Passive Income: A 2-Dividend-Stock Starter Pack for Beginner Investors

Canadian beginner investors should buy Inovalis REIT (TSX:INO.UN) and another top passive-income stock in June 2021 and go away.

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s premium investing services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Beginner investors looking to build their own passive-income stream are in luck, as many of the higher-yielding dividend stocks remain off considerably from their all-time highs.

Despite their relatively safe and ever-improving macro outlook, some yields remain skewed on the higher end of the historical range. Across some of the harder-hit areas of the REIT scene, yields are still on the higher end, allowing passive-income investors a shot to lock in a slightly above-average yield alongside a shot at potentially outsized gains as the economy continues reopening.

In this piece, I’ve narrowed it down to a high-yield REIT and a top dividend grower with a respectable upfront yield. Without further ado, consider the following:

Inovalis REIT

Inovalis REIT (TSX:INO.UN) is a European office REIT with a monster yield that looks riskier than it is.

Yes, Inovalis is an office REIT, and there are fewer places that are less appealing than office space these days. The work-from-home (or hybrid work-from-anywhere) model isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, some folks, including Bill Gates, think the demand for office space could take a permanent hit as a result of this pandemic. There’s no denying such demand destruction. However, I believe that any modest reversion in mean demand for office space is enough to propel Inovalis stock towards or perhaps even above its pre-pandemic highs.

Shares boast a towering 8.23% dividend yield, which, believe it or not, is by design. The payout is relatively safe, and as rent normalizes further, expect the degree of security on the dividend to improve further. You won’t get much in the way of capital gains after the recent rally, but you will get passive income to fund a bountiful income stream. For beginners looking to get a raise, that’s the most you could ask for!

CN Rail

CN Rail (TSX:CNR)(NYSE:CNI) has one of the widest moats on the planet. And it’s about to become even bigger once the Kansas City Southern deal goes through.

With track that goes from the southern U.S. into Mexico, CN Rail will have a sky-high moat surrounding cross-border North American freight traffic. The price paid to get KSU’s assets is undoubtedly high at around US$34 billion. But did the deal warrant a vicious correction on CNR stock? Given the favourable macro backdrop and the fact that the CN-KSU deal could be the last major rail deal on the continent, I’d argue not.

With CNR stock stuck in limbo, I’d look to load up before the name has a chance to bounce back in the early innings of the Roaring ’20s. CN Rail is one of those wonderful businesses that should be bought anytime the price takes a dip. The 1.9% yield may not seem like much, but only when you consider the long-term dividend-growth potential does the power of CN’s dividend become apparent.

Bottom line for passive-income hunters

So, whether you’re in the market for an upfront yield north of 8%, or above-average dividend growth for the extremely long term, passive-income investors should look to put money to work before the market really has a chance to roar higher on the back of this new bull market.

Inovalis and CN are both top picks, but if I had to choose one, I’d go with CN, because it’s one of the bluest blue-chip dividend growers on the planet, and it seldom goes on sale.

Should you invest $1,000 in Canadian National Railway right now?

Before you buy stock in Canadian National Railway, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy now… and Canadian National Railway wasn’t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the “eBay of Latin America” at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $21,345.77!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month – one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 24 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 4/21/25

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 Joey Frenette owns shares of Canadian National Railway. The Motley Fool recommends Canadian National Railway and Inovalis REIT.

Confidently Navigate Market Volatility: Claim Your Free Report!

Feeling uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market lately? You’re not alone. At The Motley Fool Canada, we get it — and we’re here to help. We’ve crafted an essential guide designed to help you through these uncertain times: "5-Step Checklist: How to Prepare Your Portfolio for Volatility."

Don't miss out on this opportunity for peace of mind. Just click below to learn how to receive your complimentary report today!

Get Our Free Report Today

More on Dividend Stocks

senior relaxes in hammock with e-book
Dividend Stocks

How I’d Invest $8,200 in Canadian Monthly Dividend Stocks to Pay for My Retirement Lifestyle

If you have some cash on hand, then these monthly dividend stocks can provide you with cash for life.

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Dividend Stocks

Here’s Exactly How $20,000 in a TFSA Could Grow to $300,000

Can you grow $20,000 into $300,000 by holding the iShares S&P/TSX Index Fund (TSX:XIC) in a TFSA?

Read more »

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund
Dividend Stocks

How to Use $15,000 in a High-Yield Dividend ETF for Steady Passive Income

This ETF has it all, a strong portfolio of dividend payers, along with a high yield for investors.

Read more »

Person holds banknotes of Canadian dollars
Dividend Stocks

A 9.9 Percent Dividend Stock Paying Cash Every Month

If you are looking to park your money for the short term and earn from it, this 9.9% dividend stock…

Read more »

Blocks conceptualizing Canada's Tax Free Savings Account
Dividend Stocks

Have Room in Your TFSA? 1 Canadian Dividend Champion for April Investors

If you've got extra cash in your TFSA, the latest dip in markets may provide you with a golden opportunity…

Read more »

engineer at wind farm
Dividend Stocks

Beginner Investors: How I’d Allocate $5,000 in 2 Safe Dividend Stocks

There are plenty of great dividend stocks on the market, but these two are buy-and-forget candidates that will boost your…

Read more »

grow money, wealth build
Dividend Stocks

Invest $25,000 in These 3 Dividend Stocks for $1,600 in Annual Income

These three Canadian dividend stocks could deliver a reliable passive income of over $1,600 annually.

Read more »

Woman in private jet airplane
Dividend Stocks

Why I’d Start My Investing Journey With $7,000 in 4 Foundational Stocks

These four stocks have high-quality and reliable operations, making them among the best long-term investments in Canada.

Read more »