What type of stocks should I buy given the present uncertainty on the stock market’s future direction?

It is always very difficult to determine whether we’ve seen the worst or if it is still in a situation pending a major market correction. Although there are a lot of uncertainties over the market’s future, we can still invest if we are able to find stocks paying good dividend yields.

According to Benjamin Graham and David Dodd in their book, Security Analysis, the price paid for a stock would be determined chiefly by the amount of the dividend paid. A good company should pay dividends. This is one of the best ways to reward shareholders. Besides, we always believe a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Stocks paying good dividends will provide us with a “floor” if the market is undergoing a correction.

For example, Company A has a stable business and is paying a relatively fixed dividend of 32 sen a year. Its dividend yield (DY) will be equivalent to 5.3% based on the market price of RM6. This is quite attractive if we compare it with the current 12-month fixed deposit (FD) rate of 3.7%.

Assuming, as a result of a big market correction, its stock price tumbles to RM5, then its DY will surge to 6.4%. This will make Company A even more attractive compared with FD rates.
Certain investors may be worried whether Company A’s business will be affected by the slowdown in the overall economy. If its business is consumer-based with relatively stable demand, its sales and profits will be less affected by the economic slowdown.

Besides, as most companies are trying to maintain a fixed dividend payment, investors can still enjoy good dividend returns. Sometimes, the over-reaction to a market crash may be much greater than the drop in profits. This will give investors another great opportunity to buy the stock at a lower entry price. If investors are prepared to hold on to the stock over the next five to 10 years, a lower entry price will give us greater capital gain.