Dividend-paying stocks such as telecom, consumer staples and utilities lagged last week’s rally, according to WSJ.com’s Total Return blog.
“Dividend stocks tend to be much less volatile on the upside, as well as on the downside,” it noted. “Investing in dividends is a long-term commitment. In exchange for less volatility and more-stable returns, investors should be prepared for periods where dividend payers drag down, not boost, an equity portfolio.”
The utilities ETF has gathered $2.9 billion in net inflows year to date and held $7.3 billion in its coffers at the end of November, according to data from the National Stock Exchange.
