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Should You Care About Dividends?
This article is an attempt to discuss the topic of dividends from the perspective of the individual investor and his or her financial advisor. Its four sections are not meant to be comprehensive. Rather, it aims to be educational and to discuss the merits (and demerits) of owning dividend paying stocks relative to what is often cited as their alternative – bonds and “growth stocks.”
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back - 2022 Review
2022 Review: The most challenging year for investors since the financial crisis came to an end last week. The large cap S&P 500 index finished down -18.1%. The tech-heavy NASDAQ plummeted 33% as more than 50% of the names in that index declined 50% or more. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 8% as the value orient- ed names in that index of 30 stocks fared much better.
The Year No One Saw Coming - 2023 Review
2023 - the year no one saw coming. Uncertainty around inflation, interest rates, and a possible recession was the dominant theme in the stock and bond markets in 2023. The Fed wound down its two-year inflation fighting campaign of interest rate increases this fall as inflation continued its down- ward retreat, all while the economy continued to grow. This resulted in significant gains for the stock market and modest gains for the bond markets in 2023 after an atrocious 2022.
Second Quarter 2024 Market Talk
Second quarter 2024: U.S. stock markets continued their ascent in the latest quarter with the S&P 500 now up 15.3% year to date. The tech heavy NASDAQ was up 18.1%, while the Dow was up only 4.8%. Small cap stocks were up only 1.7% as they continued their decade long underperformance.
Fair & Balanced Disclosure: The content of this page should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of writer as of the date of publication and are subject to change. This content herein does not constitute personalized advice from Westview or its investment professionals, or a solicitation to execute specific securities transactions. Westview is not a law or accounting firm and does not intend for any content to be construed as legal, accounting, or tax advice. Readers should not use any of this content as the sole basis for any investment, financial planning, tax, legal, or other decisions. Rather, visitors should consult their other professional advisers (including their lawyers and accountants) and consider independent due diligence before implementing any of the options directly or indirectly referenced. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss, and different investments and types of investments involve varying degrees of risk. There can be no assurance that the future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, including those undertaken or recommended by Westview, will be profitable or equal any historical performance level.
Posted in May 2023, this article guides you through SECURE Act 2.0 and how it stands to impact retirement.