It’s no secret that dividend-paying companies are the cornerstone of a passive income investment strategy. But that doesn’t mean the highest yielders are always the best options.

Data from Computershare’s UK Dividend Monitor reveals that HSBC (LSE: HSBA) paid out more dividends in 2025 than any other company. This is despite the bank’s dividend yield averaging only 5%-6% throughout the year.

Why did this happen? Because the bank’s so trusted that it’s one of the most popular picks among income investors.

Why HSBC stands out for income

HSBC has a long history of being one of the most dependable dividend payers on the London Stock Exchange.

It’s one of the oldest and largest banks in the UK, with a global footprint stretching from London to Hong Kong and beyond. For decades, it’s been a magnet for income‑focused investors because it consistently pays out billions of pounds in dividends every year.

Even during tough periods such as the global financial crisis or the post‑pandemic slowdown, it usually kept its dividend intact, or cut it only once and then rebuilt it steadily over time.

Lately, the bank’s been simplifying its operations and focusing on its strong Asian and UK franchises, which has helped it grow revenue and maintain a solid balance sheet. In 2025, it reported revenue up around 7.5% year on year, helped by higher interest rate environments in key markets and a tighter cost structure.

This resilience is exactly what income‑minded investors look for: a business that can keep earning even when the headlines are grim.

Financials and risks

From a numbers standpoint, HSBC looks like a typical, large‑cap income stock:

• Revenue growth of about 7.5% year on year shows the bank’s still expanding its lending and fee‑based businesses.
• Net margin around 29.5% indicates that, after all costs, it keeps a healthy slice of what it earns.
• Dividend payout ratio of about 61% means HSBC’s paying out a bit over half of its profits to shareholders, leaving room to reinvest and withstand downturns.

On the risk side, it faces typical bank risks: exposure to interest‑rate swings, credit‑loss cycles, and geopolitical tensions — especially in Asia.

It also faces regulatory pressure and competition from fintech firms. That’s why dividends are never guaranteed. Even blue‑chip banks can cut or suspend payouts if conditions take a turn for the worse.

A role in a diversified income portfolio

For a novice investor, it makes sense to consider HSBC as part of a wider income portfolio. Sure, it doesn’t always offer the highest yield — but it benefits from scale, stability, and a long dividend history.

Compared to higher-yielding, riskier stocks, it’ll help ensure your income stream is more predictable. 

The key is risk management and diversification. Holding several dividend‑paying companies across different sectors reduces the damage if one cuts its payout.

Market downturns can be scary, but if you focus on high‑quality businesses (and think in decades rather than months), you stand a better chance of achieving real, compounding income over time.

And it’s not unique in that sense – in recent months I’ve covered several other quality FTSE 100 stocks that are equally as attractive for income.