Are We Seeing a Dividend Bubble?
Given the plethora of market uncertainties, investors have over the past few months started placing an increasing emphasis on dividend yield. In particular, multi-national companies operating in regions or sectors that would enable them to grow dividends over the next few years have gained favor. These so-called dividend Aristocrats have recorded strong relative performance compared with the benchmark indices, as illustrated by the relative price chart below of the S&P 500 High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index versus the S&P 500 Index.
Source: StockCharts.com
This trend raises the raising the question: Are we seeing a dividend bubble?
I concur with the answer provided from across the pond by David Fuller, co-author of FullerMoney, as follows: "The short answer is not yet, but all good trends eventually develop some bubbly characteristics, of a greater or lesser degree. A number of high-yielding, multinational 'Autonomies' have shown impressive relative strength this year. Two warning signs to watch out for are: 1) trend acceleration relative to their 200-day moving averages; and 2) price-earnings ratios that are clearly higher than most other sectors or the market generally.
"Another test for these shares, for which I maintain current relative strength is understandable, will occur when a stronger overall market environment revives 'animal spirits' sufficiently for investors to chance their luck in small-caps and other laggards."
Also read The Wall Street Journal's recent article, "Dividend Stocks Become the Heroes - Shares Often Derided as for 'Widows and Orphans' Are Outdoing Their Lower-Yielding Cousins".
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Author: Prieur du Plessis
Dr Prieur du Plessis
investmentpostcards.com
With 25 years' experience in investment research and portfolio management, Dr Prieur du Plessis is one of the most experienced and well-known investment professionals in South Africa. More than 1 000 of his articles on investment-related topics have been published in various regular newspaper, journal and Internet columns. He also published a book, Financial Basics: Investment, in 2002.
He holds the following degrees: BSc (Quantity Surveying) (Cape Town), HonsB (B & A) (cum laude) (Stellenbosch), MBA (cum laude) (Stellenbosch); and DBA (Doctor of Financial Management) (Stellenbosch).
Prieur is chairman of the Plexus group of companies, which he founded in 1995. Previously he was general manager: portfolio management at Sanlam, responsible for the management of investment portfolios with total assets in excess of $5 billion.
Plexus is a pioneer in the mutual fund industry and has achieved a number of firsts under Prieur's leadership. These include the authoritative Plexus Survey, a quarterly analysis of the consistency of the performance of unit trust management companies, the Plexus Offshore Survey, the Plexus Unit Trust Indices, and the PlexCrown Fund Ratings.
Plexus is the South African partner of John Mauldin, American author of the most widely distributed investment newsletter in the world, and also has an exclusive licensing agreement with California-based Research Affiliates for managing and distributing its enhanced Fundamental Index™ methodology in the Pan-African area.
In 2001 Prieur received the Santam/AHI Business Leader of the Year award for corporate leadership, business acumen and entrepreneurial flair. He was also profiled in the book South Africa's Leading Managers (2006). Plexus received the AHI/Old Mutual Enterprise of the Year award in 1997 and was also included in the book South Africa's Most Promising Companies (2005).
Prieur is 52 years old and lives with his wife, TV producer and presenter Isabel Verwey, and two children in Welgemoed, Cape Town. His recreational activities include long-distance running, motor cycling and reading. He belongs to the Cape Town Club, Johannesburg Country Club, Gordon's Bay Yacht Club and Swiss Social & Sports Club.
Copyright © 2008-2012 Dr Prieur du Plessis
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