As rising living costs and persistent inflation continue to pressure household budgets, many retirees are shifting their focus from simply preserving savings to building reliable passive-income streams. One of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to generate a steady income is to invest in high-quality dividend-paying stocks.
Since retirees typically have shorter investment horizons and less time to recover from market downturns, adopting a conservative, risk-aware investment strategy is even more important. Against this backdrop, let’s look at two high-yield dividend stocks that could be ideal additions to a retiree-focused portfolio.
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Enbridge
Enbridge (TSX:ENB) is a leading energy infrastructure company that operates an extensive pipeline network transporting oil and natural gas across North America through tolling frameworks and long-term take-or-pay agreements. In addition, the company owns regulated natural gas utility assets and a portfolio of renewable energy projects backed by long-term power-purchase agreements (PPAs). Around 98% of its earnings come from contracted and regulated businesses, with nearly 80% linked to inflation, allowing Enbridge to generate stable cash flows regardless of commodity price fluctuations or broader economic conditions.
Supported by the strength of its resilient business model, Enbridge has paid dividends for more than seven decades and increased its dividend annually for the past 31 consecutive years. Its current quarterly payout of $0.97 per share yields 5.29% on a forward basis.
Meanwhile, rising oil and natural gas production and consumption across North America continue to support long-term demand for Enbridge’s infrastructure and services. To capitalize on these trends, the company has identified approximately $50 billion in growth opportunities over the rest of the decade and plans to invest $10–$11 billion annually to fund them. Supported by these expansion initiatives, management expects adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization), distributable cash flow per share, and adjusted EPS (earnings per share) to grow at 5% through 2030.
Along with its healthy growth outlook, Enbridge also maintains a solid financial position, supported by approximately $10.8 billion in liquidity and a reasonable net debt-to-adjusted EBITDA ratio of 4.8. Given its stable cash flows, strong balance sheet, and proven dividend-growth track record, Enbridge appears well-positioned to continue rewarding shareholders, making it an attractive option for retirees seeking reliable passive income.
SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust
Another high-yield dividend stock that appears well suited for retirees is SmartCentres Real Estate Investment Trust (TSX:SRU.UN). The REIT operates 198 strategically located properties across Canada, with nearly 90% of Canadians living within 10 kilometres of one of its locations. Its tenant base is also highly resilient, with 95% of tenants having a regional or national presence and almost 60% operating essential-service businesses. As a result, SmartCentres continues to maintain a healthy occupancy rate regardless of broader economic conditions.
In addition to strong occupancy levels, consistent lease renewals, ongoing lease-up activity, and rising rental rates have supported the REIT’s financial performance and cash flow generation. Backed by these stable cash flows, SmartCentres currently pays a monthly distribution of $0.15417 per unit, yielding 6.5% at current levels.
Meanwhile, demand for retail space has remained resilient, supported by economic growth and limited new supply amid elevated construction costs, creating a favourable backdrop for SmartCentres. The company also maintains a substantial development pipeline totalling 87.4 million square feet, including 0.8 million square feet currently under construction. These expansion initiatives could strengthen its long-term financial performance and support continued attractive payouts for retirees.
