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.

These 3 passive income shares could generate a ton of dividends

Millions of us invest for dividends. Here, our writer highlights three passive income shares that deliver index-topping returns for investors.

| More on:
Young mixed-race woman jumping for joy in a park with confetti falling around her

Image source: Getty Images

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.

Passive income shares are those that pay a dividend to shareholders. While many companies pay a dividend, we tend to look for those with larger payments relative to the share price. This gives them a higher dividend yield.

So here are three stocks I think investors could consider if they’re looking for sizeable dividend payouts. They all have risks, but also potentially high rewards.

XXX

Nordic American Tankers

I’ll start with the caveat that this stock, Nordic American Tankers (NYSE:NAT), underperformed in Q1. Analysts, including myself, were expecting some blockbuster results because Houthi attacks on vessels transiting the Red Sea had pushed the price of leasing vessels way up.

          

Spot rates — the cost of leasing a Nordic American vessel — remain elevated versus historic levels. This is not just because of Red Sea events, but because of a broader mismatch between supply and demand.

Analysts had been warning for some time that an imbalance was building in the tanker sector with new vessel orders falling drastically during the pandemic. As a result, just two supertankers are coming online this year.

As such, Nordic American, with its relatively young fleet of Suezmax tankers, should be in a great position to benefit during the medium term. The issue is, it needs to perform better than it did it Q1. It underperformed all of its peers, and it’s not clear why.

Currently, the stock offers a whopping 11.2% dividend yield.

Phoenix Group

Shares in Phoenix Group (LSE:PHNX) have recently fallen after announcing the possible sale of its SunLife business. In turn, this pushed the dividend yield above 10%.

          

The UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business is transitioning from a closed-book life consolidator to a purpose-led retirement savings and income business.

It’s much more growth-oriented than it used to be, and that’s why the sale of SunLife doesn’t bother me. If it’s part of the transformation plan, I’m all for it.

Phoenix is also seizing the opportunities presented by the Pension Risk Transfer trend, supported by its in-house asset management expertise.

For now, interest rates remain an issue, putting downward pressure on asset prices. However, I certainly believe it’s a FTSE 100 stock worth watching closely.

TBC Bank Group

TBC Bank (LSE:TBCG) is a Georgian banking group listed on the UK stock exchange. The stock’s seen some pull back in recent months due to political factors.

          

With thousands taking to the streets of Tbilisi to protest against the ‘foreign agents’ law, and an election in a few months, investors are rightly concerned about stability.

Stability is key to economic growth, and banks are cyclical stocks. And this is why TBC Bank stock has dipped along with its Georgian peers.

I certainly think this is a stock worth keeping an eye on. Georgia has been Europe’s fastest growing economy since the pandemic and, politics aside, it could be a great growth market to have exposure to.

The stock currently offers an 8.8% dividend yield.

If I invested £10,000 in these three stocks, I could earn £1,000 annually in passive income and I think it’s worth keeping up to date with any developments relating to them.

James Fox has positions in Nordic American Tankers Limited and Phoenix Group Holdings plc. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. 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 »