No Savings at 50 and Worried About Retirement? Buy Dividend Shares for Passive Income

Investing money in dividend shares today could lead to a growing passive income over the long run – even from a standing start at age 50.

Buying dividend shares today could be a sound means of obtaining a growing passive income over the long run. In many cases, they offer high yields after having not fully recovered from the 2020 stock market crash. And, with the global economic outlook set to improve, they may deliver rising dividends over the coming years.

Therefore, even if an investor has no savings at age 50, there may be time for them to build a worthwhile passive income between now and when they retire.

Buying dividend shares with high yields

High yields among many of today’s dividend shares do not only mean that they offer a generous passive income in the short run. A high yield also suggests that they may be priced at levels that do not fully factor in their long-term financial prospects.

For example, some consumer goods companies and energy stocks have high yields at the present time compared to their historic averages. This could be because they face difficult short-term outlooks that may dampen their financial prospects.

However, in many cases, such companies have solid financial positions and the right strategies to adapt to changing consumer tastes. This could mean that they can deliver impressive financial performances over the long run that translate into rising share prices.

Buying dividend stocks with growth potential

As well as focusing on dividend stocks with high yields, buying companies with growth potential could be a sound move. Businesses that are likely to benefit from industry-wide trends, such as an increasing shift toward a digital world, may be able to deliver stronger sales and profit growth than their peers.

This may have a positive impact on their valuations over the long run. It may also enable them to pay a rising dividend that increases their popularity among investors in an era of low interest rates. A rising dividend may also significantly improve an investor’s level of passive income over the long run. Compounding can mean that an above-average dividend growth rate turns a modest yield today into a very attractive level of income in the coming years.

Building a retirement portfolio

Even though dividend stocks could provide strong returns over the coming years, even an investment in a diverse range of shares that matches the market’s return can produce a surprisingly large portfolio. An investor who is aged 50 with no savings is likely to have at least 15 years left until they retire. In this time, a similar growth rate to the stock market’s historic return of 8% would turn a $750 monthly investment into a portfolio valued at $260,000.

However, through buying high-yielding stocks with dividend growth potential, it is possible to outperform the market. Doing so could provide greater financial freedom in retirement.

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.

More on Investing

think thought consider
Stock Market

Billionaires Are Selling Apple Stock and Picking up This TSX Stock Instead

Billionaires like Warren Buffett continue to trim stakes in Apple stock, with others picking up this long-term stock instead.

Read more »

ways to boost income
Dividend Stocks

1 Excellent TSX Dividend Stock, Down 25%, to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

Down 25% from all-time highs, Tourmaline Oil is a TSX dividend stock that offers you a tasty yield of 5%…

Read more »

canadian energy oil
Energy Stocks

Is Baytex Energy Stock a Good Buy?

Baytex just hit a 12-month low. Is the stock now oversold?

Read more »

Start line on the highway
Dividend Stocks

1 Incredibly Cheap Canadian Dividend-Growth Stock to Buy Now and Hold for Decades

CN Rail (TSX:CNR) stock is incredibly cheap, but should investors join insiders by buying the dip?

Read more »

bulb idea thinking
Dividend Stocks

Down 13%, This Magnificent Dividend Stock Is a Screaming Buy

Sometimes, a moderately discounted, safe dividend stock is better than heavily discounted stock, offering an unsustainably high yield.

Read more »

a man relaxes with his feet on a pile of books
Investing

Outlook for Sun Life Financial Stock in 2025

Sun Life is up 25% this year. Are more gains on the way?

Read more »

Canadian Dollars bills
Dividend Stocks

Invest $15,000 in This Dividend Stock, Create $5,710.08 in Passive Income

This dividend stock is the perfect option if you're an investor looking for growth, as well as passive income through…

Read more »

woman looks out at horizon
Stocks for Beginners

Here’s How Much Canadians at 35 Need to Retire

If you want to create enough cash on hand to retire, then consider an ETF in one of the safest…

Read more »