The average stock on the S&P 500 index pays a dividend yield of 2.41%, but some are paying much more. Here's a chart of the 10 highest-paying dividend stocks on the S&P 500, and which ones might be the best choices to buy and hold for the long term.
Before moving on, it's important to mention that a high dividend doesn't necessarily translate into a good stock to invest in.
For example, Frontier Communications (NASDAQ: FTR), the highest-paying company in the S&P 500, has struggled to turn a profit for several years now. In my opinion, it's at serious risk of a dividend cut in the near future.
With that in mind, there are a few stocks on this list worth buying. Here are my three favorites in no particular order.
These are the results...
Investors have enjoyed many years of cheering for dividend hikes. Now there is some belief that after a seven and a half year bull market run that many companies will have a hard time raising their dividends with as much vigor (or at all) in the years ahead.
Roughly half of all total returns through time come from dividends, so investors who want a solid dividend strategy ahead are much more likely to prefer those companies that have a history of raising their dividends year after year — and that can keep raising dividends ahead.
Attached you will find 9 of the cheapest Dividend Aristocrats by forward P/E. Each of the stocks pays a dividend yield of 2% to 4.73%.
These are the cheapest Dividend Aristocrats now...
Income investors rely on dividend stocks to provide both the cash they need for their immediate needs as well as the potential for future capital appreciation that they crave.
But just because a company is successful doesn't mean that it will choose to share its bounty with its shareholders through dividends.
It takes a commitment from company management to build a meaningful dividend policy, and many stocks have adopted dividends that return billions of dollars to their investors.
Below, you'll find the five dividend stocks that have paid the most to shareholders over the past 12 months.
These are the results...
That means receiving a reliable stack of dividend checks no matter what else is going on. Investors can learn more about how to live off dividends in retirement here.
To help you in this process, here are 10 quality, recession-beating stocks that have delivered very reliable dividend income for many years.
Each of these stocks weathered the financial crisis well and yields more than 2%.
A handful of these companies is held in our Conservative Retirees dividend portfolio for this reason. Here are the stocks you should consider for your retirement portfolio...
Today, the S&P 500 has an aggregate dividend yield of 2.08%, a pretty paltry yield from a historical standpoint.
For investors who want income today or are hoping to use reinvested dividends as a wealth generator over multiple decades, then such a modest yield isn't going to get it done.
Luckily, there are quite a few dividend stocks, with dividend yields more than double the S&P 500, that currently look like solid dividend investments.
Attached you will find 6 of the cheapest Dividend Achievers (stocks with over 10 years of consecutive dividend growth). Each of the stocks has a forward P/E under 15 as well as a dividend yield above 4%.
Here are the results.....
