the good times and zero during difficult periods.

Over the coming decades, which stock would I want to bank on? Even though the second company currently has a yield 50% higher than the first, I’m not convinced I can be paid reliable income in years to come. Therefore, I’d be happy to accept a lower yield today, with the confidence that the business has a good track record.

As a side note, I’m aware of the risk of predicting future dividends. These are not guaranteed in any form and depend on the business performance. Even the most reliable companies could cut the payment if it falls on tough times.

Top shares to consider

Based on the above, the logical next step is to filter for the ideal companies with long dividend histories! There are 18 FTSE 100 stocks and 36 FTSE 250 shares that have grown the dividend payment consecutively for at least the past decade. From this pool, I can identify some good options.

Within the FTSE 250, there are some great investment trusts that have a focus around income generation. Two examples are the Murray Income Trust (4.15% dividend yield) and the City of London Investment Trust (4.74%).

Both have over two decades worth of consecutive annual dividend growth. The trusts mainly focus on investing in companies that are listed on the LSE.

In the FTSE 100, I like National Grid (4.96%) and Unilever (3.66%). Again, both have well over a decade of payment history. It’s no surprise that both stocks are well-known, established companies with a history of performing well.

Income today and tomorrow

I can never say for certain that a stock will continue to pay me income for the rest of my working life. But if I’d invested in the four above stocks a decade ago, I wouldn’t be sitting here disappointed today. That’s why I’m considering putting some of my money in each stock, to help me enjoy future potential dividends.

Of course, there are plenty of other passive income opportunities to explore. And these may be even more lucrative:

We think earning passive income has never been easier

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

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.

Jon Smith has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Unilever Plc. 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

Road 2025 to 2032 new year direction concept
Investing Articles

Is the Rolls-Royce share price still undervalued in 2025?

After massive growth in the Rolls-Royce share price, Charlie Carman considers whether the FTSE 100 aerospace and defence stock is…

Read more »

Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

How an investor could target a £43k lifelong passive income starting with just £5 a day

Harvey Jones says it's possible to build a high-and-rising passive income by investing small, regular sums in FTSE 100 shares.…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Lloyds shares on 7 April is already worth…

After a dip in early April, Lloyds shares are back to their 30%+ year-to-date gain in 2025. And analysts are…

Read more »

Tariffs and Global Economic Supply Chains
US Stock

What I’d look to buy as the US stock market heads for the worst month since 1932

Jon Smith sifts through the US stock market to try and find some ideas that have fallen in value recently…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking up arrow on wooden block cubes
Growth Shares

Prediction: I think £1,000 invested in this UK stock could double by 2030

Jon Smith runs through a FTSE 250 stock with a market cap just over £1bn that he feels has the…

Read more »

Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

With £10k in savings, here’s how an investor could target a second income of £500 a month

£10k in savings could be the foundation needed towards a powerful second income. Our writer details some steps necessary to…

Read more »

Asian man looking concerned while studying paperwork at his desk in an office
Investing For Beginners

£1k invested in the FTSE 100 on ‘Liberation Day’ is now worth…

Jon Smith talks about the volatility in the FTSE 100 in the weeks since the tariff announcements and flags up…

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

Barclays’ share price is down 7% from March, so is now the right time for me to buy?

Barclays’ share price has dipped recently, which could mean a bargain to be had. I took a deep dive into…

Read more »