Market Crash Alert: Why You Should Buy Dividend Stocks

Investors looking to consider dividend stocks have a range of options, as they need to diversify their portfolios.

A close up image of Canadian $20 Dollar bills

Image source: Getty Images

The current market crash has wiped out billions of dollars in investor wealth. The COVID-19 pandemic has decimated stocks across most industries. But the sell-off also provides an opportunity to buy high-quality stocks at attractive valuations.

Dividend stocks are extremely attractive in the current environment. The pullback has driven dividend yields higher, making them solid bets when interest rates are near record lows. Now, investing in dividend stocks will not only provide investors with a stable stream of income but will also give them an opportunity to create wealth via capital appreciation once the equity markets rebound.

But how do you select dividend stocks in these volatile markets?

Large-cap dividend stocks

Canadians can look to bet on the largest companies in the country that generally have a huge market presence, strong balance sheets, and financial flexibility to overcome a recession. Below are some of Canada’s top large-cap stocks with their respective dividend yields.

  • Royal Bank of Canada: 5%
  • Toronto-Dominion Bank: 5.4%
  • Enbridge: 8.1%
  • Bank of Nova Scotia: 6.5%
  • Canadian National Railway: 2.1%
  • Brookfield Asset Management: 1.4%

Warren Buffett stocks

When it comes to investing, you’ll want to follow investors such as Warren Buffett. The Oracle of Omaha has been one of the most successful investors in the last few decades and has managed to beat broader markets by buying undervalued stocks. Let’s take a look at some of Buffett’s top holdings and their respective dividend yields.

  • Bank of America: 3%
  • Coca-Cola: 3.5%
  • Kraft Heinz: 5.7%
  • Restaurants Brand International: 4.3%
  • United Parcel Service: 4.1%

Defensive dividend stocks

Another way to buy dividend stocks is by betting on companies that are part of dividend industries, such as utilities, groceries, and telecom. Essential services generally continue to experience low volatility, even in a recessionary environment due to the nature of their businesses. People will continue to buy food products and pay their electricity and mobile bills, even in a downturn. Here are a few defensive stocks to consider.

  • Fortis: 3.5%
  • Verizon:4.3%
  • Telus: 5.2%
  • BCE: 5.7%
  • WalMart: 1.7%
  • Kroger: 2%

Growth stocks

Growth stocks that pay dividends continue to remain winning bets. Due to stellar growth metrics, these stocks generally crush markets in a bull run, and their dividends add to this exponential growth. Here we look at some of the top growth stocks for long-term investors.

  • Apple: 1.13%
  • Microsoft: 1.23%
  • Broadcom: 5%

Dividend Aristocrats

Canadians can look to park their funds in companies that have increased dividend payouts in the last five years. These Dividend Aristocrats generally have strong fundamentals and low payout ratios allowing them to increase payments annually.

  • TransAlta Renewables: 6.3%
  • Choice Properties: 5.5%
  • Capital Power Corp: 7.1%
  • Innergex Renewable Energy: 3.8%
  • Laurentian Bank of Canada: 8.7%

Buying cheap dividend stocks right now can help investors generate multi-fold returns and boost retirement prospects. You need to have a diversified portfolio of top-quality stocks across sectors and geographies, which will help mitigate different types of risks.

If you invest a total of $100,000 in the above 25 stocks, it will generate over $4,400 in annual dividend payments.

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.

Teresa Kersten, an employee of LinkedIn, a Microsoft subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. David Gardner owns shares of Apple and Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Apple, Canadian National Railway, Enbridge, and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Broadcom Ltd, Canadian National Railway, and Verizon Communications and recommends the following options: long January 2021 $85 calls on Microsoft and short January 2021 $115 calls on Microsoft. Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Dividend Stocks

You Should Know This
Dividend Stocks

How to Convert a $300 Monthly Investment Into $338 in Monthly Income

If you want a certain amount in monthly passive income, invest a similar amount today and leave the rest to…

Read more »

Increasing yield
Dividend Stocks

3 Income Stocks With Big Yields to Consider in April 2024

If you haven’t yet made your March investments, here are three income stocks to buy the dip and lock in…

Read more »

Senior Man Sitting On Sofa At Home With Pet Labrador Dog
Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: Don’t Miss Out on This Contribution Hack!

This hack has so many benefits for you -- not just when you put it in your RRSP but for…

Read more »

A red umbrella stands higher than a crowd of black umbrellas.
Dividend Stocks

Passive Income: 2 Safe Dividend Stocks to Own for the Next 10 Years

Dividend stocks such as Manulife and Fortis can help you generate a stable and recurring passive-income stream.

Read more »

Young woman sat at laptop by a window
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Stocks Everyone Should Own for the Long Haul

For investors looking for top-tier dividend stocks to buy and hold for the long term, here are three of my…

Read more »

Payday ringed on a calendar
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Stocks That Pay Me More Than $54.57 Per Month

These three dividend stocks have done me well over the years, so let's look at how much I've gotten in…

Read more »

Golden crown on a red velvet background
Dividend Stocks

Dividend Royalty: 3 Fabulous Stocks to Buy Now for Decades of Passive Income

Rogers Communications stock and Canadian Natural Resources stock could pay you dividends for decades to come.

Read more »

Dividend Stocks

The Top Canadian REITs to Buy in April 2024

For growth and dividends this April, look to these two REITs that have quite the promising present as well as…

Read more »