These 3 blue chip stocks are perfect for your CPF investment account

Every Singaporean's CPF ordinary account (OA) offers a 2.5 per cent interest that is relatively risk-free. That's great. However, the 2.5 per cent interest may barely cover inflation that ranges from 2 per cent to 3 per cent.

Thankfully, the CPF OA allows you to open a CPF Investment Account (IA) with which you can use to invest in stocks to grow your wealth.

Here are three blue-chip stocks that are perfect for your CPF IA.

1. DBS GROUP HOLDINGS LTD

DBS Group needs no further introduction. As Singapore's largest bank, the group provides a wide and comprehensive range of banking services to both individuals and corporations.

Under the capable leadership of CEO Puyish Gupta, the bank has reported steadily increasing revenue and net profit.

DBS' full-year 2019 net profit rose 14 per cent year-on-year to a new record high of $6.39 billion, while the bank's return on equity improved from 12.1 per cent to a record 13.2 per cent.

The bank has raised its quarterly dividend from $0.30 to $0.33, and the annual dividend now stands at $1.32 per share. This works out to a dividend yield of 5.3 per cent at DBS' closing price of $25.10, more than double the CPF OA's interest rate of 2.5 per cent.

2. SINGAPORE EXCHANGE LIMITED

Singapore Exchange, or SGX, is Singapore's sole stock exchange operator and operates a platform for the buying and selling of securities such as equities (shares), fixed income (bonds) and derivatives.

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The bourse operator reported a strong first half 2020 set of earnings (it has a 30 June fiscal year-end), with operating revenue rising 11 per cent year-on-year to $478.5 million and net profit surging 14 per cent year-on-year to $213.3 million.

The group generates consistent and reliable free cash flows and has, over the years, undertaken acquisitions to boost its various capabilities.

The recent market statistics released by SGX for Jan 2020 show that there continued to be broad-based growth in trading activity across the group's wide range of assets, including cash equities, equity derivatives, and foreign exchange contracts.

SGX pays out a quarterly dividend of $0.075, for a full year dividend of $0.30 per share. At the closing price of $9.26, the group's shares offer a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 3.2 per cent.

3. SATS LTD 

SATS is a leading provider of airline catering and ground handling services. The group also operates central kitchens that provide a wide range of food products to clients such as Haidilao.

The group reported a downbeat set of earnings, with net profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2020 (the group has a 31 March year-end) falling by 12 per cent year-on-year even though revenue went up by 11.2 per cent year-on-year.

The reason for this was the consolidation of Ground Team Red, a new subsidiary acquired by SATS, as well as higher expenses relating to staff costs and depreciation.

The recent Covid 19 outbreak has also dampened near-term prospects for the group, as SATS is sensitive to air travel and tourism. However, the long-term prospects for SATS should remain sanguine. The group has committed to spending $1 billion on mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its market share in key markets within its three core segments.

The group paid out an annual dividend of $0.19 per share ($0.06 interim and $0.13 final) for FY 2019.

Due to Covid 19, SATS may reduce its dividend to cope with the fall in net profit and cash flows. Even if we assume an annual dividend of $0.16, SATS shares still offer a trailing dividend yield of 3.5 per cent at the closing price of $4.51.

GET SMART: THE NEED TO INVEST

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The CPF scheme was put in place to ensure Singaporeans can enjoy a comfortable retirement. With the Singapore Government's Triple-A credit rating, it's almost a sure bet that you can rely on the 2.5 per cent interest in your OA to compound your retirement funds.

However, in order to supplement your income and further grow your nest egg, you have to consider investing your money. The three stocks above could be a very good starting point for a growth-oriented, income-driven portfolio.

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This article was first published in The Smart Investor. All content is displayed for general information purposes only and does not constitute professional financial advice. Disclaimer: Royston Yang owns shares in SATS Ltd and Singapore Exchange Limited.