3 Dividend Stocks Yielding +2.5% to Own for the Next 3 Years

Dividend stocks come in all shapes and sizes. Take Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX). It’s unloved and underappreciated, but worthy of your consideration. Here’s why.

Last March, I wrote a piece for the Fool entitled 5 Dividend Stocks to Own for the Next 5 Years.

A little over a year later, they’ve done performed reasonably well as a group, averaging 5.2% compared to 1.1% for the TSX over the same period.

Company

1-Year Return

Open Text Corp. 

(TSX:OTEX)(NASDAQ:OTEX)

-0.06%

Dollarama Inc. (TSX:DOL)

35.2%

Stella-Jones Inc. (TSX:SJ

13.7%

Winpak Ltd.(TSX:WPK) 

-9.5%

CCL Industries Inc.(TSX:CCL.B)

-13.0%

Source: Morningstar.ca

High dividend yield is optional

While a high dividend yield is nice to have, it shouldn’t be at the top of the list for reasons to buy dividend stocks. Consistent earnings and dividend growth are essential to future capital appreciation. Without those two financial metrics for one or two consecutive years, you can be sure your stock price will head lower.

Anyway, each of these stocks is yielding 2.5% or more, but that’s not why I’ve selected them. The reason I’ve chosen them is they’ve all increased their annual dividend for five consecutive years, which makes them Canadian dividend aristocrats; income investors love this type of stock, as do I.

Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX)

This is undoubtedly my most controversial of my three picks given how poorly Cineplex stock has performed over the past year as a result of delivering lower earnings than investors typically expect from the entertainment company.

I’m not going to say ignore the naysayers, such as Fool.ca contributor Joey Frenette, who believes, despite some of Cineplex’s positive diversification efforts outside its core movie business, that the company won’t be able to shake the poor box office that plagues theatre owners across North America.

Personally, I believe it’s about bad content and not a secular trend out of the movie-going experience, but time will tell who’s right.

I like Cineplex because it’s got great management and, except for 2010, has increased its annual dividend in nine out of the last 10 years.

As for its 5.3% yield, I view that as a sign of value rather than of a financially troubled company.

Intact Financial Corporation (TSX:IFC)

I had long ignored Intact as just another insurance company, but then I read an article about CEO Charles Brindamour and came away so impressed I took a closer look and then recommended its stock last October.

Of course, like Murphy’s Law, it’s been downhill pretty much ever since — the curse of Will Ashworth and all that. But seriously, it’s one of the best-run insurance companies in Canada with the underwriting profits to show for it.

But don’t take my word for it. Why don’t I let Kay Ng explain why she likes Intact stock:

“Thanks to the company’s consistent profitability, it has grown its dividend for 13 consecutive years. Its 10-year dividend-growth rate is 9%. In fact, management just hiked its dividend by almost 9.4% for its first-quarter dividend,” Ng wrote March 6. “Its payout ratio is estimated to be less than 42% this year. With earnings growth expected to continue, shareholders can expect the company to continue growing its dividend in the future.”

If Cineplex is the risky stock, Intact would be considered the risk-averse stock.

North West Company Inc. (TSX:NWC)

I’ve been on North West’s bandwagon for almost two years now with nothing to show for it except the consistent raising of its quarterly dividend.

The interesting thing about the Winnipeg-based retailer is that it got its start in competition with the Hudson’s Bay Co., then merged with it in 1821, only to be acquired by some of its employees in 1987. It’s pretty good at getting food products to remote and lowly populated areas and, as a result, makes good money doing it.

In 2017, North West’s revenues were $1.95 billion, 6% higher than in 2016. Its earnings declined by 7.1% in 2017 to $72 million as a result of acquisition-related expenses resulting from its purchase of some retail stores in the British Virgin Islands as well as the purchase of a North Bay airline specializing in deliveries to Canada’s north.

In 2018 and beyond, North West plans to focus on expanding the Giant Tiger brand across western Canada and buying up more locally owned Caribbean grocery and general merchandise retailers.

Of the three stocks, this is definitely the sleepiest, but if you hold for five to 10 years, you will make money.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Will Ashworth has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Open Text. CCL Industries, Intact Financial, and Open Text are recommendations of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Dividend Stocks

Businessman holding tablet and showing a growing virtual hologram of statistics, graph and chart with arrow up on dark background. Stock market. Business growth, planning and strategy concept
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Magic: Earn Enormous Passive Income That the CRA Can’t Touch

If you're seeking out passive income, with zero taxes involved, then get on board with a TFSA and this portfolio…

Read more »

Man with no money. Businessman holding empty wallet
Dividend Stocks

2 Stocks Under $50 New Investors Can Confidently Buy

There are some great stocks under $50 that every investor needs to know about. Here’s a look at two great…

Read more »

think thought consider
Dividend Stocks

Down 10.88%: Is ATD Stock a Good Buy After Earnings?

Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD) stock might not be the easy buy-case it once was. Here’s a look at what happened.

Read more »

money cash dividends
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Dividend Stocks: Earn $1,200/Year Tax-Free

Canadian stocks like Fortis are a must-have in your portfolio to earn tax-free yields for decades.

Read more »

sale discount best price
Dividend Stocks

1 Dividend Stock Down 11 Percent to Buy Right Now

Do you want a great dividend stock down 11% that can provide years of growth potential? Here's one heavily discounted…

Read more »

Growth from coins
Dividend Stocks

1 Grade A Dividend Stock Down 11% to Buy and Hold Forever 

If you're looking for the right dividend stock at the right price, you're going to want to consider this insurance…

Read more »

Target. Stand out from the crowd
Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Stocks to Double Up on Right Now

Are you looking for dividend stocks to buy right now? Here are two top picks!

Read more »

edit Taxes CRA
Dividend Stocks

Tax Time: How to Keep More of Your Money

Nearly everyone hates paying taxes, although Canadians can lessen the financial pain with the right tax strategies.

Read more »