Stock Analysis

Top 3 UK Dividend Stocks To Consider For Your Portfolio

Share

LSE:STEM
Source: Shutterstock

As the FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 indices reflect the challenges posed by weak trade data from China, investors in the United Kingdom are navigating a complex market landscape. In such uncertain times, dividend stocks can offer a measure of stability and income potential, making them an appealing choice for those looking to bolster their portfolios amidst fluctuating economic conditions.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The United Kingdom

NameDividend YieldDividend Rating
WPP (LSE:WPP)6.78%★★★★★★
Man Group (LSE:EMG)6.72%★★★★★☆
Keller Group (LSE:KLR)3.61%★★★★★☆
4imprint Group (LSE:FOUR)5.02%★★★★★☆
Grafton Group (LSE:GFTU)4.31%★★★★★☆
DCC (LSE:DCC)3.88%★★★★★☆
Big Yellow Group (LSE:BYG)4.85%★★★★★☆
OSB Group (LSE:OSB)7.83%★★★★★☆
James Latham (AIM:LTHM)7.34%★★★★★☆
NWF Group (AIM:NWF)4.74%★★★★★☆

Click here to see the full list of 54 stocks from our Top UK Dividend Stocks screener.

We're going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool.

Johnson Service Group (AIM:JSG)

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆

Overview: Johnson Service Group PLC, with a market cap of £551.06 million, offers textile rental and related services across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Operations: Johnson Service Group PLC generates revenue from two main segments: HORECA, contributing £371.20 million, and Workwear, contributing £142.20 million.

Dividend Yield: 3%

Johnson Service Group's dividend payments are well-covered by earnings and cash flows, with a payout ratio of 46.7% and a cash payout ratio of 59.1%. However, its dividend yield is relatively low at 3%, compared to the top UK payers. Despite a volatile dividend history, recent earnings growth of £35.6 million and strategic share buybacks worth £30 million may enhance shareholder value. Leadership changes include Ryan Govender as incoming CFO in October 2025, succeeding Yvonne Monaghan after her extensive tenure.

AIM:JSG Dividend History as at Apr 2025
AIM:JSG Dividend History as at Apr 2025

Grafton Group (LSE:GFTU)

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆

Overview: Grafton Group plc is a company that distributes and sells building materials and construction-related products across Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, and Spain, with a market cap of £1.69 billion.

Operations: Grafton Group plc generates revenue from various segments including UK Distribution (£780.78 million), Ireland Distribution (£632.81 million), Netherlands Distribution (£337.58 million), Retailing (£261.06 million), Finland Distribution (£131.76 million), Manufacturing (£122.16 million), and Spain Distribution (£29.66 million).

Dividend Yield: 4.3%

Grafton Group offers a reliable dividend yield of 4.31%, though it falls short of the top UK payers. The company's dividends have grown steadily over the past decade, supported by sustainable payout ratios—60.8% from earnings and 36.5% from cash flows. Recent financials show a slight decline in sales to £2.28 billion and net income to £122 million for 2024, but strategic buybacks worth £30 million may bolster shareholder value while maintaining its progressive dividend policy with an increased total annual dividend of 37 pence per share.

LSE:GFTU Dividend History as at Apr 2025
LSE:GFTU Dividend History as at Apr 2025

SThree (LSE:STEM)

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆

Overview: SThree plc is a specialist recruitment company operating in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics sectors across multiple countries including the UK, Germany, and the US with a market cap of £340.54 million.

Operations: SThree plc's revenue segments include the USA (£299.23 million), DACH (£456.05 million), Rest of Europe (£353.15 million), Middle East & Asia (£40.91 million), and Netherlands (including Spain) (£343.57 million).

Dividend Yield: 5.4%

SThree's dividend payments have been volatile, with recent reductions highlighting an unstable track record. The proposed final dividend of 9.2 pence per share marks a decrease from the previous year, totaling 14.3 pence for the year pending approval. Despite a reasonable payout ratio of 38.2%, earnings and cash flow coverage remain solid at 69.7%. However, SThree's removal from multiple FTSE indices signals potential challenges ahead as earnings are forecasted to decline by an average of 18.2% annually over the next three years.

LSE:STEM Dividend History as at Apr 2025
LSE:STEM Dividend History as at Apr 2025

Turning Ideas Into Actions

Ready To Venture Into Other Investment Styles?

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

New: Manage All Your Stock Portfolios in One Place

We've created the ultimate portfolio companion for stock investors, and it's free.

• Connect an unlimited number of Portfolios and see your total in one currency
• Be alerted to new Warning Signs or Risks via email or mobile
• Track the Fair Value of your stocks

Try a Demo Portfolio for Free

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com

About LSE:STEM

SThree

Provides specialist recruitment services in the sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics markets in the United Kingdom, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, France, the United States, Dubai, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.

Flawless balance sheet average dividend payer.