Blue-chip stocks are a vital component of any investor’s portfolio, as they provide stability across various economic cycles.
All of them also pay out a dividend, which helps investors to generate a stream of passive income.
With the Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) hitting new all-time highs, many blue-chip companies are also seeing their share prices surging.
Here are four reliable Singapore blue-chip stocks that are touching their 52-week highs.
Singapore Exchange (SGX: S68)
Singapore Exchange, or SGX, is Singapore’s sole stock exchange operator.
The group enjoys a natural monopoly as the only multi-asset exchange operator on the island.
SGX’s share price recently surged close to 25% year-to-date (YTD) and hit its 52-week high of S$15.75.
The bourse operator reported an impressive set of earnings for the first half of fiscal 2025 (1H FY2025) ending 31 December 2024.
Net revenue increased by 15.6% year on year to S$646.4 million, with broad-based year-on-year revenue increases across SGX’s divisions.
Net profit excluding one-off items jumped 27.3% year on year to S$320.1 million.
In tandem with the strong results, SGX upped its quarterly dividend from S$0.085 to S$0.09, taking its annualised dividend from S$0.34 to S$0.36.
The group will continue to grow its multi-asset offering by introducing new products, with a recent example being the expansion of its Singapore Depository Receipt (SDR) shelf.
Management is optimistic about achieving its revenue growth target of 6% to 8% over the medium term.
Its dividend should also grow in line with the growth in net profits, with management projecting a mid-single-digit % increase per year.
Hongkong Land Holdings (SGX: H78)
Hongkong Land Holdings, or HKL, is a property investment, management, and development group founded in 1889.
The property giant’s real estate portfolio spans more than 830,000 square metres of projects in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.
HKL’s share price has surged by nearly 40% YTD, and its share price recently touched its 52-week high of US$6.44.
For 2024, the group reported a mixed set of earnings.
Revenue rose 8.6% year on year to US$2 billion, but underlying net profit plunged 44% year on year to US$410 million because of provisions made.
Stripping out these provisions, net profit would have declined by 12% year on year to US$724 million.
Despite the decline in net profit, HKL increased its 2024 dividend by 5% year on year to US$0.23.
The dividend increase is in line with HKL’s recently announced strategic review, where new investments will only be made in integrated investment properties.
No new investments will be made in “build-to-sell” assets.
The group also laid out its vision for 2035 to double its underlying profit before interest and taxes. This goal will be achieved by making use of third-party capital to help grow the group’s assets under management.
The plan is also to double its dividend per share over the next 10 years.
Singapore Technologies Engineering (SGX: S63)
Singapore Technologies Engineering, or STE, is an engineering and technology group serving the aerospace, smart city, and defence sectors.
YTD, the stock has soared 76% and hit its 52-week and all-time high of S$8.40 recently.
The group posted a stellar 2024 financial performance with revenue increasing 11.6% year on year to S$11.3 billion.
Net profit increased by 19.7% year on year to S$702.3 million.
The engineering firm’s total dividend for 2024 also increased by S$0.01 from S$0.16 to S$0.17.
STE carried on the momentum into the first quarter of 2025 (1Q 2025).
Revenue rose 8% year on year to S$2.9 billion.
The engineering group also reported strong contract wins of around S$4.4 billion for the quarter, taking its order book to a multi-year high of S$29.8 billion as of 31 March 2025.
Investors could be in store for better earnings and dividends from STE.
The group held an Investor Day session earlier this year and articulated its 2029 objectives.
One of these is to grow group revenue by 2.5 times the global GDP growth rate to hit S$17 billion.
STE will also adopt a progressive dividend policy that should see its annual dividend increase steadily.
2026 will see an annual dividend of S$0.18, and management will declare an incremental dividend amounting to one-third of the year-on-year increase in net profit from 2027 onwards.
Keppel Ltd (SGX: BN4)
Keppel is a global asset manager providing solutions in the areas of infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity.
The group saw its share price head 13.5% higher YTD, and is hitting a 52-week high of S$7.81.
Keppel reported consistent profit growth for both 2024 and 1Q 2025.
Core net profit from continuing operators rose 5% year on year to S$1.06 billion for 2024.
The asset manager also paid out a total dividend of S$0.34 for 2024, unchanged from a year ago.
For 1Q 2025, net profit excluding its legacy offshore and marine assets grew 25% year on year.
Recurring income made up more than 80% of net profit, showcasing Keppel’s success in transitioning to an asset-light, recurring revenue model.
Back in May, Keppel also released its Investor Day slides, which provided an update to its Vision 2030 strategic plan.
The group is aiming to grow its funds under management to S$200 billion by 2030 and is aiming to achieve a cumulative asset monetisation objective of between S$10 billion to S$12 billion by 2026.
If you’ve ever asked, “But what do I do with this info?” – read Get Smart, our weekly newsletter. It helps you connect the dots, so you understand what the stories mean for your portfolio. Join thousands of investors who rely on it for steady, grounded investing ideas. Subscribe now and sharpen your insight for free.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Telegram for the latest investing news and analyses!
Disclosure: Royston Yang owns shares of Singapore Exchange Limited.
