When you get started in dividend stocks, you can easily research and purchase worthwhile stocks in a few simple steps. From researching your choices to keeping an eye on the market, here’s everything you need to know about investing in dividend stocks.
What Are Dividend Stocks and How Do They Work?
Image via Pixabay by geralt
Dividend stocks are shares of a company’s earnings that give regular payments to shareholders. Well-established companies make shares in their growth available on the stock market, which investors can then take advantage of as the company continues to earn profits. Shareholders who have invested in dividend stocks usually receive quarterly cash payments.
Pros and Cons of Investing in Dividend Stocks
Dividend stocks come with many benefits along with some drawbacks. To start, if you’re looking for investment opportunities that guarantee you a regular deposit, dividend stocks can certainly provide this. Another immediate benefit to investing in dividends is that there is less risk associated with the volatility of the stock market. This means that even with a downward trend in the market, your dividends will still pay.
That being said, there are a few drawbacks to dividend stocks to be aware of. If your dividend stocks are classified as “beta risk,” this means they are at risk because of the stock’s sensitivity to the movements of the market, and you could stand to see a reduction in your quarterly dividend payments.
Another drawback to dividend stocks is that if a company isn’t seeing much growth and stands to go into debt or another adverse market move, they may reduce the offerings in their dividends, or may eliminate dividends completely. So it’s important to do your research before investing in a specific stock.
1. Researching Stocks and Assessing Risk
Your first step should be researching all the dividend stocks you’re interested in purchasing. This includes analyzing the risks that come with each stock. Even though dividend stocks aren’t as risky as other types of stocks, you’ll still need to be aware of any effects the market can have on your investments.
2. Purchasing Dividend Stocks
Once you’ve done your research and evaluated the risk to your investments, you can purchase your stocks. You can do this through an online trading platform, where a broker will find the best options and make investment decisions on your behalf.
3. Tracking Your Performance
Once you’ve invested in the dividends you want, keep track of the stock performance. Keep track of market shifts and each time you receive your dividend payouts. This can help you make future decisions about your investment portfolio.
Popular Dividend Stocks
When you start your research into popular dividend stocks, consider the following options to add to your investment portfolio:
-
Energy and fuel: Chevron Corp., TC Energy Corp., Duke Energy Corp., and DTE Energy Co.
-
Technology and medical: Seagate Technology Plc. and National Health Investors, Inc.
-
Finance: M&T Bank Corp., Principal Financial Group, Inc., and National Bankshares, Inc.
While these are several examples of some popular stocks that pay dividends, there are many more out there to look into. As you get started trading in dividend stocks, be sure to use your platform’s tools and resources to monitor and research every aspect of your stock portfolio so you can make the best investment decisions.