What is a Dividend Yield?

Dividend yield is a financial ratio that indicates how much a company pays out in dividends each year compared to its share price.

The dividend yield is one of the important ratios to calculate for dividend stocks. It is calculated as the total annual dividends paid per share, divided by the current stock price. Movements in the stock price will change the dividend yield. When you’re looking for income-producing stocks, dividend yield is typically your most important consideration. The best companies to invest in for a high dividend yield have strong positions in healthy industries. They also incorporate strong management that makes the right moves to remain competitive in changing marketplaces.

Dividend yields are a sign of investment quality. Some good companies reinvest profit to spur growth instead of paying dividends. But fraudulent and failing companies are hardly ever dividend-paying stocks. 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 those companies that have maintained or raised their dividend yields during a recession or stock-market downturn. That’s because 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 also provide an attractive mix of safety, income and growth-and are a big part of a successful long term investment strategy

High dividend yields can be a warning sign, however

When looking for high dividend stocks, you should avoid the temptation of “reaching for yield.” That is, choosing investments purely because they offer a high current yield. That’s because a high yield may signal danger rather than a bargain, if it reflects widespread investor skepticism that a company can keep paying its current dividend. Dividend cuts always undermine investor confidence, and can quickly push down a company’s stock price.

While a high-and safe-yield dividend is generally favourable, be aware that it is only one of many indicators that we look for in a good stock. You need to look at the big picture, so you get a realistic view of a company’s long-term prospects. As well, at TSI Network, we recommend 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.