Establishing a stable and recurring revenue stream is one of the primary goals of any well-diversified portfolio. In doing so, investors can look forward to a stress-free retirement. But what Canadian dividend stocks can provide that income stream?
Fortunately, the market gives us plenty of dividend options to consider. Here are some of those great income-producers that can help build a portfolio for a stress-free retirement.
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A defensive income-producer to buy and forget
One of the key elements to a stress-free retirement is establishing a diversified and stable income stream. Defensive stocks such as utilities are great examples to consider. The reason for that defensive appeal stems from the lucrative business model that utilities adhere to.
In short, utilities provide a necessary service that is backed by long-term regulated contracts. In many cases, those contracts span several decades in duration, which translates into a stable revenue stream.
And that defensive utility for investors to consider right now is Canadian Utilities (TSX: CU). Prospective investors should also note that Canadian Utilities is also the only Dividend King in Canada, with a whopping 51 consecutive years of increases.
Today that yield works out to 4.72%.
A bank with growth and income-producing potential
Canada’s big banks are almost always a great option for investors looking to achieve a stress-free retirement. Bank of Nova Scotia (TSX: BNS) is unique among its peers, and should be on the radar of investors everywhere.
Like its peers, Scotiabank offers a strong domestic segment and a growing presence internationally. Where it differs from the other big banks is where Scotiabank has expanded. Rather than focusing on the U.S. market like its peers, Scotiabank opted for the Latin American markets of Mexico, Columbia, Chile and Peru.
Those four nations are party to a trade bloc known as the Pacific Alliance, which is charged with improving trade and reducing tariffs. Scotiabank’s presence in each country helped the bank become a recognizable and trusted partner across the region.
Turning to income, Scotiabank boasts the highest yield of its peers, which as of the time of writing works out to a juicy 6.19%.
A telecom building for the future
Another area to consider investing in for a stress-free retirement is Canada’s telecoms. Like utilities and banks, telecoms provide a necessary service and generate a predictable revenue stream. And that telecom to consider investing in right now is BCE (TSX: BCE).
BCE isn’t just one of the largest telecoms in Canada. The company also boasts a massive media segment that encompasses dozens of TV and radio stations across the country. This provides BCE with an additional revenue stream that is complementary to its core subscriber-based offerings.
Telecoms are incredibly defensive investments, and that defensive appeal has grown in the past few years. In short, the pandemic sped up the transition to an online-first model for commerce, and necessitated workers and students operate in a remote capacity.
While stores are open and schools are back to in-person learning, there are some that continue to remain in a remote or hybrid capacity. This adds to the overall defensive appeal of a telecom.
Turning to income, BCE has offered a juicy quarterly dividend for well over a century without fail. Today the yield on that dividend works out to 6.10%, making it one of the best income options on the market.
And like the other stocks mentioned above, BCE has an established history of providing annual bumps to that dividend.
You can have a stress-free retirement
No investment, even the most defensive, is without some risk. Fortunately, all three of the companies mentioned above are established leaders in their respective fields with decades of experience.
In my opinion, one or all of these stocks should form a core part of a larger, well-diversified portfolio.
