The 10 Highest Dividend Yields of the S&P/TSX 60 in April

Stocks like Crescent Point Energy Corp. (NYSE:CPG)(NYSE:CPG), Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (TSX:POT)(NYSE:POT), and Inter Pipeline Ltd. (TSX:IPL) are some of the highest yielding stocks around.

The Canadian economy has been sluggish lately, but you already know that. Why it has been sluggish is important. While there are many reasons, the biggest is that high debt loads and low oil prices could slow growth across the country.

And there’s good reason to think it will. In Alberta the ranks of the unemployed are growing as energy companies trim their payrolls. Rosy economic outlooks must therefore rely on strong consumer spending, but many Canadian households are up to their eyeballs in debt.

So, if business stalls, what should you do with your money? You could do worse than double down on dividends. Numerous studies have shown that high-yield stocks tend to beat the market in the long haul. And if the capital appreciation side of equities spins its wheels, dividends can still carry you along with respectable returns.

With this theme in mind, let’s have a look at the top yielding stocks in the S&P/TSX 60 index.

Company Market Cap Yield
Crescent Point Energy Corp. $14.6B 8.5%
TransAlta Corporation $3.4B 5.8%
Talisman Energy Inc. $10.0B 5.7%
ARC Resources Ltd. $8.5B 4.8%
Potash Corp./Saskatchewan $27.3B 4.8%
BCE Inc. $45.8B 4.8%
Inter Pipeline Ltd. $10.6B 4.7%
Cenovus Energy Inc. $19.2B 4.6%
Rogers Communications Inc. $22.3B 4.4%
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce $38.3B 4.4%

Source: Yahoo! Finance

To be clear, these are not formal buy recommendations. Rather, you should only use this list as a place to start your research because an unusually high yield could indicate that the current payout is unsustainable.

Teck Resources Ltd. (TSX:TCK.B)(NYSE:TCK) is a great example. In previous months, the company showed up on this high-yield list many times, luring in investors with its tidy 6% payout. But when faced with low coal prices, the miner was forced to slash its dividend by two-thirds last week.

Crescent Point Energy Corp (TSX:CPG)(TSX:CPG) is another deceptive high yielder. Sure, the company’s 8.5% payout looks tempting. However, with falling oil prices Crescent Point has a lot less cash coming in the door.

To manage both its generous distribution and expensive shale drilling program, management has been funding its dividend by diluting existing investors. In essence, they’re paying shareholders with their own money! That’s why you always have to dig into the financials to understand what’s going on.

However, there are some good income ideas on this list. Take Inter Pipeline Ltd. (TSX:IPL) for example. This company owns pipelines, terminals, and storage facilities. This is the infrastructure that ships and stores oil, natural gas, and other energy products throughout the country.

In return for moving and storing these products, this company earns a fee that is passed on to investors. What I love about this business is that while oil prices can swing wildly from day to day, the total volume of crude actually being moved remains remarkably consistent. As a result, Inter Pipeline hasn’t skipped a single dividend payment to shareholders since going public in 1997.

Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B)(NYSE:RCI) is another great income idea. This company churns out some of the most reliable dividends around. However, the telecom giant is looked down upon because it works in a mature industry.

Then again, when you see a stock paying out over 4%, no one should expect much in the way of earnings growth. But with a yield like this, shareholders who sit around reinvesting their dividends will easily beat most others as the years go by.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Robert Baillieul has no position in any stocks mentioned. Rogers Communications is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Dividend Stocks

Canadian dollars in a magnifying glass
Dividend Stocks

3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks That Are Screaming Buys Right Now

Are you looking for great income stocks? Here's a trio of high-yield dividend stocks that pay insane yields right now.

Read more »

Piggy bank with word TFSA for tax-free savings accounts.
Dividend Stocks

Transform a $5,000 TFSA Into a $50,000 Retirement Nest Egg

The TFSA is a powerful tool that can grow a small investment into a substantial retirement nest egg over time.

Read more »

A meter measures energy use.
Dividend Stocks

Is Fortis Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold for 2025?

Fortis has increased its dividend annually for the past five decades.

Read more »

analyze data
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Stocks That Are Screaming Buys in November

Here are three top dividend stocks long-term investors won't want to ignore during this part of the market cycle.

Read more »

senior relaxes in hammock with e-book
Dividend Stocks

Generate $175/Month in Passive Income With a $30,000 Investment

Dividend aristocrats offer reliability, and many of them also offer generous yields. With sizable enough discounts, these yields can become…

Read more »

dividends can compound over time
Dividend Stocks

Best Dividend Stocks to Buy Now for Canadian Investors

These three stocks would be excellent additions to your portfolios, given their solid underlying businesses, consistent dividend growth, and healthy…

Read more »

data analyze research
Dividend Stocks

3 Undervalued Stocks to Watch in November

Not all undervalued and discounted stocks are destined or poised to make a comeback soon, and a protracted timeline can…

Read more »

TFSA (Tax free savings account) acronym on wooden cubes on the background of stacks of coins
Dividend Stocks

The Perfect TFSA Stocks for Long-Term Growth

Two industry heavyweights are perfect stock holdings in a TFSA for long-term money growth.

Read more »