Why (& When) to Consider Dividend Stocks in Your Portfolio (2024)

FAQs

Why (& When) to Consider Dividend Stocks in Your Portfolio? ›

Dividend investing can be a great investment strategy. Dividend stocks have historically outperformed the S&P 500 with less volatility. That's because dividend stocks provide two sources of return: regular income from dividend payments and capital appreciation of the stock price. This total return can add up over time.

Yes, there are a lot of advantages. However, there's also a price to pay for those benefits. The most obvious advantage of dividend investing is that it gives investors extra income to use as they wish. This income can boost returns by being reinvested or withdrawn and used immediately.

No matter what stage of life you're in, dividend-paying stocks can be a great way to supplement your income and improve your portfolio's growth potential. Just be sure you research the companies' overall financial health, not just their dividend rates, before investing.

As part of a diversified portfolio, dividend stocks have their place. They offer relative stability, may pay increasing amounts over time and may provide steady income. But relying too heavily on dividend stocks as a primary investment approach could put you at risk and reduce your long-term investment gains.

Hold Between 20 and 60 Stocks

Many of the best investment professionals run concentrated portfolios. For example, Apple accounts for over 40% of Berkshire Hathaway's overall stock portfolio (check out Warren Buffett's dividend stocks here).

“One mistake to avoid,” Cabacungan says, “is to buy a company's stock simply because it issues a high dividend.” If the company has leveraged excessive debt to fund the dividend, it could come at the expense of future profitability and hurt growth prospects.

What Is a Good Dividend Yield? Yields from 2% to 6% are generally considered to be a good dividend yield, but there are plenty of factors to consider when deciding if a stock's yield makes it a good investment. Your own investment goals should also play a big role in deciding what a good dividend yield is for you.

Three high-yielding stocks that are great options for retirees today are Coca-Cola (KO 1.50%), Realty Income (O 0.52%), and Enbridge (ENB 0.68%).

If you are looking to create wealth and have a longer time horizon, staying invested in growth will enable you to enjoy longer returns. But if you are looking for a more immediate return and steady cash flow, dividend investing could be the best choice for you.

“Dividend capture strategy” returns are the trading technique of buying a stock just before the dividend is paid, holding it just long enough to collect the dividend, then selling it. If you can sell it for as much as you paid, you have “captured” the dividend at no cost, other than the transaction costs.

What is the best monthly dividend stock? ›

In a market that generates a 2% annual yield, you would need to invest $600,000 up front in order to reliably generate $12,000 per year (or $1,000 per month) in dividend payments.

The 4% rule for retirement budgeting suggests that a retiree withdraw 4% of the balance in their retirement accounts in the first year after retiring and then withdraw the same dollar amount, adjusted for inflation, every year thereafter.

To generate $5,000 per month in dividends, you would need a portfolio value of approximately $1 million invested in stocks with an average dividend yield of 5%. For example, Johnson & Johnson stock currently yields 2.7% annually. $1 million invested would generate about $27,000 per year or $2,250 per month.

Living off dividends is a financial strategy that appeals to those aiming for a reliable income stream without tapping into their investment principal. This approach has intrigued many investors, from early-career individuals to those nearing retirement.

What is your risk tolerance? If you're more risk-averse, reinvesting dividends might be preferable since this strategy tends to be more stable and offers (some) predictability. If you are willing to trade having more risk for the possibility of higher returns, investing in growth funds will be more appealing.