High-Yielding Industrials

Dividend investing is popular again. Investors have taken to heart Jeremy Siegel's studies, which show that higher-yielding stocks tend to offer greater returns over time than low- or no-yield stocks. The highest dividend yields can be very tantalizing.

As long as a stock yielding 15% doesn't lose value, you'll make 15% in one year! In more cases than not, however, an astronomical yield is a bad sign for a stock. Since dividend yields and stock prices move in opposite directions, a high yield usually means that investors have begun to worry about the business, and driven down its stock price. However, certain types of companies, such as REITs have to pay out most of their income as dividends, so their yields will be higher than "normal." Dividends are not guaranteed; you need to make sure that a business is generating enough cash to pay its dividend, or your investment could be disastrous.

Source: Motley Fool

Related Articles:

• Increasing Dividend Yield Part V: MLPs
• Where To Find Great Dividend Stocks
• Who is David Dodd and Why Should We Listen to Him
• The 2010 Dividend Stock Ideas List
• How To Maximize Your Dividend Stocks' Earnings