Finding attractive dividend shares in a low rates environment isn't getting any easier. Stalwarts like Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) and Sydney Airport Limited (ASX: SYD) yield just over 4%, which is pretty rough considering the dividends are unfranked.
Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) yields 7% with franking credits – but everybody hates it. So too with Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL), which pays a 5.4% franked dividend but recently saw its products rejected by two prominent customers.
It seems like it's harder than ever to find dividend stalwarts that you can rely on for income, year-in and year-out. Of course, you could always turn to the big banks like Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA) but hey, didn't they have that scandal that time? And plenty of smart people reckon that Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and its peers are set for a bust if the Australian property market unravels.
Investors are also getting pretty nervous about some of the other consumer stalwarts like Westfield Corp Ltd (ASX: WFD) or Scentre Group (ASX: SCG). Stories of 'ghost malls' in the USA and the impending arrival of Amazon aren't doing anyone's confidence any favours. Still, one wonders if some of these concerns are overblown, and if some serious money might be made by investors willing to work a little harder, or dig a little deeper…
