Dividend Stocks, ETFs Remain in Style

Dividend increases among U.S. companies rose $12.6 billion in the April through June time frame, but that lags the $17.6 billion growth rate seen in the first quarter, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices. According to S&P Dow Jones Indices, 696 dividend increases were reported during the second quarter of this year compared to the 591 increases which were reported during the second quarter of last year. For the first half of 2014, 1,774 issues increased their payments, up 15.6% from the 1,535 issues that increased their payments during the first half of 2013.

Those statistics fortify the notion that dividend stocks and the exchange traded funds that hold them remain favored by investors. “Mutual funds focused on some of these yield-oriented sectors have attracted greater interest from investors this year. In 2014 through May, utility and energy limited-partnership-focused funds in the U.S. brought in $6.08 billion in new investor cash, up from $4.21 billion in the year-earlier period, according to fund tracker Morningstar, reports Matt Jarzemsky for the Wall Street Journal.

Source: ETF Trends

Related Articles:
- What Determines A Dividend Stock's Yield
- Warren Buffett's Secret To 50% Returns
- 9 High-Yield Energy Stocks Growing Their Dividends
- 6 Stocks With a Sustainable Dividend
- 5 Dividend Stocks Building A Growing Cash Stream