What are Dividends?
Dividends are payments made by companies to their shareholders as a portion of their profits. Some companies choose to pay dividends regularly, while others may pay them sporadically or not at all. Dividends can be a valuable source of income for investors seeking to achieve financial freedom.
What to Look for in a Dividend Stock
When looking for a dividend stock, it’s important to consider a few factors. First, look at the company’s track record of paying dividends. Is it a dividend aristocrat, or does it have a strong history of dividend payments? Second, consider the company’s financial health. A company with a strong balance sheet and steady cash flow is more likely to continue paying dividends in the future. Finally, consider the dividend yield, but don’t rely solely on this metric. A high dividend yield may be a red flag that the company is struggling, so be sure to do your due diligence.
Beware of High Dividend Stocks
It’s also important to note that a high dividend yield doesn’t always mean a good investment. Some companies may artificially inflate their dividend yield to attract investors, but this can be a red flag. A high dividend yield may indicate that the company is struggling to grow or that it may not be sustainable in the long term.
Dividend Reinvestment
Finally, it’s worth considering dividend reinvestment when purchasing a dividend stock. This means that instead of receiving the dividend payout in cash, you use the money to purchase additional shares of the stock. Over time, this can compound your returns and lead to significant growth in your investment portfolio.
To understand the power of dividend reinvestment, let’s take a look at an example with Coca-Cola. Suppose you had invested $10,000 in Coca-Cola stock in 1990 and reinvested all the dividends you received over the years. How much would your investment be worth today?
According to historical data, if you had invested $10,000 in Coca-Cola stock in 1990 and reinvested all the dividends, your investment would be worth approximately $276,788.17 as of the end of 2020. The table below shows the value of the investment at different points in time.
| Year | Value of Shares | Dividends Received | Total Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | $10,271.79 | $271.79 | $10,271.79 |
| 1995 | $63,442.15 | $399.15 | $63,842.30 |
| 2000 | $187,149.70 | $581.73 | $187,731.43 |
| 2005 | $179,061.15 | $1,114.31 | $180,175.46 |
| 2010 | $205,596.28 | $1,325.24 | $206,921.52 |
| 2015 | $238,745.36 | $1,837.84 | $240,583.20 |
| 2020 | $274,479.36 | $2,308.81 | $276,788.17 |
Dividend Aristocrats
Some companies have a long track record of consistently paying and increasing their dividends. These are known as dividend aristocrats. To be a dividend aristocrat, a company must be in the S&P 500 and have increased its dividend payout for at least 25 consecutive years.
As of Feb 2023 these are the top 10 dividend aristocrats
| Rank | Company Name | Ticker Symbol | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johnson & Johnson | JNJ | 2.5% |
| 2 | Procter & Gamble | PG | 2.5% |
| 3 | Coca-Cola | KO | 3.0% |
| 4 | PepsiCo | PEP | 2.9% |
| 5 | Colgate-Palmolive | CL | 2.3% |
| 6 | AbbVie | ABBV | 4.3% |
| 7 | Exxon Mobil | XOM | 5.2% |
| 8 | Federal Realty Investment Trust | FRT | 3.2% |
| 9 | Genuine Parts | GPC | 3.1% |
| 10 | Aflac | AFL | 3.4% |
Berkshire Hathaway and Coca-Cola
One of the most famous examples of a company that benefits from dividends is Berkshire Hathaway, the investment firm led by Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway owns a significant stake in Coca-Cola, which pays out millions of dollars in dividends each year. By holding onto this investment, Berkshire Hathaway generates a reliable source of income that can be used for future investments or to pay out to its own shareholders.
Dividend investing can be a valuable strategy for achieving financial freedom. By investing in dividend aristocrats and carefully selecting high-quality dividend stocks, you can generate a reliable source of income that can be used for future investments or to support your lifestyle. Just be sure to do your research, and consider dividend reinvestment to maximize your returns over time.
