We have some exciting news to share! The Motley Fool UK has now become The Twelfth Magpie -- an independent, UK-owned company, led by our long-serving UK management team — Mark Rogers, Chris Nials and Heather Adlington. In practical terms, it’s the same team you know, now fully focused on serving our UK readers and members.

Just as importantly, our approach remains unchanged: long-term, jargon-free, and on your side. This site is our new home, and there will be extra tweaks made across the coming few days as we settle in. So if anything looks a little off, please bear with us!

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

3 cheap FTSE 100 dividend shares I’d buy now

These three dividend-paying FTSE 100 shares are valued attractively and have the potential to move higher, says Edward Sheldon, CFA.

| More on:

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Many FTSE 100 shares have performed well over the last few months. It’s fair to say that there’s a lot less value on offer today than there was in late March when the FTSE 100 was trading below 5,000 points.

That being said, there are still plenty of FTSE 100 shares that trade at very attractive valuations at present. Here’s a look at three cheap dividend-paying FTSE 100 stocks I’d be happy to buy today.

XXX

This FTSE 100 stock looks undervalued

The first cheap FTSE 100 stock I want to highlight is financial services giant Legal & General Group (LSE: LGEN). It currently trades on a forward-looking P/E ratio of just 7.4. At that valuation, I think the stock is significantly undervalued.

Earlier this month, analysts at Bank of America (BofA) Global Research upgraded LGEN to buy from neutral. They slapped a price target of 265p on the stock – 22% higher than the share price today.

BofA’s analysts also commented on LGEN’s bumper dividend yield, which currently stands at over 8%. “We think this is a particularly appealing proposition in a market starved of yield. Further, we think that the regulatory risk to the dividend is low,” they wrote to clients.

I fully agree with the BofA analysts’ view on Legal & General shares. I think the dividend yield here is very attractive. I’d buy this FTSE 100 share today.

Great buying opportunity

Another dividend-paying FTSE 100 share I’d be happy to buy today is Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LSE: HIK). It’s a fast-growing healthcare company that manufactures branded and non-branded generic medicines.

Hikma’s share price has fallen recently, despite the fact that the company issued a very encouraging trading update in April. The reason the shares have dropped? A major shareholder has sold a large amount of stock.

Personally, I think this share price weakness is a great buying opportunity. And I’m not the only one who sees an opportunity right now. Earlier this month, analysts at Morgan Stanley upgraded the stock to ‘overweight’ from ‘equal-weight’ and raised their price target from 2,200p to 2,600p. That price target is around 20% higher than the current share price.

Hikma shares currently trade on a forward-looking P/E ratio of 17.4. I think that’s quite cheap. The dividend yield on offer is about 1.6%.

A FTSE share with a 5% dividend yield

Finally, I also like the look of GlaxoSmithKline (LSE:GSK) right now.

I think GSK is a great stock to own in the current environment. For a start, I like the fact that the FTSE 100 company is one of the largest vaccine manufacturers in the world. This means it could play a key role in the fight against Covid-19. Just recently, the company advised that it was making a $163m investment in German biotech CureVac, to work together on a vaccine for the coronavirus.

Another thing I like about GSK is that it owns a whole portfolio of consumer healthcare brands that includes the likes of Voltaren, Panadol, and Fenbid. These kinds of trusted brands are attractive assets as they tend to generate consistent cash flows. That means GSK has defensive qualities.

GSK shares currently trade on a forward-looking P/E ratio of about 13.4. That’s an attractive valuation, in my view. The stock also offers a prospective dividend yield of about 5.1%. I’d be happy to buy this FTSE 100 champion today.

Edward Sheldon owns shares in Legal & General Group and GlaxosmithKline. The Motley Fool UK has recommended GlaxoSmithKline and Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Friends and sisters exploring the outdoors together in Cornwall. They are standing with their arms around each other at the coast.
Investing Articles

£503 buys 14 shares in this FTSE 250 stock that returned 23.9% annually for the last 15 years

This FTSE 250 stock has averaged a huge return for 15 years. At today's price, £503 buys 14 shares. But…

Read more »

Black woman using loudspeaker to be heard
Investing Articles

£1,000 buys 25 shares in this FTSE 100 stock that’s returned 29.2% annually for the last 10 years

This FTSE 100 mining stock has returned close to 30% a year for a decade. At 3,995p, £1,000 buys 25…

Read more »

Female student sitting at the steps and using laptop
Investing Articles

Down 47%, is this growth stock finally worth buying in May?

With a £288m order book and a hidden pipeline of defence and nuclear contracts, is this growth stock now too…

Read more »

House models and one with REIT - standing for real estate investment trust - written on it.
Investing Articles

2 REITs yielding 7%+ to consider for passive income in 2026

A REIT backed by the NHS and another backed by Tesco and Sainsbury's with both yielding 7%+. Here's why I'm…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

Just 97 shares of this UK dividend stock generate £238 in passive income

A 5.7% yield, £238 in passive income from just 97 shares, and one of the most divisive dividend stocks on…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

£10,000 in an ISA generates a second income of…

The London Stock Exchange is home to some of the world's most generous dividends. But how big a second income…

Read more »

Shot of a senior man drinking coffee and looking thoughtfully out of a window
Investing Articles

Expert recommendations: 2 top income stocks yielding 7%+!

With yields of 7.2% and 7.8% respectively, these two income stocks are catching the eyes of institutional analysts. Should investors…

Read more »

Illustration of flames over a black background
Investing Articles

3 top income-focused stocks to buy in May 2026, according to experts

Looking for a stock to buy for income in May 2026? Experts have flagged these three UK dividend shares as…

Read more »