I have no doubt you have seen the negative headlines recently. They probably read something similar to 'ASX set to open X% lower', or '$XX billion wiped off the ASX', or 'ASX shares lower due to coronavirus spread'.
Now, these headlines may not be wrong, but they do focus on the negative. This is probably because of our loss aversion bias which states that the pain of losing is psychologically more powerful than the pleasure of an equal gain. This may give some credence as to why we respond more to negative headlines.
In saying that, it has been a tough time, and the S&P/ASX 200 Index (INDEXASX: XJO) has dropped another 3.2% today. However, spinning this around, we could somewhat roughly say that the average dividend yield has increased 3.2%. And that's not including the recent market falls prior to today.
Now the numbers don't exactly work out as simply as that. However, it is true that as a company's share price drops, its dividend yield increases. This occurs thanks to you buying the shares at a lower price while the (trailing) dividend remains fixed. And as long as this share price fall isn't due to a drop in the company's fundamental earnings potential, which would effect its dividend paying ability, now could be a great time to snap up some dividend-paying ASX shares.
ASX dividend shares
Dividend shares such as Westpac Banking Corp (ASX: WBC) and WAM Capital Limited (ASX: WAM) have both fallen a little less or a little more than 10% over the past week. This means if you were looking at buying these shares for their dividend yield before, it's even better now.
In fact, based on today's closing prices, Westpac currently offers a grossed-up dividend yield of 10.51%. Even better than this is WAM Capital's current grossed-up yield of 10.61%.
Other dividend-paying shares I would consider buying in this falling ASX market are Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL), Tassal Group Limited (ASX: TGR), Rural Funds Group (ASX: RFF) and Transurban Group (ASX: TCL).
Foolish takeaway
All of the shares mentioned have followed the ASX 200 lower with their share prices falling over the recent past. However, as noted, this means that they trade with a higher dividend yield.
With the exception of WAM Capital which relies on its share portfolio return to pay dividends, I don't believe any of these companies' earnings will be materially effected by the coronavirus outbreak so long as it doesn't reach Australia.
This means that their dividend paying ability should remain intact. So, if you were considering buying ASX shares for their dividend income, I think now could provide a better opportunity.
