With SPY's average ~5% return rate, does it make sense to invest in companies like SJT, MPW, PXD, etc that have over 10% dividends? Companies like ORC which have like 18% dividend, but the underlying stock price continues to fall more that 18% are traps sure, but SJT, MPW, PXD and others that have a decent track record of not losing much (or even gaining) value seem like good investments.
in the US, those dividends arent qualified, so they will be taxed at your normal income tax rate, not 15%.
If you're a very low wage earner, there may be no difference, but for most people, you want to be earning qualified dividends not unqualified.
That means big companies that make their dividends from free cash flow from business operations.
That's why people pile into dividend ETFs like SCHD, VYM, etc. nearly all the dividends are qualified
so especially in a taxable account for high wage earners, buying stocks like these are considered much better than say, bonds/real estate.