As we begin 2019, investing certainly feels very different than it did 12 months ago. This time last year, global equity markets were rising and investor confidence was high. Yet today, economic uncertainty is elevated, markets are falling, and investor confidence is fragile. The FTSE 100 is down again this morning.
However, for long-term investors, I think current market conditions could be an opportunity. Many stocks are trading at lower valuations than they were 12 months ago, and dividend yields are higher. That’s a positive for those with long-term investment horizons. With that in mind, here’s a look at two of my top FTSE 100 dividend picks for 2019.
Unilever
Right now, investors are faced with a considerable level of economic uncertainty. From trade wars and Brexit, to talk of a possible recession, there are a number of reasons why investors are on edge.
Given this uncertainty, I think it’s a good idea to own a number of reliable ‘defensive’ stocks in an investment portfolio, and the first name that comes to mind when I think defensive is Unilever (LSE: ULVR). You see, Unilever owns an incredible portfolio of food and drink, homecare and personal care brands such as PG Tips, Domestos, and Dove, and no matter what’s happening with the global economy, demand for its products tends to remain relatively robust, which is a big plus from a dividend-investing perspective.
For the 2019 financial year, analysts expect Unilever to pay a dividend of €1.64 per share which, at the current share price, equates to a yield of around 3.6%. That’s not the highest yield in the FTSE 100, sure, but the company does have a great track record of increasing its dividend at a rate above inflation all through the economic cycle. And dividend growth looks set to continue in the near term.
Unilever shares are currently trading on a forward P/E ratio of 18.4, which may seem expensive from a traditional valuation viewpoint. However, when you consider the stock’s ‘quality’ attributes, the valuation is fair, in my view.
DS Smith
My next pick, DS Smith (LSE: SMDS), is more of a value pick. The company is a leading international packaging specialist that focuses on providing customer-specific packaging solutions. Operating in 37 countries worldwide, it counts the likes of Amazon, Tesco, and Ikea among its clients.
While there’s a little bit of uncertainty surrounding the short-term growth prospects of FTSE 100 packaging stocks, I believe the long-term growth story for DS Smith remains compelling, as packaging firms look set to benefit from the increase in popularity of online shopping. Indeed, according to a research report from ResearchandMarkets, the global paper packaging market is likely to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.2% up to 2023, which is a healthy level of growth. Half-year results from the company, released in early December, certainly looked robust with profit before tax rising 28%.
For the year ending 30 April, analysts expect DS Smith to pay a dividend of 15.9p per share which, at the current share price, translates to a yield of 5.4%. That payout looks sustainable in the near term, as earnings are anticipated to come in at 36.7p per share, giving a dividend coverage ratio of a healthy 2.3. With the shares trading on a P/E of just 8 after a significant selloff last quarter, I think this dividend stock offers considerable value right now.
