Investors love earning dividends, and over the past year, thousands of companies have rewarded shareholders with boosted payouts. But lately, some companies have been cutting back on or eliminating dividends altogether. Here's a look at five that made this unpopular move, and why.
In recent years, with low interest rates devastating the returns on conservative investment options, income-hungry investors have turned more and more to dividend stocks. And had there not been a fiscal cliff deal, even that last refuge for income investors could have disappeared.
One smart way to get both growth potential and dependable income from your investments is to buy dividend stocks, which generally have outperformed non-dividend counterparts over the long haul. As 2013 begins, we offer these 13 stocks for your consideration.
If your grandfather had bought just one $40 share of Coca-Cola stock back in 1919, held it, and reinvested the dividends, it would be worth $9.8 million today. That's quite a fizzy rate of return. Which led us to wonder: Could an investor today ever replicate that result?
Betting on companies that are both profitable and have a long history of increasing their dividend payments is as good an investment strategy as you'll find. These 10 fit that bill.
Like most investing, you're not protected from market meltdown, and there's always the risk of missing out on a star.
Investments that generate income, have the potential for strong growth, and offer protection against stock market downturns: That compelling combination of attributes has made dividend stocks so popular with investors these days. To make the most of it, some investors are turning to ETFs.
Companies with strong balance sheets and high dividends will be among the few safe investment harbors if the economy continues to cool -- and given today's conditions, it's hard to imagine how the recent stock market rally could last much longer. Here are five dividend stocks that should keep paying strong returns.
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Motley Fool analyst Matt Koppenheffer decided to twist that nugget of wisdom a bit and look at what did work in past and figure out how we can repeat it. Doing so, he found five dividend payers that fit the bill today.
If you're nearing retirement, Procter & Gamble (PG) might be a good addition to your stock portfolio. Its personal care focus, its history of creating new products, its near 50% dividend payout and its strong cash flow give it a stable outlook and make it a compelling choice for those looking to buy and hold.
The S&P 500 is one of the most followed stock market index in the world. Mutual fund managers benchmark their returns against it, yet somehow the vast majority underperform the index every year. Many dividend investors choose to ignore the index, and instead focus on its components.
Spring is just around the corner and as we begin cleaning up our homes and adding a fresh coat of paint to our walls, there are stocks that could benefit. Nikhil Hutheesing and Dan Burrows face-off on three springtime stocks: Sherwin Williams, Toro and Home Depot. Watch the video for the bull and bear cases.
Walmart on Thursday raised its annual dividend 21% to $1.46 after reporting a 27% increase in net income for the fourth quarter last month. But after missing its own revenue projection, will the retail giant be able to turn its U.S. business around this year?
If 80% of professional fund managers underperform the market, how can individuals like you hope to succeed? In a new book, Matthew Schifrin of Forbes hunted down 10 of the best-performing mini-Buffetts over the past decade to get their secrets.
Among Friday's top online stories for investors: why the market outlook for 2011 looks bright, which jobs prepare you for running a value fund, and some deep-value microcap picks.