We're using cookies, but you can turn them off in your browser settings. Otherwise, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more in our Privacy Policy

Bridge over ocean
1 November 2016 Financial Analysts Journal Volume 72, Issue 6

What Difference Do Dividends Make?

  1. C. Mitchell Conover
  2. Gerald R. Jensen, CFA
  3. Marc W. Simpson

We evaluate the investment benefits of dividend-paying stocks and identify three major findings. First, high-dividend payers have the least risk yet return over 1.5% more per year than do nondividend payers. Second, the benefit of targeting dividend payers is conditional on investment style. Surprisingly, the benefit is largest for growth and small-cap stocks, the stocks of companies usually thought to benefit the most from reinvesting their cash flows. Third, long–short managers exploiting the value premium should focus on non-dividend-paying stocks as non-dividend-paying small-cap value stocks return 1% more per month than do non-dividend-paying small-cap growth stocks.

Read the Complete Article in Financial Analysts Journal Financial Analysts Journal CFA Institute Member Content