£20k to invest? How does a £1,730 passive income this year sound?

Royston Wild thinks these FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 shares could be worth considering for passive income as soon as this year. Here’s why.

| 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.

Affectionate Asian senior mother and daughter using smartphone together at home, smiling joyfully

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.

The UK stock market is home to a huge collection of companies offering large and growing dividends. Investors can find top passive income stocks to consider buying on the FTSE 100 as well as on its less-prestigious share indexes.

With this in mind, here are two of my favourites in early 2025. I think they’re both worth further research.

Dividend sharePredicted dividend growth in 2025Dividend yield
Primary Health Properties (LSE:PHP)2%7.7%
M&G (LSE:MNG)3%9.6%

Dividends are never guaranteed. But if broker estimates are correct, a £20,000 lump sum invested equally in these shares would provide a £1,730 passive income this year alone.

Should you invest £1,000 in Greatland Gold 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 Greatland Gold Plc made the list?

See the 6 stocks

What’s more, I’m optimistic they’ll keep growing cash rewards beyond 2025 as well.

Here’s why I think they’re worth serious consideration.

Medical marvel

Primary Health Properties is a real estate investment trust (REIT). As a consequence, it’s highly vulnerable to higher interest rates that damage profitability and weigh on asset values.

However, this FTSE 250 trust classification also has advantages for investors. Under REIT rules, the company must — in exchange for corporation tax perks — pay a minimum of 90% of annual rental profits out in the form of dividends.

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice.

There are more than 50 of these dividend-paying property trusts to choose from today. But I like this one as it offers a blend of security and growth.

Medical services demand remains stable over time, so — unlike some REITs — Primary Health can expect rents and occupancy levels to remain stable regardless of economic conditions. The business has more than 500 healthcare facilities (like GP surgeries) in its portfolio.

Finally, I think it could deliver impressive earnings growth over the longer term as the UK’s older populace ages and demand for medical properties grows. The number of Britons aged 65 and above is tipped to rise from 19% three years ago to 27% by 2072, the Office for National Statistics says.

FTSE 100 dividend star

Like Primary Health Properties, financial services providers like M&G stand to be big winners from a rising number of silver-haired citizens across the globe.

As a provider of pensions, annuities, protection and wealth management services, this FTSE 100 company can expect its customer base to continue growing. As of last June, it had 4.6m retail clients and 800+ institutional clients on its books.

Businesses like M&G also have a way to indirectly benefit from the UK’s soaring elderly population. The growing pressure this is putting on the State Pension (and other benefits older people enjoy) is placing greater importance on people to plan for their retirements.

As a passive income share, M&G has substantial appeal to me. Its operations are highly cash generative, and the firm has a strong balance sheet it can use to pay dividends while continuing to invest for growth.

As of June 2024, the company’s Solvency II capital was more than double regulatory requirements, at 210%.

Competitive pressures across its product lines are severe. But I believe M&G’s exceptional brand recognition helps to mitigate (if not eliminate) this threat.

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

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.

Royston Wild has positions in Primary Health Properties Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended M&g Plc and Primary Health Properties 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.

Pound coins for sale — 51 pence?

This seems ridiculous, but we almost never see shares looking this cheap. Yet this recent ‘Best Buy Now’ has a price/book ratio of 0.51. In plain English, this means that investors effectively get in on a business that holds £1 of assets for every 51p 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 8.5%, 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

More on Investing Articles

Young Asian man drinking coffee at home and looking at his phone
Investing Articles

Does the GSK or AstraZeneca share price currently offer the best value?

The AstraZeneca share price has pulled back in recent months. Dr James Fox explores how the stock compares with pharma…

Read more »

Abstract 3d arrows with rocket
Investing Articles

Looking for FTSE 100 stocks? Here’s one I think could lift off in 2025!

Diageo's share price has dropped 15.3% in the year to date. Could it be about to become one of the…

Read more »

Front view of a young couple walking down terraced Street in Whitley Bay in the north-east of England they are heading into the town centre and deciding which shops to go to they are also holding hands and carrying bags over their shoulders.
Investing Articles

Up 15% in a month and still yielding 9.5% – this FTSE second income stock is on fire!

Harvey Jones says wealth manager M&G offers one of the most exciting second income streams on the entire FTSE 100.…

Read more »

Wall Street sign in New York City
Investing Articles

Looking for cheap stocks to buy? 2 reasons now might be the ideal moment!

Amid market turbulence, our writer has not been diving for cover, but actively on the hunt for stocks to buy…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

These 2 FTSE 250 stocks now yield more than 10% – is that income sustainable?

Harvey Jones is astonished to discover how much dividend income investors can get from FTSE 250 stocks. These two have…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

3 promising high-yield FTSE 250 stocks to consider buying right now!

When hunting for lucrative high-yield dividend shares, our writer heads straight for those smaller-caps found in the UK's secondary index,…

Read more »

Tesla building with tesla logo and two teslas in front
Investing Articles

Are Tesla shares now a brilliant long-term opportunity?

Tesla shares have been pummelled by the markets so far this year. Our writer thinks they may have a lot…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Up 22% in a month, has the Rolls-Royce share price restarted its incredible rise?

Even after a storming few years, the Rolls-Royce share price has leapt over a fifth in just one month! Is…

Read more »