Dividends are such an important part of investing. They're responsible for a huge chunk of long-term returns. And even over shorter periods, companies that pay decent dividends from solid cash flows are always in demand - and likely to outperform. Just look at the 13 high-yield shares our stock screen unearthed a year go. They've beaten the market handsomely, and only one of the bunch has fallen in price. So we re-ran the screen this year, and found another 17 companies.
Talking of dividends, following the deluge of results over the past month or so, large numbers of shares are going ex-dividend over the next few weeks - including 35 next Wednesday. That means you've only a few days left to buy the shares and still qualify for the final dividend. Our dividend calendar shows every share (including investment trusts and VCTs) going ex next week and beyond.
And if you're looking for dividend growth, check out this week's results from Aim-traded recruitment business Networkers - its profits were so strong that it raised the payout by 50 per cent! It surely helps that the directors are major shareholders…
One of an investor's worst nightmares is finding out that a share is suspended. There can be an innocent reason for this - a company is completing a reverse takeover, for instance - but often, suspension is the precursor to a company failing altogether. Robert Ansted has compiled a table of suspended shares and assessed the prospects of them even resuming.
We've our usual round-up of the shares and funds we've tipped this week, including. And finally, this weekend marks the centenary of the Titanic sinking. My shameless attempt to jump aboard the nostalgia bandwagon compares the disaster to the current UK private-sector pension system- and praises a new attempt to steer a different course.
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