Stocks That Keep Paying You Back

Before the market crash early last year, investors were woefully underexposed to bonds. A 2008 survey from the Investment Company Institute revealed the scary truth:

Source: ICI.org.

Based on this data, then, it's no surprise that early 2009 was a rocky period for investors of all ages. To put this in some perspective, despite the rally we've had, the S&P 500 still remains some 25% off its October 2007 highs. Meanwhile, the aggregate U.S. bond market stayed positive -- and a lot less volatile.

Indeed, over the past 10 years, the S&P has posted negative returns while major bond indexes have delivered steadier -- not to mention positive -- growth.

Don't all jump at once
Data such as this makes it clear that investors have needed more fixed income in their portfolios -- and last year's nauseating market volatility, as well as a renewed hunger for income, seems to have been a wake-up call. Despite the recent market rally, the shift in investor funds toward bonds in 2009 was nothing short of biblical:

Source: ICI.org.

No, that's not a misprint.

But these new bond investors are taking on more risk than they might think.

"Junk" bond funds, which have a higher chance of default and thus have higher yields to compensate for the extra risk, attracted more than $700 million in the past two weeks alone. Companies with junk bond ratings include MGM Mirage (NYSE: MGM) and Ford Motor (NYSE: F).

Sure, junk bonds deserve attention, but because they are issued by less-stable companies, they aren't the safe haven investors imagine bonds to be.

Know the rules before you play
Jumping into bonds isn't a bad thing, of course, but investors do need to keep a few things in mind.

1. Bond prices and yields have an inverse relationship. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall, and with interest rates near record lows, there's really only one way bond prices can go from here.

2. Long-term bonds are more sensitive to changes in interest rates than short-term bonds. If rates do rise rapidly, current long-term bonds (10-plus years to maturity) would drop in value more sharply than short-term bonds.

3. Inflation isn't a major concern right now, but it very well could be in a few years -- and that would be bad news for bond investors. Inflation eats away the value of bonds, because you're lending money in today's dollars that will be repaid in tomorrow's dollars. By the time you get your money back, it won't be able to buy as much as today, thanks to the cost of goods and services increasing with inflation.

Consider another sandbox
All that being said, bonds are an essential part of any portfolio. But as with any investment, "price is what you pay, value is what you get."

The potential for higher interest rates and inflation down the road, together with tightening yield spreads, means bonds are less attractive today than they once were.

Instead, now's a great time to double down on dividend-paying stocks. While dividends are never guaranteed, dividend payouts can grow at a rate faster than inflation and have the added bonus of capital appreciation from the stock price.

But why now?
Right now, there are plenty of high-quality dividend-paying stocks, not only sporting yields of 3%, but also with plenty of cash to fund and grow their payouts. Here are just a few:

Source: Capital IQ, a division of Standard & Poor's.

Each of these stocks has a long track record of rewarding shareholders with consistent and growing dividends and appears poised to keep doing so for some time.

While a 10-year Treasury will pay you a fixed 3.7% yield per year on your investment, the same investment in one of these stocks will likely have a larger annual payout by the end of those 10 years. That's why now is an intriguing time to consider dividend-paying stocks.

Finding the right mix
If last year's market volatility made you reassess your risk tolerance and become a more conservative investor, that's great. It's important to remember, however, that bonds -- like any investment -- come with their own set of risks. Like stocks, they can fluctuate in price up to maturity. Balancing high-quality bonds with dividend stocks that keep paying you back is a solid approach to investing in an uncertain market.

Good companies with well-covered dividend payouts are exactly what James Early looks for at our Motley Fool Income Investor service -- and he's finding plenty these days. If you'd like to see what the team is recommending now, consider a 30-day free trial. You'll also see all of the past recommendations and the best bets for new money now. Just click here to get started. There's no obligation to subscribe.

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This article was originally published on Sept. 18, 2009. It has been updated.

Motley Fool Pro analyst Todd Wenning would like to recognize "The Bar-BQ Ranch" in Harrisonburg, Va., for its excellent hush puppies. He does not own shares of any company mentioned. Intel, Coca-Cola, and SYSCO are Motley Fool Inside Value selections. Ford Motor is a Stock Advisor pick. Kimberly-Clark, Coca-Cola, and SYSCO are Income Investor picks. The Fool has written covered strangles on Intel. Motley Fool Options has recommended buying calls on Intel. The Fool owns shares of SYSCO and has a disclosure policy.