For instance, the benchmark 10-year Treasury notes currently yield about 1.70%.
“Payout rates, which historically average 52%, remain near their lows at 34%,” Silverblatt added. “At this point, we expect to see double-digit growth in actual dividend payments for the fourth quarter of 2012 and a potential double-double gain in 2013 – depending on Washington.”
Romney has openly stated that he will maintain bush-era taxes and keep rates on dividends at a cap of 15%, whereas dividend tax rates could jump to 43% under Obama. [Dividend ETFs, the Fiscal Cliff and Potential Tax Hikes]
Some dividend ETFs include:
- iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund (NYSEArca: DVY): 3.49% yield
- iShares High Dividend Equity Fund (NYSEArca: HDV): 3.22% yield
- SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (NYSEArca: SDY): 3.16% yield
- Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSEArca: VIG): 2.08% yield
- Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund (NYSEArca: VYM): 2.93% yield
- WisdomTree Dividend Top 100 Fund (NYSEArca: DTN): 3.60% yield
For more information on dividend payers, visit our dividend ETFs category.
Max Chen contributed to this article.
Full disclosure: Tom Lydon’s clients own DVY.