In uncertain times for the stock market, dividend payments can be one of the few reliable sources of returns for investors. Unfortunately, some of the highest-yielding dividend stocks can be some of the most unreliable. If a dividend stock experiences a market sell-off, its yield can temporarily spike. However, if that dividend is ultimately cut, the temporarily high yield is meaningless for long-term investors. Bank of America recently compiled a list of reliable dividend stocks with at...

U.S. equities are off to a promising start in 2019. However, an equally impressive start to 2018 ultimately resulted in the market’s worst year in a decade. The Morgan Stanley analyst team, led by Michael Wilson, recently put together its 2019 Equities Outlook, which investors can use as a guide in what could be another volatile year for the stock market. Market expectations may not be as high as they were headed into 2018, but they may not be as pessimistic as the fourth quarter sell-off...

The U.S. jobs market has recovered substantially from its 2020 lows, and inflation has risen at least temporarily to multiyear highs. But the federal funds interest rate, the rate banks charge each other to borrow money overnight, has been near 0.1% since an emergency rate cut in March 2020. The Federal Reserve signaled that it will not raise rates until next year. In the meantime, dividend stocks are one of the few places for income investors to find meaningful yield. Here are nine of the...

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE: BRK.A, BRK.B) CEO Warren Buffett is one of the most iconic investors in the world. Buffett has earned the nickname the “Oracle of Omaha” for his consistent stock-picking performance over the decades and his calm, optimistic demeanor through thick and thin in the markets. As of the end of 2017, Buffett was the fourth-wealthiest individual in the world, with a net worth of about $83.2 billion. Fortunately for investors who want to follow in Buffett’s value...

For many Americans, 401(k) investment plans may as well be written in another language. Aside from the general idea of equity funds, mutual funds, bond funds and relative strategies and risks, many 401(k) account holders may have no idea which stocks are in their plan and how much they own. Mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, known as ETFs, are popular 401(k) investments because these investments provide diversification. But some of the most popular funds have surprisingly similar stock...