With the S&P/ASX 200 Index (Index: ^AXJO) (ASX: XJO) adding just 3% since the beginning of this year, investors are not getting much in the way of capital gains so far.
That's where dividends can come in as so important. Over the long-term, many studies have shown dividends to make up as much as half of the returns to investors. Anton Tagliaferro's Australian Share Fund has returned 11.6% since 1998, with 5.2% of that coming in the form of dividends.
Here are four stocks that are paying dividends of over 8%…
Asia Pacific Data Centre Group (ASX: AJD)
A special purpose real estate investment trust (REIT), APDC owns properties that are being used as data centres. The company's three assets, located in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, are leased to Nextdc Limited (ASX: NXT). With data centres popping up all over the place, thanks to the massive growth in data, the future looks bright for APDC. At the current price of $1.07, the company is paying a yield (unfranked) of around 8.7%.
Industrea REIT (ASX: IDR)
Industrea owns a portfolio of 18 industrial, technology park and business park assets across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide. The company expects to pay a 9.54 cent distribution next month, annualised comes to around 8.2% (unfranked), based on the current price of $1.97, and 8.4% next financial year.
360 Capital Industrial Fund (ASX: TIX)
360 Capital holds 18 assets valued at around $333.4 million, spread across most states of Australia. This will grow to 20 with the recent acquisition of two of Woolworths distribution centres. 94% of the company's portfolio by income is in warehousing / distribution, with 6% allocated to manufacturing. At the current price of $2.24, 360 Capital is paying a 8.5% yield in the 2015 financial year.
Australian Industrial REIT (ASX: ANI)
At the current price of $2.01, Australian Industrial REIT is paying a yield of more than 8%, with shareholders expected to receive a 8.18 cent dividend in late August. The company owns 15 properties, with 7 recently revalued, increasing the value of the company's portfolio by $8.6 million.
All four would be attractive investments for investors looking for yield. But if you are after those precious franking credits, you might want to read on further…
