dividend

A dividend is a cash payout that serves as a way for companies to share the profits they’ve accumulated through their operations. These payouts are drawn from earnings and cash flow paid to the shareholders of the company. Commonly these dividends are paid quarterly, although they may also be paid annually or even monthly as well. A dividend can produce as much as a quarter of your total return over long periods. Some good companies reinvest profits instead of paying a dividend. But fraudulent and failing companies hardly ever pay a dividend. So if you only buy stocks that pay dividends, you’ll automatically stay out of almost all the market’s worst stocks. For a true measure of stability, focus on companies that have maintained or raised their dividends during recessions and stock market downturns. These firms leave themselves enough room to handle periods of earnings volatility. By continually rewarding investors, and retaining enough cash to finance their businesses, they provide an attractive mix of safety, income and growth. Dividends are an important contributor to your long-term gains, and dividend-paying stocks tend to expose you to less risk than non-dividend-payers. That’s why the majority of your stocks should be dividend-payers at all times. As you get older and closer to retirement, you should raise the proportion of dividend-paying stocks in your portfolio, to cut risk and improve the stability of your investment results. To maximize your investment returns with the least risk, follow TSI Network and use our three-part Successful Investor strategy:

  1. Invest mainly in well-established companies;
  2. Spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing & Industry; Resources & Commodities; Consumer; Finance; Utilities);
  3. Downplay or avoid stocks in the broker/media limelight.

Discover how to put an extra strength in your portfolio with our specific advice on how to identify high-quality dividend stocks. It’s all in our newly updated report, Dividend Paying Stocks: How High Dividend Stocks Can Supercharge Your Income Investing. And it’s yours FREE!

Read More Close
Stock prices have dropped sharply in anticipation of a much wider spread of the coronavirus, and the deep economic setback that could result from its spread. That could happen—no one can predict the future. However, most sharp market downturns are temporary. Due to modern medicine and technology, the coronavirus impact is unlikely to get so big that it brings on a long-lasting stock-market decline.


Our advice is that if your stock holdings made sense for you a few weeks ago, in light of your investment goals, financial circumstances and temperament, then you should hang on to them.


You should also continue to follow our three-pronged Successful Investor strategy: Invest mainly in established companies; spread your money out across the five main economic sectors; and downplay or avoid stocks that are in the broker/media limelight.


But most important—with yields on many stocks currently so much higher than before the COVID-19 tumult and with many companies cutting their dividends—income investors need to pay close attention to our Dividend Sustainability Ratings.


In this, your latest issue of Dividend Advisor, you’ll also find several high-yielding stocks we recommend for new buying....
We designed our Dividend Sustainability Rating to help our readers zero in on companies that can continue to pay you dividends (or even raise them) during economic downturns.


The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has already forced many firms to cut or suspend their dividends....
INTERNATIONAL FLAVORS & FRAGRANCES INC. $105 (www.iff.com) is still a buy. The company plans to merge with the nutition and biosciences business of DuPont (New York symbol DD). DuPont shareholders will own 55.4% of the combined company, with IFF shareholders owning the rest....
The COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak has cut Stanley’s price by 33% in the past month. However, we expect the stock—and the company—should rebound strongly once the crisis ends. That’s due to its wide variety of products, strong brands and broad geographic presence....
BRIGGS & STRATTON CORP. $2.28 is still a hold. The company (New York symbol BGG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 42.5 million; Market cap: $96.9 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.1; Dividend suspended in March 2020; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk; www.briggsandstratton.com) makes lawnmower engines, portable power generators, pressure washers, and snowblowers and throwers.


Under a new strategy to protect investor value, Briggs will focus on making engines for industrial and consumer uses, standby power generators and commercial battery systems....
PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. ADRs $37 remains a buy. The company (New York symbol PHG; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; ADRs outstanding: 891.0 million; Market cap: $33.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 2.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.philips.com) makes industrial health-care products, including X-ray scanners and ultrasound systems, along with consumer goods such as electric shavers, electric toothbrushes and air purifiers.


As part of its long-term plan to focus on health-care products, the company is now studying various options for its Domestic Appliances business, which makes kitchen appliances (such as coffee makers) and garment care products (steam irons)....
The COVID-19 outbreak could prompt many businesses to cut their spending on important equipment such as video surveillance systems (made by Motorola Solutions) and self-serve cash registers (NCR). However, we believe many other businesses will see that as a false economy because these products help them operate more efficiently....
Cintas investors already expect the COVID-19 pandemic to hurt demand for the company’s uniform services, particularly from restaurants and hotels.


However, invests will benefit from higher demand for uniforms, including scrubs, from hospitals and healthcare providers....
ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO. $33 is a buy. This company (New York symbol ADM; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 556.7 million; Market cap: $18.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; Divd. yield: 4.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.adm.com) is a leading processor of corn, wheat, soybeans, canola and other crops for flour, oils and other food ingredients....
In response to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, these four fast-food operators have closed their dine-in areas. However, they continue to serve customers with take-out and drive-thru facilities. Recent investments in their home-delivery operations have proven timely, as those upgrades are now helping them cope as more people eat at home.


We feel that all four will rebound quickly in the next few months once they resume normal operations....