Many Singapore investors rely on CPF as the foundation of their long-term savings. With guaranteed interest of 2.5% in the OA and 4% in the SA, CPF offers stability that is difficult to match.
But while CPF provides a strong baseline, it is not the only way to earn steady, predictable returns. Investors who are looking for additional income, greater flexibility and the potential for long-term growth may consider dividend-paying stocks as a complement to CPF.
One approach is to focus on cash-rich, fundamentally strong companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. These businesses generate recurring cash flow, maintain healthy balance sheets and have long track records of rewarding shareholders with dividends, making them attractive to investors seeking CPF-beating income.
Here are three Singapore-listed companies with resilient business models and sustainable dividends that currently offer yields higher than CPF SA’s 4%.
1. UOB (SGX: U11)
UOB, one of Singapore’s three largest banks, continues to demonstrate resilience despite a softer operating environment. In the bank’s third quarter results, it reported a profit that fell to S$443 million after setting aside S$615 million in pre-emptive general allowances to strengthen its balance sheet. Asset quality held firm with the non-performing loan ratio at 1.6%, and customer loans continued to expand to S$351.1 billion. Management emphasised that these provisions will not affect the 2025 final dividend, reinforcing its commitment to shareholder payouts. With a dividend yield of about 5.4% and a long track record of stable earnings, UOB remains a reliable income provider for investors looking to beat CPF returns without taking on excessive risk.
2. HRnetGroup (SGX: CHZ)
HRnetGroup, one of Asia’s largest recruitment and staffing firms, continues to build a resilient business across 18 cities with more than 900 consultants managing 20 specialist brands. The group delivered steady results in the first half of 2025, with revenue rising 3.4% year on year to S$295.5 million, supported by 4.1% growth in the Flexible Staffing segment. Gross profit margins moderated to 12.0% as lower-margin overseas markets made up a larger share, but Taipei was a bright spot with 16.9% revenue growth, while Singapore, which contributes nearly two-thirds of group revenue, dipped 1.2%. Professional Recruitment remained soft, although senior executive search proved resilient with higher volumes and stronger average billing.
Net profit surged 29.2% to S$28.0 million, helped by S$8.7 million in government grants and S$2.9 million in revaluation gains. The group remains completely debt-free with S$311.7 million in cash and treasury bills and generated S$26.5 million in free cash flow, up 54.1% year on year. Management declared an interim dividend of S$0.020 per share. At around S$0.74 a share, HRnetGroup offers a trailing dividend yield of about 5.5%, providing investors with a stable CPF-beating income stream while they wait for the hiring cycle to recover.
3. Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68)
Singapore Exchange, the country’s sole stock exchange operator, runs a multi-asset marketplace spanning equities, derivatives, fixed income and foreign exchange. The group delivered its strongest performance since listing, with net revenue rising 11.7% to S$1.298 billion and net profit increasing 8.4% year on year to S$648.0 million . Growth was led by its FICC division, where currency derivatives volume grew close to 50% and OTC FX daily volume reached 143 billion US dollars, reflecting higher participation across global markets. Cash equities revenue also strengthened alongside improved trading activity.
SGX continues to excel at converting earnings into cash. Operating cash flow rose to S$841.7 million while capital expenditure stayed disciplined at S$68.1 million, resulting in free cash flow of S$773.6 million. The group paid a total dividend of S$0.375 per share for FY2025 and has guided for steady quarterly increases from FY2026 to FY2028, subject to performance. With strong cash generation, a dominant market position and more than a decade of stable dividends, SGX remains a reliable long-term income provider.
Get Smart: Cash-Rich Companies Can Pay You More Than CPF
CPF is an excellent foundation, but investors can enhance their long-term wealth by adding high-quality dividend stocks that generate steady cash and share those profits with shareholders. UOB, HRnetGroup and SGX are three such companies. Their dividends are supported by real earnings, strong balance sheets and proven business models. For investors seeking CPF-beating income with long-term stability, these companies offer a blend of reliability and compounding potential that fits well alongside CPF.
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Disclosure: Joanna Sng owns shares of all the companies mentioned.
