With an average dividend yield of approximately 3.9%, the Australian share market is one of the most income-friendly markets in the world.
Which certainly is a big positive given the low interest rate environment that we are living in today.
Amongst the good number of options that income investors have, three of my favourites are listed below. Here's why I would buy them:
Aventus Group (ASX: AVN)
Earlier this month this owner and operator of large format retail parks across Australia reported its full year results and revealed funds from operations (FFO) of $96 million. This was an increase of 7.9% on last year's FFO of $89 million and was driven by its high occupancy rate and like-for-like net operating income growth of 3.5%. As a result of its strong form, the company declared distributions of 16.6 cents per security for the year. Based on its FY 2020 FFO per security growth guidance of 3% to 4%, I estimate that its shares offer a 6.5% forward distribution yield.
National Storage REIT (ASX: NSR)
This real estate investment trust is focused on growing its network of self-storage units throughout Australia and New Zealand. It has been on a bit of an acquisition spree this year and has grown its network to 168 centres. This expansion and solid demand led to National Storage growing its underlying earnings by 21% to $62.4 million in FY 2019. The good news is that management expects its earnings to continue growing in the current financial year and has provided underlying earnings growth guidance of 4%. Based on this guidance, I estimate that its shares offer a forward 5.25% distribution yield.
Super Retail Group Ltd (ASX: SUL)
Super Retail is the retail group behind brands including Macpac, Rebel and Super Cheap Auto. It was able to overcome tough trading conditions in the retail sector in FY 2019 to deliver a solid 7% increase in profit. This allowed the company to increase its dividend to 50 cents per share fully franked, which equates to a 5.4% dividend yield. Pleasingly, management advised that it has had a positive start to FY 2020, which could mean another year of solid growth for the company's earnings and dividend.
