Today Im going to look at two dividend stocks with forecast yields of more than 8%. Stocks such as these can be risky buys. Such high yields often indicate that the market sees problems ahead. A dividend cut is often inevitable.
However, there are certain situations where super-high yields are sustainable.
My first company, home and motor insurer Direct Line Insurance Group (LSE: DLG), is a stock I recently bought for my own portfolio. Analysts expect a total payout of 27.7p per share this year, including a special dividend. This gives the stock a forecast yield of 8.7%.
This high yield is just one of the reasons why I recently added Direct Line to my portfolio.
Why Im a buyer
Direct Lines share price has fallen by about 15% so far this year. Most other insurance stocks have also fallen as investors have fretted about risks such as rising interest rates, tough competition and increasing claims.
Despite these pressures, profit forecasts for this well-known firm have remained relatively stable. The latest consensus earnings forecasts for 2018 are only 3% lower than they were one year ago.
Mixed news
In a trading statement today, the firm said that gross written premiums the amount charged for new policies fell by 5.8% to 854.5m during Q3. However, the number of in-force policies only fell by 3.8% to 15,183. This implies that the average premium per policy fell during the period.
This decline was largely as expected, and chief executive Paul Geddes confirmed that he still expects the business to meet its 2018 targets.
Im comfortable with this situation and plan to continue holding. With a history of high returns and good cash generation, I rate these shares as a buy.
Is this 9.2% yield for real?
When I last wrote about housebuilder Crest Nicholson Holdings (LSE: CRST) in July, I was wary about investing in a company that was reporting falling profit margins after a long boom.
Has Crests recent year-end trading update changed my view? Perhaps. The news still wasnt very good, as the groups focus on London and the South East has left it exposed to slowing sales in this region. Sales volumes and profit margins are now both expected to be below previous guidance.
One to avoid?
In this context, the stocks 2018 forecast dividend yield of 9.2% might seem risky. But the company is shifting its strategy to protect shareholder returns.
Bulk sales of housing to rental landlords will be accelerated, while building rates will be slowed to better match demand. In the meantime, the firm plans to shift production towards cheaper houses and find other ways to cut costs.
Together, Crests management expects these changes to enable this years 33p dividend to be repeated in 2019.
Analysts forecasts suggest that this payout should be covered about 1.8 times by earnings in both 2018 and 2019. If the firms strategic shift delivers stable profits, then this 9% yield could be sustainable.
Crest Nicholson stock isnt without risk, but I think the shares are probably fairly priced at this level. Id continue holding, for now.
Do you want to retire early and give up the rat race to enjoy the rest of your life? Of course you do, and to help you accomplish this goal, the Motley Fool has put together this free report titled “The Foolish Guide To Financial Independence”, which is packed full of wealth-creating tips as well as ideas for your money.
The report is entirely free and available for download today, so if you’re interested in exiting the rat race and achieving financial independence, click here to download the report. What have you got to lose?