The past six years have been brutal for dividend and income investors. Zero percent interest rates have depressed bond yields (NYSEARCA:BOND) and with major stock indexes (^DJI) now trading at all-time highs, dividend yields relative to prices have fallen too.
Last year, the number of S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:SPY) stocks paying a dividend touched a 17-year high (417 or 84% of index components).
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