Real estate, finance and consumer staples bringing best returns across UK Dividend Aristocrats

May 27, 2020

Real estate may be in uncertain waters, but there are no less than two UK real estate companies leading the charge where UK Dividend Aristocrats and the highest dividends yields are concerned.

Peer to peer lending platform, Sourced Capital, analysed the top 40 UK companies that have consistently provided an increase or stable dividends for at least seven consecutive years and are therefore classed as Dividends Aristocrats by the S&P.

Sourced Capital then looked at the dividends yield for shareholders of these companies over the course of the year based on share price and declared dividends, to see which is proving the best currently based on the cost of investing and their return.

The figures show that the strongest performing sector is the financial sector, accounting for 24% of the top 40 UK Dividend Aristocrats. Consumer discretionary also ranked high with 21% of companies operating within this sector, with the industrial sector (12%), consumer staples (12%) and communication services (9%) also performing well at present.

At 5%, the real estate sector accounted for one of the lowest percentages of UK based Dividend Aristocrats but when it comes to the companies themselves, it’s a different story.

Hammerson plc tops the table of all 40 UK Dividend Aristocrats with an impressive dividend yield of 20.7% over the last 12 months.

Investec plc flies the flag for the financial sector in second place with a yield of 15.4% in the last year, followed by Imperial Brands plc (consumer staples) at 12.7% and Marks and Spencers (consumer discretionary) at 11.3%.

Other companies to make the list within the financial sector include Legal and General Group plc (8.6%), Jupiter Fund Management plc (7.6%) and 3i Group (4.9%).

SSE plc (7.5%) is the only company within the top 10 operating within the utilities sector, while British American Tobacco plc is the second from the consumer staples sector, and British Land Company plc (6.1%) completes the list as the second real estate company in the list.

Sector allocation of top 40 UK Dividend Aristocrats
Sector
% of aristocrat group
Financial
24%
Consumer Discretionary
21%
Industrial
12%
Consumer Staples
12%
Communication services
9%
Utilities
7%
Health care
6%
Materials
5%
Real estate
5%
Top 10 – UK Dividend Aristocrats ranking
Company Name
Sector
Dividend yield (last 12 months)
Hammerson plc
Real Estate
20.7%
Investec plc
Financials
15.4%
Imperial Brands PLC
Consumer Staples
12.7%
Marks and Spencer Group plc
Consumer Discretionary
11.3%
Legal & General Group Plc
Financials
8.6%
Jupiter Fund Management plc
Financials
7.6%
SSE plc
Utilities
7.5%
British American Tobacco p.l.c.
Consumer Staples
7.1%
British Land Company PLC
Real Estate
6.1%
3i Group plc
Financials
4.9%

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Estate Agents should not all look the same
Estate Agent Talk

When Estate Agents Decide to Go Solo

Leaving an established estate agency to work independently gives experienced agents more control over fees, client service and working hours. It also brings responsibility for compliance, cash flow and every part of the customer experience. Before handing in your notice, test the idea against realistic sales volumes, local competition and the amount of time you…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

What Should Buyers Ask Before Reserving a New Build?

Research from Skipton Building Society has found that 44% of aspiring first time buyers would rather buy a new build than an older property, with just 30% favouring an older build. Modern fittings and appliances were the biggest draw, cited by over half of those who preferred a new build, alongside the promise of lower…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK cities with the largest property price increases revealed

A new study has unveiled the most challenging UK cities for first-time buyers. Newry leads Northern Ireland’s ranking, with a property price increase of 12.8%, while Hull leads Great Britain’s ranking, recording an increase of 6.6%. The research examined data from HM Land Registry to reveal the cities that have faced the highest property price…
Read More →
Breaking News

The UK’s Most Expensive Property Hotspots Revealed

More than one in three homes sold in Camden last year fetched at least £1 million, making it the UK’s leading million-pound property hotspot in a new study of England and Wales. But despite London’s dominance at the top of the rankings, the research reveals a surprising trend: median sale prices in several expensive London…
Read More →
Breaking News

Lloyds House Price Index – October 2026

House prices in October 2026 were 1.2% lower compared to the same month a year earlier. House prices fall in October as market remains subdued • House prices fell by -0.6% in October, following a -0. 1% decrease in September • The average property price is now £29 6 ,285 , compared to £29 8…
Read More →
Breaking News

Britain’s most affordable towns revealed

Britain’s most affordable towns revealed, where homes cost less than two years worth of household earnings   Zoopla reveals 36 British towns where a typical home is worth less than twice the combined annual earnings of two local full-time workers Across Great Britain, a typical home costs 4.3 times annual household earnings, compared with just…
Read More →