Most of the time, investors who prioritise high growth have to sacrifice dividend potential. So with the ongoing theme of artificial intelligence (AI), it can be tough to find companies that are benefiting from and implementing AI while still paying out income.
Yet for income investors, this isn’t the end of the road. Here are two I’ve spotted that offer generous yields while still pushing the AI narrative.
Top of the yield board
First up is Legal & General (LSE:LGEN). It currently has the highest dividend yield in the FTSE 100 at 7.65%, with the share price up 13% in the last year.
It’s actively embedding AI across its entire business to automate manual tasks, optimise investments, and improve the customer experience.
For example, it’s using AI to give customer service agents real-time account views, along with tools that suggest relevant next steps and evaluate call sentiment. This saves time, boosts efficiency, and improves the customer experience, helping to retain more clients (and assets under management).
It’s also starting to use AI on the investment side, but I think it can do a lot more in this area. I’m talking about aiding risk management, spotting potential financial issues and more. Again, this should help the company be more efficient and profitable, directly benefiting the share price over time.
On the income side, it’s steadily been increasing the divdiend per share over the past five years, and the dividend cover is comfortably above 1, so I don’t see any immediate risks here. However, one issue for the company is the regulatory environment, which could tighten and therefore negatively impact its potential to make higher profits.
Tapping AI server demand
Another company is National Grid (LSE:NG). Some might be surprised by this pick, but stay with me. Late last year, it partnered with Emerald AI to use software as a smart mediator between its electricity network and AI server farms. The system dynamically changes power and workloads depending on grid demand. This basically helps to provide a more efficient and flexible operating system for the company.
From an investor’s perspective, this should help to reduce downtime and outage costs, as well as help to grow revenues because consumers and businesses will have more confidence in using the National Grid network.
When looking at dividends, a utility company like National Grid has a strong history of paying dividends. The dividend yield’s 4.06%, with the share price up 16% in the past year. The management team targets an average payout ratio, which is hovering comfortably around 80% of underlying earnings. Further, it tracks its annual dividend increases directly to UK inflation, which will comfort some investors.
Overall, I think both stocks could be considered by investors who want exposure to AI but also want to own income shares.
Should you invest £5,000 in Legal & General Group Plc right now?
When investing expert Mark Rogers and his team have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Twelfth Magpie Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets.
And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Legal & General Group Plc made the list?
Jon Smith has no positions in the shares mentioned.
