High Dividend Dow Stocks

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) was launched by Charles Dow way back in 1896, making it one of the oldest stock indexes. At the time, it was simply an average of the stock market's top 12 stocks. Since then, the calculating of the Dow has gotten a little more complicated, although it has lost its cachet as the premier benchmark of the stock market; that title now belongs to the S&P 500. However, it isn't time to forget the Dow altogether: the most blue chip stocks of the U.S. stock market belong to this index, making it a great choice for risk-averse investors who are looking for an index-tracking ETF.

Dividends matter. After all, a dividend check can help investors sleep easily, knowing they own a piece of a stable company with the ability to make money. Best of all, dividends are cash-in-hand, leaving investors with the favorable choice on how to spend or invest them. For all of you dividend fiends out there, we combed through the Dow 30 to find some of the best yielding stocks: AT&T, Inc. (NYSE:T), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK), Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) and General Electric Company (NYSE:GE).

Source: Investopedia

Related Articles:
- Why Dividends Matter
- 2011 Was A Great Year For Dividend Stocks
- Utilities Stock Funds Were 2011's Bright Star
- 2011 Dividend Increases Nearly Doubled, and 7 Dividend Stocks that Led the Way
- 6 Dividend Stocks For The New Year