Dividend-Paying Stocks Worth Watching

Investors concerned that the equities markets and the economy seem to be hitting a soft patch might think about looking at stocks that have a long history of paying dividends. That’s the take-away from a new report out by equities analysts at Standard & Poors. The report, titled Dividend Aristocrat Exposure Through Funds, finds that “in this current environment of slow economic growth, dividend yields could again become a major source of an investor's total return.” Consider these facts:

Since 1926, dividends have accounted for more than 40% of the total return for the S&P 500. More recently, during the period from Dec. 31, 1999 through May 31 of this year, a group of 42 stocks, dubbed the S&P Dividend Aristocrats, that have all consistently paid increased cash dividends year on year for at least 25 years and showed a total gain of 141%, including dividends. Over that same time period, the total return of the S&P (including those 42 companies) was just 13%.

Source: Financial Planning

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