How I’d invest £10,000 in dividend shares to earn a second income

Investing in a selection of quality dividend shares can generate reliable passive income. Our writer considers how he’d invest £10,000 right now.

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.

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Dividend shares can be an excellent source of passive income. Many companies pay a share of their profits to shareholders in return for investing in their business. These payments come in quarterly cash payments called dividends.

Dividend shares are often mature, established, and grow at a slower pace than growth shares, for instance. That can result in more stable cashflows and reliable dividend payments.

Quality dividend shares

The FTSE 100 is home to dozens of quality dividend shares. Overall, the lead index offers a dividend yield of 3.6%. With rising savings interest rates, it might not sound like much.

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But as it’s an average, it masks some of the highest-yielding stocks. For instance, nine of the 100 shares currently offer over 7% a year. I also frequently see them toward the top of the list.

It’s important to note that the greatest dividend yield doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best option. There are other factors that investors should consider too.

For instance, in addition to a chunky yield, I like shares that have a long history of regular payments. Consistently paying out dividends over many years offers confidence to an investor.

Long-term prospects

Next, the best shares have dividends that are well-covered by earnings. There’s nothing worse than seeing a company borrow money to fund promised dividends. That’s why I look for a dividend cover ratio of more than 1.5.

Last, but not least. The approach I take to find the best dividend picks considers the long-term prospects of the business. I want my companies to thrive and continue making profits.

Sustainable cash flows are often found in businesses that display strong competitive advantages. It’s a feature that famous investor Warren Buffett calls a moat.

Investing £10,000

Now that I know what I’m looking for, I’d pick a broad selection to buy that covers different industries. That should provide some diversification and prevent me from putting all my eggs in one basket.

If I had £10,000 to invest towards dividend shares right now, I’d buy £2,000 each of Phoenix Group, Taylor Wimpey, British American Tobacco, Legal & General and Rio Tinto.

On average, this selection offers a 7.7% yield. In addition, it provides dividend cover of 1.7 and a 19-year payment history. That sounds appealing to me.

Some thoughts

Currently, all five are high-quality businesses with strong competitive advantages. But as that can change over time, I’d still need to monitor their progress. New technology or competition can often disrupt a company’s business model.

One thing to bear in mind is that share prices can rise and fall. But as I’m focused on earning a second income from dividends, I’d likely ignore these short-term gyrations.

Overall, this selection would give me £770 in additional income. If it doesn’t sound like much, consider what happens if I invest £10,000 every year for a decade.

By reinvesting my dividends instead of withdrawing them, I calculate that I’d build a pot worth £142,818. That’s enough for an £11,000 annual second income.

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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.

Harshil Patel has positions in British American Tobacco P.l.c. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. 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.

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

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