Although the Reserve Bank of Australia disappointed investors by leaving interest rates on hold on Tuesday, there are still plenty of reasons why investors should be focused on shares offering solid dividend yields right now.
Indeed, interest rates are stuck at a mere 1.75%. That means that, after tax and inflation are taken into account, returns from term deposits and savings accounts are close to nothing.
By comparison, some investors are earning outsized returns by holding ASX shares offering solid dividend yields.
The good news is, it's not too late to join them!
Indeed, although the RBA delayed another rate cut yesterday, it is still expected to cut interest rates further in the near future.
And even if it doesn't, interest rates are likely to remain low for the foreseeable future, which makes dividend shares very appealing right now.
Here are two dividend shares that I believe offer investors value today. In addition to a solid yield, they both have the potential to generate capital gains as well!
Retail Food Group Limited (ASX: RFG) is the master franchisor behind a number of brands including, but not limited to, Gloria Jean's Coffee, Donut King and Crust Pizza. As the owner of those brands, Retail Food Group can rely on a strong revenue flow from its various franchisees which pay the parent company a portion of their own revenues each period.
This structure also allows Retail Food Group to expand its store count without having to use much of its own capital, while it also has the potential to acquire more brands and expand further internationally over the coming years.
Of course, it isn't a risk-free venture. If the economy does take a hit, so too could some of Retail Food Group's franchisees which could dent the company's earnings results.
Still, no share investment is without its risks. Retail Food Group's shares are trading for $5.57 with a trailing fully franked dividend yield of 4%. That should grow this year, and in the years to come.
Transurban Group (ASX: TCL) is the owner of some of Australia's (and America's) most important infrastructure, which includes several tollways and freeways connecting people to major cities. For instance, it owns CityLink in Victoria as well as the Hills M2 Motorway and the Cross City and Lane Cove Tunnels in New South Wales (amongst others).
Given the strong barriers to entry and the extent to which many individuals and businesses depend on their roads, Transurban enjoys strong pricing power that has seen revenues climb at a higher rate than average daily traffic in recent times. Of course, this does inflate the potential for regulatory risk, but it's a boon for investors in the meantime.
Transurban's shares have enjoyed a remarkable run in recent years, driven partially by the stock's incredible track record for increasing dividend payments to shareholders. The company is guiding for 45.5 cents per share in financial year 2016, which would equate to a 3.8% partially franked dividend yield at the current share price.
Shares aren't necessarily cheap right now, which is something investors ought to keep in mind, but they could be well worth holding onto for the long run.
