Finding ASX dividend shares with yields over 10% can be a dangerous game. A yield over 10% normally indicates that the market views the yield as risky, and primed for a possible dividend cut. Otherwise, it's likely that the share price would be bid up until the yield is lower.
So let's take a look at these 3 ASX dividend shares with trailing yields over 10% to see if we can find a diamond in the rough.
BetaShares Australian Dividend Harvester Fund (ASX: HVST)
This exchange-traded fund (ETF) employs a 'dividend harvesting' strategy. This means it buys ASX dividend-paying shares just before they're about to go 'ex-dividend', after which the fund sells them again. In this way, it rotates in and out of most of the dividend heavyweights on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
On one level, this strategy works to produce formidable dividend income. HVST currently has a trailing yield of 12%, or 16.8% grossed-up with franking.
Sounds pretty good, right?
Well, the downside is that this strategy trades capital value for income. There's usually no free lunch when it comes to investing. And swapping in and out of dividend shares is no exception. Since its inception in October 2014, the fund has actually gone backwards, delivering a return of (1.17%). As such, I'm not too wild on this investment.
WAM Research Limited (ASX: WAX)
This listed investment company (LIC) specialises in buying undervalued ASX growth companies and selling them after a pricing 'catalyst' comes to pass. It has managed to do this quite successfully, netting investors a 13.4% return per annum on average since 2010.
WAM Research pays most of its profits out as dividends, which have been rising every year since 2010 as well. On current prices, this dividend equates to a yield of 7.01%, or 10.01% grossed-up.
LICs normally pay dividends out of a profit reserve, so let's take a look at WAX's tank to see how well-funded this dividend is. As of 30 April, WAM Research has 26.2 cents per share in profits against its most recent dividend of 4.9 cents per share. As such, I think this is a rare diamond of an investment which can sustain a grossed-up yield over 10%.
Alumina Limited (ASX: AWC)
Alumina is Australia's largest aluminium pure play and has amassed a reputation as a generous dividend payer over the last few years.
On current prices, Alumina is offering a trailing yield of 7.74% – which grosses-up to 11.06% with full franking.
Unfortunately, I think Alumina's dividend yield is unsustainable. Aluminium prices have fallen substantially in 2020, which will crimp the ability of this company to keep shovelling cash out the door. This is probably the reason Alumina shares have collapsed in 2020 so far, falling from $2.30 at the start of the year to today's closing price of $1.51.
I have to agree with the market sentiment on this one that Alumina's dividend isn't sustainable going forward.
