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Who Will Be The UK Dividend Stars Of 2025?

British American Tobacco, Unilever, and Diageo dominated 2024. But will their reign continue?

Christopher Johnson 10 January, 2025 | 10:24AM
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The FTSE 100 is expected to deliver around £83.6 billion in dividends in 2025, an increase of 6.5% from the £78.5 billion projected in 2024.

Though it’s too early to say who this year’s dividend stars will be, we do know the stocks that have previously been identified as high-yielding dividend payers.

British American Tobacco BATS leads the pack in Morningstar’s UK Dividend Yield Focus Index.

The cigarette manufacturer has a dividend yield of 8.2% and pays a quarterly dividend of 58.88p. The company is currently trading at around £26.95, below Morningstar’s fair value estimate of about £39.

Despite concerns that BAT’s non-tobacco next-generation products are weaker than competitor offerings, Morningstar analysts say the company is currently undervalued.

They are also encouraged by a sales acceleration in the second half of 2024, which they say was partly driven by innovation.

Unilever ULVR comes in second place. The consumer goods company has a 3.21% dividend yield and pays a quarterly dividend of 36.66p.

Unilever is currently trading at around £45.85, just above Morningstar’s fair value estimate of over £43.

Morningstar’s analysts anticipate Unilever’s enhanced focus on India and other emerging markets should support its volume growth.

However, this will likely result in a substantial currency hit, weighing on the company’s targets for profit growth in hard currency.

Drinks giant Diageo DGE is the third-top dividend yielder in the Morningstar Index.

The multinational alcoholic beverage company has an annual dividend yield of 3.13% and pays a quarterly dividend of 19.84p.

Diageo is currently trading at £25.45, marginally below Morningstar’s fair value estimate of almost £26.

Investors have lower confidence in the spirits industry given disappointing sales post-Covid.

But Morningstar analysts believe the sector will recover and that Diageo will reach its medium-term targets.


The author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar's editorial policies.

The information contained within is for educational and informational purposes ONLY. It is not intended nor should it be considered an invitation or inducement to buy or sell a security or securities noted within nor should it be viewed as a communication intended to persuade or incite you to buy or sell security or securities noted within. Any commentary provided is the opinion of the author and should not be considered a personalised recommendation. The information contained within should not be a person's sole basis for making an investment decision. Please contact your financial professional before making an investment decision.

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Christopher Johnson  is data journalist at Morningstar

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