High-Yield S&P 500 Dividend Stocks

A review of the S&P 500 reveals that 78 percent of its components are currently paying a dividend, with an average yield of 2.28 percent, and a median value of 2 percent. The current average yield represents a 19 basis point increase from the figure at the end of 2010. The average dividend yield for the entire S&P 500 stands at 1.77 percent.

According to Standard and Poor's, dividend increases rose nearly 28 percent during the first quarter of 2011 to 510 from 399, and only 30 companies out of 7,000 reduced their dividend payments, compared to 48 during the first quarter of 2010. Dividend investors searching for the highest-yielding stocks can find guidance by looking at the major sectors.

Source: MSNBC

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