On Monday, the market fell for justifiable reasons -- namely the conflict between Russian and Ukraine. The lives and safety of those affected by the territorial standoff are the primary consideration. Still, as Fool contributor Chuck Saletta mentions in this brief video, a focus on fundamentals did provide some tangible rewards from rising dividends on the day, despite the market's justifiable worry.
Why dividends rule
Dividends are an important weapon in any investors' arsenal. One of the secrets that few finance professionals will reveal is that dividend stocks as a group handily outperform their non-dividend-paying brethren
However, knowing this is only half the battle. The other half is identifying which dividend stocks in particular are the best. With this in mind, our top analysts put together a free list of nine high-yielding stocks that should be in every income investor's portfolio. To learn the identity of these stocks instantly and for free, all you have to do is click here now.
Dividend data from the video
| Company | March 2013 Dividend | March 2012 Dividend | Dividend Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aflac (AFL 0.90%) | $0.37 | $0.35 | 5.7% |
| J. M. Smucker (SJM 1.18%) | $0.58 | $0.52 | 11.5% |
| Wells Fargo (WFC 2.73%) | $0.30 | $0.25 | 20% |
Data from Yahoo! Finance, as of Mar 3, 2014.
The real-money Inflation-Protected Income Growth portfolio owns shares of Aflac, J. M. Smucker, and Wells Fargo because of their demonstrated track records of directly rewarding investors for the risks they take by investing. Their dividends provide a great reminder that the businesses behind those stocks can continue to thrive, no matter what the market happens to be doing to their shares.
To follow the iPIG portfolio as buy and sell decisions are made, watch Chuck's article feed by clicking here. To join The Motley Fool's free discussion board dedicated to the iPIG portfolio, simply click here.
