Top
Image Alt

The Investing Box

  /  Editor's Pick   /  Should I buy these eye-catching FTSE 100 dividend shares today?

Should I buy these eye-catching FTSE 100 dividend shares today?

Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop

I’m searching the FTSE 100 for the best dividend shares to buy. Are these UK blue-chips too good to ignore?

BAE Systems

Global defence spending has soared in recent times. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total arms budgets rose 3.7% in 2022 to fresh peaks north of $2.2trn.

It looks like weapons expenditure in the West will remain at elevated levels too, as tensions over Chinese and Russian foreign policy grow. So major defence contractors like BAE Systems (LSE:BA.) can expect to grow profits strongly.

Strong first-half financials from the company illustrate how it is thriving in this new geopolitical era. Sales and pre-tax profits soared 11% and 54% respectively in the period, to £12bn and £1.2bn. Meanwhile, its order backlog leapt to all-time highs of £66.2bn.

BAE Systems has significant expertise across the defence market, and strong relationships with the UK and US. So it’s near the front of the queue when it comes to winning new contracts. It’s also doing increasing amounts of business in emerging markets which bodes well for long-term growth.

City analysts expect profits and dividends at the industry giant to keep rising for the next three years, at least. This results in a healthy 3% dividend yield.

I think the business is a great stock to buy for sustained dividend growth. That’s even though lumpy contract timings could impact earnings in certain years.

Persimmon

I’m also giving Persimmon (LSE:PSN) shares another close look today. It’s a share I already own, and the firm’s share price jump following latest trading numbers released Thursday has caught my attention.

The business chalked up 4,249 completions in the first half, leading it to predict full-year sales of 9,000. This is at the higher end of forecasts. The firm also maintained its 2023 underlying operating profit estimates after recording earnings of £152.2m between January and June.

That said, Persimmon’s first-half results are far from brilliant. The best I can say is that they are better than feared. Completions were down 36% year on year, while operating profit tanked by two-thirds as buyer interest evaporated.

The danger is that demand for new homes could remain under severe pressure as the UK economy struggles and interest rates remain above recent norms. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has just announced the biggest fall in average home prices since 2009.

For the first half of 2023, Persimmon has announced a 20p per share dividend. But tough trading conditions — allied with a steady drain on its cash reserves — could limit the firm’s ability to meet broker forecasts for this year.

The company carries a healthy 5.3% dividend yield for this year. However, weak dividend coverage of 1.3 times puts current dividend estimates in peril.

A brighter long-term outlook for the homes market means I’ll cling onto my Persimmon shares. But, right now, I’d rather buy other FTSE 100 shares for passive income now.

The post Should I buy these eye-catching FTSE 100 dividend shares today? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK.

Don’t miss this top growth pick for the ‘cost of living crisis’

While the media raves about Google and Amazon, this lesser-known stock has quietly grown 880% – with a:

  • Greater than 20X increase in margins
  • Nearly 60% compounded revenue growth over 5 years – more than Apple, Amazon and Google!
  • A 3,000% earnings explosion

Of course, past performance is no guarantee of future results. However, we think it’s stronger now than ever before. Amazingly, you may never have heard of this company.

Yet there’s a 1-in-3 chance you’ve used one of its 250 brands. Many are household names with millions of monthly website visitors, and that often help consumers compare items, shop around and save.

Now, as the ‘cost of living crisis’ bites, we believe its influence could soar. And that might bring imminent new gains to investors who’re in position today. So please, don’t leave without your FREE report, ‘One Top Growth Stock from The Motley Fool’.

Claim your FREE copy now

setButtonColorDefaults(“#5FA85D”, ‘background’, ‘#5FA85D’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#43A24A”, ‘border-color’, ‘#43A24A’);
setButtonColorDefaults(“#fff”, ‘color’, ‘#FFFFFF’);
})()

More reading

  • Down 20%+ in 12 months, are these FTSE 100 shares great buys for opportunistic investors?
  • Near their all-time high, can BAE Systems shares still go higher?
  • 2 stocks to buy for supercharged returns!
  • BAE Systems shares rise on stunning trading news. Here’s why I’d buy the FTSE share today!
  • My top 2 FTSE 100 dividend shares to buy in August

Royston Wild has positions in Persimmon Plc. The Motley Fool UK has recommended BAE Systems. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.