Dividends or passive income? How to create a monthly salary by investing in the Ibex in 2026

The Ibex 35 will close the year near its historical highs. It has risen almost 50% in twelve months. But revaluations do not last forever. And some are already thinking about something else. They are not looking to hit the next rise. Nor choose the next Inditex. What they want is to collect without selling. A fixed income, like a rent. Like a payroll.

The dividend remains in the center of the board and with it, a practical question:How much should you invest in Ibex shares to generate a monthly salary in 2026? It’s not a new idea. But in a context where six values ​​in the index pay more than 6%, where Sabadell foresees a 20% dividend for the sale of TSB, and where BBVA, Mapfre or Repsol their payments will increase, the hypothesis is no longer just theoretical.

A simple goal: 1,000 euros per month

The hypothesis is simple: generate a monthly income of 1,000 euros or 12,000 euros net from the selective dividends. To do so, the investor needs an appropriate combination of invested capital, dividend yield and temporal diversification of payments. The calculation is direct. If the average annual return is 6.5%, you need to invest approximately 184,000 euros. That is the reference figure: 12,000 euros per year divided by a 6.5% return.

If They achieve higher returns, such as 7%the necessary capital goes down. If more conservative companies are chosen, with 5.5%, the capital money needed would exceed 215,000 euros. The difference between a 5% or 7% dividend is more than 40,000 euros in initial capital. That’s why, It’s not just how much you charge per share that matters.but how it is distributed throughout the year and how sustainable that payment is.

Can a dividend calendar be set up?

Six Ibex 35 companies now offer more than 6% dividend yield. The most interesting thing is not that they pay a lot. They don’t pay at the same time. Telefónica does it in June and December. Repsol, in January and July. Enagás, in March and July. Logista delivers in January and August. Naturgy in June and November. Sabadell, between March (extraordinary) and October (ordinary). On paper, payments are distributed. In practice, it is not charged every month, but almost.

The Sabadell exception: 20.8% dividend?

It’s not usual. But in 2026, Sabadell will distribute 0.50 euros per share for the sale of TSB, your business in the UK. That triggers its profitability to levels that will not be sustained in 2027. After that, it will return to 6.1%, according to analysts. It is not the only case of a specific increase. Repsol will increase to 6.9%. BBVA will go from 4.1% to 4.9%. Unicaja will reach 6.5%. Aena, Mapfre, CaixaBank, Bankinter… They will all rise in 2026. But not all with the same strength. Not even with the same guarantees.

High dividends… always sustainable?

Not all dividends are equal. Some depend on stable profits. Others, from unique events. Some are paid with cash. Others, with debt. That is why analysts continue to look beyond the percentage: at payout (percentage of profit that is distributed), free cash flow, debt and payment history.

Telefónica has announced that it will cut its dividend in 2026. You will do it to reduce debt. Enagas has maintained its, but is under regulatory pressure. Repsol It depends, in part, on the price of crude oil. Sabadell Bank You will take advantage of a specific sale. The risk is not only in how much is charged, but in how much can continue to be charged in a year or two.

What if you only have 50,000 euros?

So there is no salary. There is a complement. With 50,000 euros at 6.5%, 3,250 euros are charged per year. About 270 a month. With 25,000, half. With 100,000, just over 500 euros per month. The logic does not change. But the scale does. And also the expectations.

Is it a viable strategy in 2026?

For those looking for constant income without depending on the sale of assets, the dividend remains a possible route. The current context of the Ibex 35 allows it: high returns, payments distributed throughout the year and, in some cases, improvements planned in 2026. Of course, it is not a risk-free strategy. Not without conditions. The capital required is high. The selection of securities must be careful. And the sustainability of payments, monitored. There are no guarantees. But there are numbers. And in 2026, they are on the table.