Royston Wild backs 3 shares on Ftse 250 income watch
ftse 250 investors hunting income get three named options, but the bigger yield sits outside the index: James Halstead, Wynnstay Group and YouGov. Royston Wild says the three deserve serious attention because each pairs a dividend record with a payout profile that still offers room for growth.
6.7% is the starting yield on James Halstead for the financial year to June 2026, rising to 6.9% for fiscal 2027. For investors focused on cash returned per pound invested, that level of income stands out more when the company has lifted cash rewards every year for 49 years and carries zero debt on the balance sheet.
James Halstead and 49 years
49 years of annual dividend increases is the longest record in this group, and James Halstead’s numbers show why the streak has lasted. The flooring supplier operates in a highly cyclical industry serving commercial and residential properties, yet the balance sheet shows zero debt, giving it more flexibility to keep payments moving through a weaker trading cycle.
6.9% is the projected yield for fiscal 2027, which keeps James Halstead near the top of the list even after this year’s 6.7% payout rate. Income investors do not need a growth story to see the appeal: the company has already demonstrated that it can keep increasing cash rewards across different parts of the cycle, even in a business tied to property demand.
Wynnstay's 22nd straight rise
5.3% is Wynnstay Group’s dividend yield for the financial year ending March 2027, with 5.5% expected next year. The agricultural supplier, which sells animal feed, fertiliser and seeds and provides agricultural services, marked 2025 as its 22nd straight year of dividend increases and held net cash of £25.7m in December.
22 straight years of higher dividends gives Wynnstay a record few income stocks can match. The business also has a defensive tilt because farming does not stop when recessions hit, so the payout history is backed by a trading model that is less dependent on consumer confidence than many listed groups.
YouGov's 3.3% payout path
3.3% is YouGov’s dividend yield for the fiscal year to July 2026, improving to 3.5% next year. Its dividend growth record runs back to 2013, and the company’s subscription-based services model produces sticky revenues that can help fund payouts without requiring heavy spending on new assets.
2.4 to 3.6 times is the coverage range for YouGov’s dividends over the next two financial years, giving the stock a different profile from the higher-yielding names above. Low capital expenditure requirements mean more of the cash generated by those subscription revenues can be directed toward dividends, which is why Wild places it on the same income shortlist despite the lower current yield.
3 shares, 3 different yield profiles, and 1 shared feature: long dividend-growth histories that sit outside the usual FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 screen. For investors building passive income now, the practical task is to weigh yield against durability—James Halstead for the highest current cash return, Wynnstay for consistency, and YouGov for coverage and recurring revenue support.
