Bonds aren't yielding much of anything, but investors may find some solace and income in dividend-paying stocks.
However, the highest yielding stocks aren't necessarily the best income investments over time. Sprinkled within this list of big dividend payers are some companies whose income generating capabilities will persist, while others may be value or yield traps, where yields are rising because of a downward trend in stock price.
Can investors really tell which is which? Or would investing in one of these big dividend payers be like catching a falling knife?
Here, according to FactSet, are the top Nasdaq 100 dividend payers in 2021 as of Dec. 7.
No. 9 (tie) – PepsiCo – 2.6%
Harrison, N.Y.-based PEP has raised its dividend for 49-straight years. If it raises the dividend again in 2022, it becomes an official “dividend king” for growing its payout for half of a century.