How I’d start a passive income portfolio today with £1,000

Stephen Wright is looking at two UK stocks with dividend yields over 7% that look like a great opportunity to start earning passive income.

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One of the hardest things when it comes to passive income is getting started. With £1,000 to invest, the returns aren’t likely to be spectacular straight out of the gate. 

Over time, though, regular investing can lead to spectacular returns. And I think there are some great opportunities for investors like me at the moment.

Compounding

In the stock market, rising interest rates have been pushing dividend yields higher. Furthermore, the Bank of England is indicating that there’s a chance that they might stay at these levels for some time.

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If that happens, I think the next few years could be really important for investors. With the possibility of 7% returns – or even higher – opportunities now look much better than they have done for the last few years.

Investing £1,000 in stocks with a 7% dividend yield would generate £70 in passive income immediately. That’s not much, but reinvesting that cash at the same rate could result in something much more substantial.

After 20 years, a £1,000 investment could be paying £250 per year in dividends. So if I invested that much per month for the next couple of years, I could be earning around £5,800 per year in 2073.

The key to this plan is being able to find stocks that are going to provide a 7% return over the long term. I suspect those will change over time, but a couple in particular stand out to me at the moment.

Dividend stocks

After a year of falling prices, stocks in the real estate sector have started to recover. Nonetheless, I think there are still some bargains available at the moment and real estate investment trusts (REITs) look great to me as passive income vehicles.

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One of these is Supermarket Income REIT. 12 months ago, the stock had a dividend yield of 5.5%, but a combination of a falling share price and a rising distribution has pushed that up to 7.5% today. 

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Supermarket Income REIT Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL13 Nov 201813 Nov 2023Zoom ▾Jan '19Jul '19Jan '20Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '232019201920202020202120212022202220232023www.fool.co.uk

Around 75% of the company’s income comes from two businesses – Tesco and Sainsbury’s. That means there’s an element of risk, since the firm is continually negotiating with bigger, more powerful operators.

Despite this, the average lease for Supermarket Income REIT has around 13 years still to run. And with inflation-linked increases built into its contracts, I think the business looks set for the future. 

Another on my list is Primary Health Properties – a firm specialising in healthcare facilities. The company’s portfolio is fully occupied and the vast majority of its rent comes from the NHS. 

The company’s debt pile is significant and this is a risk investors need to be aware of. But there’s some way to go before this becomes a pressing problem and interest rates have started to stabilise already.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Primary Health Properties Plc PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL13 Nov 201813 Nov 2023Zoom ▾Jan '19Jul '19Jan '20Jul '20Jan '21Jul '21Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '232019201920202020202120212022202220232023www.fool.co.uk

Since the start of the year, the company’s share price has been falling. But a growing dividend means there’s a 7% yield on offer right now.

Diversification

I’d start building a passive income portfolio with two UK REITs, investing £500 in each. Over time, I’d look to diversify my investments with other sectors and geographies.

Importantly, though, this is something I’d aim to do when the opportunities present themselves. With prices where they are right now, I’d look to concentrate on stocks in the British real estate sector for the time being.

Like buying £1 for 31p

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this Share Advisor pick has a price/book ratio of 0.31. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 31p they invest!

Of course, this is the stock market where money is always at risk — these valuations can change and there are no guarantees. But some risks are a LOT more interesting than others, and at The Motley Fool we believe this company is amongst them.

What’s more, it currently boasts a stellar dividend yield of around 10%, and right now it’s possible for investors to jump aboard at near-historic lows. Want to get the name for yourself?

See the full investment case

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.

Stephen Wright has positions in Primary Health Properties Plc and Supermarket Income REIT Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended J Sainsbury Plc, Primary Health Properties Plc, and Tesco 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.

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