We no longer check to see whether Telegraph. To see our content at its best we recommend upgrading if you wish to continue using IE or using another browser such as Firefox, Safari or Google Chrome. Attractive dividend-paying shares are becoming harder to find, with less than one in four shares — 24pc — currently yielding more than the market. The chart below, compiled by analysts at Societe General, the French bank, tracks the proportion of shares in the FTSE that yield more than the index.

It gives an indication of the distribution of income across the index - the lower the percentage, the greater the share of overall income that comes from a small number of high payers. All it will take to reduce it is for a couple of the high yielding names to either cut or suspend their dividend payments.

Get a weekly round-up of investment ideas. This is concerning, particularly when many of these high yielding business are either miners or oil companies. None of the names look safe in terms of dividend cover, a metric widely used by analysts to assess the sustainability of dividends.

A low cover score, close to 1, suggest that dividends are vulnerable, as the company is using most, if not all, of its profits to fund the dividend. A figure of 2 or above is viewed as comfortable. Those in this position are not over distributing their profits, leaving enough money in the till for the business to grow.

Data correct at end of An unsettling statistic, previously highlighted by Telegraph Moneyis that the average dividend "cover" for the UK stock market is at a how many shares in the ftse 100 low.

Another alarming measure shows that corporate profits are lower relative to dividends paid than at any time since This has raised concerns that certain businesses are paying out too much of their profits in dividends in order to keep their income hungry shareholders onside.

Russ Mould, of AJ Bell, said: FTSE companies most exposed to a dividend cut. This story was updated at Starbuck stock market an earlier version Carnival's yield was stated as 6.

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Accessibility links Skip to article Skip to navigation. Monday 19 June James Bartholomew The how much money does an archaeologist make a week reason stock markets plunged in January. William Littlewood China in crisis?

Another credit crunch in the West is far more likely. Andrew Oxlade Time to panic? No, follow the investment rulebook. James Anderson This is why I'm worried for investors in the FTSE Only 24 shares now yield more than the FTSE The number of shares that yield more than the market has hit a year low.

We explain why this is bad news for income investors Oil shares have high yields, but dividends are not guaranteed.

The chart confirms this percentage is lower now than at any point for 25 years. Why an income crunch is on the horizon An unsettling statistic, previously highlighted by Telegraph Moneyis that the average dividend "cover" for the UK stock market is at a year low.

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