According to Standard & Poor’s, 2009 was the worst year on record for dividend stocks. The rating’s agency calculates that dividend cuts in U.S. traded common stock cost investors over $58 million in income last year, and the year saw the fewest number of companies increasing dividends and the most decreasing dividends since S&P began keeping track of the measure in 1955. Well, what a difference a year makes.
This year, 247 of the S&P 500 companies increased dividends in 2010. That equates to $207 billion, or an increase of 5.6% over the S&P 500 dividends paid out in 2009. The good news here is that number is expected to continue climbing in 2011.
So, with the renewed dividend fervor on Wall Street, it’s no wonder that dividend-paying equities are red hot among investors. But just which dividend-paying stocks should you buy now?
Here are five of our favorite dividend stocks to buy now. (more)
No comments:
Post a Comment