Guaranty Trust HoldCo is best dividend stock to buy

Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc is the best dividend paying company in Nigeria, as investors are getting back more for each Naira they invest in the equity position.

The lender’s stock has a dividend yield of 17.18 per cent, which is higher than its peers. Currently in the market, United Bank for Africa has 14.18 per cent; Zenith Bank, 14 per cent; AXA Mansard, 13.89 per cent; United Capital, 12.61 per cent; Total, 10.52 per cent, Stanbic IBTC, 10.53 per cent, and Access Bank, 8.43 per cent.

Dividends provide steady income to investors and most of them perceive it as a signal of a company’ financial strength, which is why there is the news of a payment that, sometimes, affects the share price.

Of course, dividend paying stocks are known to have weathered severe market storms as companies with strong balance-sheets, steady cash flow, and attractive yields can save investors from inflation as they are expected to grow steadily.

Stanbic IBTC and Seplat Energy have paid interim dividends so far, and it is expected that more will be rewarding their owners from distributable profit.

It must be noted that the equity market rally since the start of the year is partly buoyed by investors’ optimism of steady dividend payment as companies have remained resilient amid a difficult business environment.

The NGX ASI has returned 13.95 per cent so far this year, but the momentum in stock rally has slowed due to sell offs in bellwether stocks in the last one week.

Money Central