Dividend Stocks
Stocks that provide dividends are an excellent way to build long-term wealth. Not only do dividends provide investors with regular income, but dividend stocks can also help investors weather market volatility. How? Whether the markets are going up, down, or sideways, dividends provide investors with a steady income stream.
Having said that, while dividends are usually paid out quarterly, at the discretion of the company’s board of directors, they can be raised, cut, or eliminated.
Not all dividend stocks are created equal. As a result, there are a number of factors investors need to consider when looking at dividend stocks.
Dividend yield is one of the most important factors to consider when investing in dividend stocks. It might be tempting to just invest in a stock with the highest dividend yield, but there is a risk/reward trade off when it comes to dividend-yielding stocks—the higher the yield, the greater the risk.
Stocks that provide an annual dividend of 10% or more tend to be very risky. Because they are risky, there is a greater chance the dividend could be cut—or worse, the share price could plummet. This means investors lose out on dividend growth and capital appreciation.
History is another important factor to consider. Look for stable companies that have a long history (five, 10, or even 25+ years) of both paying an annual dividend and increasing that dividend annually. Those stocks that offer annual dividend growth as part of their corporate culture are more likely to continue that trend.
The best way to determine whether or not a company can continue to provide an annual dividend and raise its yield is to look at the company’s free cash flow. Free cash flow is the amount of free cash, or money left over after it pays for operations and necessary capital expenditures. The more money a company has in the bank, the greater the chances are that it can sustain or increase its high dividend yield.
Ford Motor Co: Why Ford Stock’s 5% Yield Matters
Ford Stock Could Be a Bet for the Future Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is a well-known name for income investors. When a lot of companies yield next to nothing, Ford stock’s 5.12% dividend yield stands out. But everyone still remembers.
The Next Big Driver for BAC Stock
What Will Drive BAC Stock Higher? Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) is a company dividend investors should consider taking a look at. Shares of BAC stock have been stuck in a trading range for the last three years, with the.
Shell Stock: Is Royal Dutch Shell plc’s 7.3% Yield Safe?
Royal Dutch Shell plc (NYSE:RDS.A)(NYSE:RDS.B) has a problem. Management doesn’t want to admit it. But underneath the surface, a real issue is unfolding at the oil major. Any investor counting on the company’s big dividend could be in for a.
3 Reasons Why Dividend Investors Should Be Bullish on GM Stock
GM Stock Should Be Taken Seriously by Dividend Investors With the markets swinging between being in the green and in the red every day, it can hard to find a company that is in the news for the right reasons..
Dividend Investing: The 5 Do’s and Don’ts of Dividend Investing
Introduction to Dividend Investing Ultra-low interest rates and a choppy, long-in-the-tooth bull market have made dividend investing tougher than ever. For buy-and-hold investors, dividend growth stocks can provide a steady, increasing income stream and protect against short-term volatility. But the.
Brookfield Renewable Partners LP: This High Dividend Stock Now Yields 6%
Earn 6% From This High Dividend Stock Income investors are always excited finding a high dividend stock, but can such stocks be too good to be true? Investing in high dividend stocks takes a bit more work compared to stocks.
3 Top High Dividend Yield Growth Stocks for the Next Decade
High-Dividend-Yield Growth Stocks for the Next 10 Years Investors looking to fortify their retirement portfolio over the next decade could do worse than looking at high yield dividend growth stocks with a long track record of providing investors with higher.
Is National CineMedia, Inc. a Great High-Dividend Stock?
High Dividend Supported by Future Earnings Dividend investors are long-term investors looking for high-dividend stocks with capital preservation. They want each dollar that goes out return to them in a greater amount. A company doing just that is National CineMedia,.
XOM Stock: Earn a 9.7% Yield From Exxon Mobil Corporation
Today, I’m going to show you how to earn more yield from Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) stock. Not a regular yield, mind you, nor the kind of payout you see posted on Google Finance. Not the kind of low, single-digit.
Boeing Co.: Is BA stock a Top Dividend Growth Stock?
BA Stock a Top Dividend Stock with a Bright Future This year marks 100 years of business for Boeing Co (NYSE:BA), which paid out its first dividend in 1937. Ever since then, Boeing has been a dividend growth stock. Boeing.