Generating a stable income for retirement is one of the primary goals of any investor. In order to accomplish that goal and remain diversified, investors should invest in a multitude of stocks across a broad section of the market. Here are some income-producing investments that should be income must-haves for nearly any portfolio.
This is a dividend must-have
Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX: BNS)(NYSE: BNS) is neither the largest or the most well-known of Canada’s big banks. It is, however, a well-diversified bank with a handsome dividend and plenty of growth potential.
When it comes to international expansion, Scotiabank opted for the Latin American nations of Mexico, Chile, Columbia, and Peru. In contrast, nearly all of Canada’s other big banks opted towards expanding into the areas of the U.S. market. That’s not to say that Scotiabank didn’t expand elsewhere — it did, but the focus was on those four nations.
Those four nations are part of a trade bloc known as the Pacific Alliance. By expanding throughout those nations, Scotiabank has effectively become a familiar face to do business across the region. This has led to impressive growth during earnings season, also fueling the strong growth of Scotiabank’s attractive, must-have dividend.
Scotiabank currently offers a quarterly distribution every January, April, July, and October that works out to a handsome 6.28% yield.
A solid, stable utility
Few investments can offer the defensive peace of mind that Fortis (TSX: FTS)(NYSE: FTS) has. Fortis is one of the largest utilities in North America with a diversified portfolio of regulated facilities that is scattered across the U.S. and Canada.
One of the main benefits of investing in a utility stems from the business model itself. Utilities provide a regulated service in exchange for a recurring revenue stream. The terms of those agreements are set out in regulated long-term agreements that can span decades. That stable and recurring revenue stream leads to handsome dividends for investors.
Fortis offers a quarterly dividend that currently works out to a respectable 3.58%. Additionally, Fortis boasts well over four decades of consecutive annual bumps to that must-have dividend. This is something that few companies can offer, and Fortis remains committed to continuing that trend.
Fortis provides that handsome quarterly distribution every February, May, August, and November.
Your cell phone can make you rich!
Telecoms represent one additional area to consider. BCE (TSX: BCE)(NYSE: BCE) in particular operates one of the largest wireless networks in Canada as well as a vast media empire. That media segment includes TV and radio stations as well as an interest in professional sports teams.
BCE’s wireless segment is what investors should be most excited about. Wireless connections have evolved in the past decade from communications devices to become a must-have of our digital life. In short, an endless array of new data-hungry apps and devices provide a recurring revenue stream for BCE and in turn, a generous dividend.
BCE’s quarterly dividend currently works out to an appetizing 5.91% yield. Apart from the growing necessity of wireless connections, worth noting is that BCE has been paying dividends for well over a century. In other words, this makes BCE an incredibly stable investment to make for any portfolio of dividend must-have investments.
BCE has distributions in March, June, September, and December.
