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 top dividend shares for an ISA in 2022

When dividend shares are placed in an ISA, all income is tax-free. Here, Edward Sheldon discusses three UK dividend stocks he’d buy for his ISA account today.

| More on:
Man Feet Up At Desk

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.

With the 2021/2022 ISA deadline less than a week away, I’ve been thinking about dividend shares to buy for my Stocks and Shares ISA. When dividend stocks are placed in an ISA, all income is tax-free.

Here, I’m going to highlight three dividend payers that strike me as great ISA investments right now. I think these stocks could help me generate some nice tax-free passive income, as well as some capital growth, in the years ahead.

XXX

Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions.

A FTSE 100 high-yielder

First up is Legal & General (LSE: LGEN), a leading provider of financial services. Recently, it declared a dividend payout of 18.45p per share for 2021, which equates to a very attractive yield of 6.6%, at the current share price.

I don’t usually invest in ‘high-yielders’ as they tend to be higher-risk investments. However, in LGEN’s case, I’m willing to make an exception. That’s because the company appears to have plenty of momentum right now.

Last year, for example, profit after tax jumped 28% to £2,050m while return on equity came in at 20.5%. On the back of this strong performance, the company raised its full-year dividend payout by 5%.

One risk to be aware of here is that the stock can be volatile at times. We saw this volatility earlier in the year. Yet I’m comfortable with share price ups and downs. I think the key with LGEN is to take a long-term view and enjoy the big dividends along the way.

A high-quality dividend stock

The next stock I want to highlight is Sage (LSE: SGE). It’s a leading provider of accounting software. The prospective dividend yield here is about 2.6% right now.

There are a number of reasons I like the look of Sage shares at present. One is that the company should be protected from inflation. Not only does it have a very high gross profit margin (companies with high gross margins are typically able to handle inflation well because rising costs don’t hurt their profits as much) but it also has the ability to raise prices.

Another reason is that the company has been buying back its own shares recently. This should push earnings up, over time.

Sage shares currently have a forward-looking P/E ratio of about 27. This valuation adds a bit of risk. I’m fine with it however. I see it as quite reasonable for a high-quality software company.

A small-cap dividend payer

Finally, in the small-cap space, I like Urban Logistics REIT (LSE: SHED). It’s a real estate investment trust that owns a portfolio of strategically-positioned warehouses across the UK.

SHED has been a reliable dividend payer in recent years and for the year ending 31 March, the group is expected to pay out 7.6p per share in dividends. At today’s share price, that equates to an attractive yield of around 3.9%.

It’s not just the yield that’s attractive here however. In my view, the stock’s valuation is also very appealing. At present, the forward-looking P/E ratio is just 21. Given that the UK warehouse market is absolutely booming right now, I think that’s a bargain.

The major risk here is that the company, like other REITs, sometimes raises new capital from investors to fund its expansion. This is important to know as it can have a negative impact on the share price in the short term.

As a long-term investor however, I’m not too concerned about this.

Edward Sheldon owns shares in Legal & General Group and Sage Group. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Sage Group. 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 »