Are you short of excellent investment opportunities, as markets loiter around all-time highs? Well, you are not alone! Many small investors and prominent hedge fund managers are currently sitting on a large cash pile, as they think markets are overvalued. The legendary investor Warren Buffett is also one of them. His investing conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway is sitting on more than US$145 billion in cash.
Are you sitting on extra cash?
If you are also sitting on a big pile of cash, consider investing in stable, dividend-paying stocks for the long term. Many Canadian households turned extra conservative amid the pandemic and saved more than what they might need in case of emergencies. However, storing cash may not be the best solution here. It loses value with inflation and does not earn any returns.
Instead, putting a portion of this emergency cash into dividend stocks will start a passive-income stream, and your capital will be relatively safe.
Now, some might debate that cash will not deplete in value, but stocks might. What if I need the money in, say, six months from now, and my investment loses a significant value by then?
That’s a valid point, as stocks come with the inherent risk of volatility. However, if you only invest a portion of your cash for a reasonably long term, this risk gets effectively minimized.
What are the best stocks to buy right now?
Consider a top telecom stock BCE (TSX:BCE)(NYSE:BCE). It yields a juicy 6% at the moment, notably higher than TSX stocks at large. It will pay a total dividend of $3.50 per share in 2021. Dividends generally increase as the company increases its profits.
BCE has a long dividend payment history, and one can expect consistently growing dividends from it for years to come. That’s mainly because its low-risk telecom operations provide earnings stability and visibility. BCE increased dividends last year as well when the pandemic ravaged many businesses and forced companies to suspend their dividends.
Notably, this seems to be the apt time to bet on telecom stocks like BCE. The 5G revolution will likely accelerate BCE’s earnings growth in the next few years. Its decent capital gains prospects and juicy dividend yield make it an attractive investment proposition for long-term investors.
Consider investing part of your cash in the best Canadian stocks
Top midstream energy giant Enbridge (TSX:ENB)(NYSE:ENB) is another stable dividend stock for income-seeking investors. It offers an even higher yield of more than 7%. It has raised dividends for the last 26 consecutive years, driven by its low-risk operations and stable earnings.
Enbridge is an energy pipeline company whose earnings are relatively less susceptible to volatile oil and gas prices.
Bottom line
These two are some of the best dividend stocks in Canada. They have created decent shareholder returns, mainly with their stable dividends, for decades.
If you invest $2,000 equally in BCE and ENB stocks, they will generate $130 in dividends per year. Their slow stock price movements and lower correlation with broader markets make them a relatively safe bet for conservative investors.
The 10 Best Stocks to Buy This Month
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Fool contributor Vineet Kulkarni has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Berkshire Hathaway (B shares) and Enbridge and recommends the following options: short January 2023 $200 puts on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), short June 2021 $240 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares), and long January 2023 $200 calls on Berkshire Hathaway (B shares).
