Dividend Stocks Stepping Up

Last week saw a number of large-cap dividend payers step up their payouts to shareholders -- a significant change because those same firms had been notably absent from our weekly lists during the first couple weeks of November. With record cash in corporate coffers, investors have been egging on corporate management teams to return value to shareholders in the form of dividend checks, and a growing number of companies are listening.

Over the last 36 years, dividend stocks outperformed the rest of the S&P 500 by 2.5% annually, and they outperformed nonpayers by nearly 8% every year, all while paying out cash to their shareholders, according to a study from NDR. And right now, companies that are willing to part with cash in arguably tough times are worth a second look.

Source: TheStreet.com

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