5 FTSE 100 stocks to consider for a lifetime of passive income

I see lots of cheap dividend stocks in the FTSE 100 right now, but prices are starting to rise. Here’s how I’d look for diversified income.

| More on:

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.

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.

I was looking at some top FTSE 100 dividend stocks recently, and my eye again fell on Phoenix Group Holdings (LSE: PHNX) and its forecast 10.6% yield.

I worked out that if I invest £200 per month in Phoenix Group, after 20 years I could have enough to pay me an annual passive income of around £16,000.

That makes a lot of assumptions, though. Like the dividend would remain unchanged for the next two decades. Oh, and the share price wouldn’t change either.

Should you invest £1,000 in Phoenix Group Holdings Plc 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 Phoenix Group Holdings Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

No smooth ride

Anyone who’s looked at events in the financial sector over the past 10 years will probably dismiss the chance of either of those happening straight away.

Phoenix is in a notoriously cyclical business. And if earnings volatility should damage the dividend one year, I fear the share price could suffer.

Still, forecasts look good, and I think Phoenix could be a nice addition to a long-term Stocks and Shares ISA. But I’d want a good bit of diversification to help manage my risks.

Long-term safety

Looking at some of the other FTSE 100 dividend yields on offer now, I just can’t ignore Taylor Wimpey.

There’s a 6.4% dividend yield on offer. It would still be a nice annual return if it can keep going. In the short term, though, I think that probably raises the biggest caution.

Fellow builder Barratt Developments has cut its dividend, given pressure on the property sector. And Taylor Wimpey could do the same.

But the real attraction to me is the very long-term nature of the business. The UK’s housing shortage, plus barriers to new firms trying to get in, make me think I see a cash cow here.

With safety in mind again, I think I’d add Tesco to a long-term income portfolio if I was starting now. The dividend is modest at 3.8%, but I’d hope for stable total returns.

Controversial

My final two suggestions here are perhaps a bit controversial, for different reasons.

One is British American Tobacco, with a 9.9% dividend yield. It’s perhaps a bit dodgy from an ethics standpoint. And many investors think the tobacco industry is doomed anyway.

But I think tobacco products could be with us for a very long time. And purely from a financial view, I can see another cash cow here.

My fifth choice is BT Group, with its huge debt pile the biggest drawback I can see. Oh, and the share price slide of the past five years hasn’t helped total returns, even if the dividend has been good.

Still, after posting what could be a turnaround set of FY results, BT has upped its dividend again. If it can keep its 6%+ yields going, maybe I could just take the cash and not worry about anything else.

Total returns

Speaking of total returns, the average Stocks and Shares ISA has managed 9.6% per year in the past decade.

That’s ahead of the very long-term UK stock market performance. But I reckon there could be enough cheap dividend stocks in the FTSE 100 to give us a good crack at it.

But what does the head of The Motley Fool’s investing team think?

Should you invest £1,000 in Phoenix Group Holdings Plc 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 Phoenix Group Holdings Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

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.

Alan Oscroft has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. 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.

More on Investing Articles

Businessman hand stacking up arrow on wooden block cubes
Investing Articles

5 AIM stocks to consider buying for the long term

We asked our writers to share their best AIM-listed stocks to consider buying, featuring five very different businesses.

Read more »

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 »