How to Build a Powerful Passive-Income Portfolio With Just $20,000

It is an opportune time to invest $20,000 and boost passive income. Between higher yields and higher dividend growth, which is better?

| More on:
dividends grow over time

Source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s premium investing services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

The market is ripe to buy dividend seekers. Annual dividend yields of 6.5-9% are too lucrative to ignore. Such yields are available among Dividend Aristocrats with a history of growing dividends annually and giving inflation-adjusted passive income. Now is the perfect opportunity to invest $20,000 and secure up to $5,450 in annual dividends.  

We won’t be solving any complex math equations here, just plugging and plotting three dividend stocks that have been making headlines. 

Three dividend stocks to consider for a power passive-income portfolio 

Two telcos and a pipeline company are worth considering for a powerful passive-income portfolio. While Telus (TSX:T) stock has fallen to its four-year pandemic low, BCE (TSX:BCE) has dipped to a 10-year low. Behind these bears is the brewing tension over a regulation that requires them to give competitors access to their fibre infrastructure at discounted prices. If the odds work in the telcos’ favour, their stock price could jump more than 20%, and they could sustain their dividend growth. Otherwise, their short-term dividend growth could slow or pause until they find more profitable business opportunities. 

Enbridge (TSX:ENB), on the other hand, is well placed to enjoy stable dividends, a 3% dividend CAGR till 2026 and 5% from 2027. Now that we have discussed the risk and reward, it’s time to answer the pressing question. 

What is better for passive income: Dividend growth or dividend yield? 

StockDividend YieldShare PriceShare CountTotal Dividend in 2024Dividend CAGR (2024-2034)Total Shares (DRIP) in 2034Total Dividend in 2034
Telus6.85%$22909$1,367.506%1638.2$4,413
Enbridge7.48%$45408$1,555.503% (5% post 2026)890$5,107
BCE8.95%$44.59448$1,783.533%1019.6$5,467
Dividend growth vs. dividend yield.

Suppose you invest $20,000 each in all three stocks on 30 April. This will buy more shares as they trade at their multi-year low, except Enbridge. Among the three, BCE has the highest yield of 8.95% and the lowest dividend growth of 3%. Telus has the highest dividend growth of 6% and the lowest yield of 6.85%.

If you were to invest in the dividend-reinvestment program (DRIP), your annual passive income would be highest in BCE, which has the highest yield. 

Note that Enbridge has suspended its DRIP since November 2018. There is also the risk that BCE and Telus might suspend DRIP or pause their dividend growth. That is the risk a higher yield brings. 

How do you convert $20,000 into $5,450 in annual passive income? 

YearBCE Stock Price
3.2% CAGR*
Annual InvestmentBCE DRIP SharesBCE Share countBCE Dividend per share (3% CAGR)Total dividend
2024$44.59$20,000.00448.0447.0$3.99$1,783.53
2025$46.02$1,783.5338.8485.8$4.11$1,996.32
2026$47.49$1,996.3242.0527.8$4.23$2,234.15
2027$49.01$2,234.1545.6573.4$4.36$2,499.93
2028$50.58$2,499.9349.4622.8$4.49$2,796.90
2029$52.20$2,796.9053.6676.4$4.63$3,128.67
2030$53.87$3,128.6758.1734.5$4.76$3,499.24
2031$55.59$3,499.2462.9797.4$4.91$3,913.12
2032$57.37$3,913.1268.2865.6$5.05$4,375.27
2033$59.20$4,375.2773.9939.5$5.21$4,891.26
2034$61.10$4,891.2680.11019.6$5.36$5,467.27
If you invest $20,000 in BCE DRIP on April 30, 2024.

In the best-case scenario, BCE sustains its 3% dividend growth and continues its DRIP. A $20,000 investment today will buy you 448 shares that could fetch $1,783 in annual dividends in 2024 at $3.99 per share. Assuming the share price grows at a 3.2% CAGR, every dividend will buy more DRIP shares, and your 1,019.6 shares can fetch you $5,467 in annual income by 2034 at $5.36 per share. 

If BCE pauses dividend growth, the DRIP shares at the end of 2034 will reduce to 926 and give $3,694 in annual dividends at $3.99 per share. A dividend growth pause in Enbridge and Telus would fetch you $2,851 and $2,155 in annual dividends by 2034. 

Investor takeaway 

These are just rough projections of some scenarios and are bound to change with real-world development. The idea of this exercise was to determine which gives higher returns: higher yield or higher dividend growth. The answer is higher yield. 

Should you invest $1,000 in Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation right now?

Before you buy stock in Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Atrium Mortgage Investment Corporation wasn’t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $20,697.16!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 29 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 3/20/25

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 Puja Tayal has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Enbridge and TELUS. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Confidently Navigate Market Volatility: Claim Your Free Report!

Feeling uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market lately? You’re not alone. At The Motley Fool Canada, we get it — and we’re here to help. We’ve crafted an essential guide designed to help you through these uncertain times: "5-Step Checklist: How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Volatility."

Don't miss out on this opportunity for peace of mind. Just click below to learn how to receive your complimentary report today!

Get Our Free Report Today

More on Dividend Stocks

concept of real estate evaluation
Dividend Stocks

Canadian Real Estate Stocks: How I’d Navigate This Sector With $15,000 During The Pullback

A $15,000 investment split among these two undervalued Canadian defensive REITs could generate high income yields with capital gains upside

Read more »

A worker gives a business presentation.
Dividend Stocks

2 Canadian Dividend Stocks I’d Buy With $3,000 Whenever They Dip in Price

There's no shortage of great Canadian dividend stocks to buy, but these two pose huge upside right now for income…

Read more »

hand stacks coins
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Invest $20,000 in Canadian Stocks for Lasting Generational Wealth

Long-term investors willing to be patient with their money should have these three TSX stocks to build lasting wealth.

Read more »

four people hold happy emoji masks
Dividend Stocks

The Best Canadian Dividend Stocks to Buy in April 2025

Canadian dividend stocks are some of the best options out there, and these few look like some of the best.

Read more »

Canadian dollars are printed
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Use $10,000 to Transform My TFSA Into a Cash-Generating Machine

It may be grim out there, but there are plenty of sky-high dividend yields to choose from on the TSX…

Read more »

Canada day banner background design of flag
Dividend Stocks

Top Canadian Stocks to Buy Right Now With $5,000

Looking for some safe, long-term stocks? These Canadian stocks are where you should look first.

Read more »

Car, EV, electric vehicle
Dividend Stocks

Outlook for Magna Stock in 2025

Magna stock has sunk into the toilet, but it could now be one of the best undervalued stocks out there.

Read more »

alcohol
Dividend Stocks

Why I’d Consider These 3 Blue-Chip Dividend Stocks for a $20,000 Lifelong Investment

In a market correction, it’s essential to focus on blue-chip stocks that offer stability and long-term growth potential.

Read more »