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December 10, 2018

Record dividends helped to soften market's blows

  • U.S. companies have sent a record amount of cash to their shareholders as dividends this year.
    • By STAN CHOE
    AP Business Writer

    NEW YORK — It pays more than ever to be an investor. U.S. companies have sent a record amount of cash to their shareholders as dividends this year as their profits continue to pile higher.

    The increase is key for shareholders, offering a bit of stability in what's been a stomach-churning year for the stock market. The S&P 500 index has twice plunged by 10 percent, and it was clinging to a 1 percent gain for the year, as of Wednesday evening. After including dividends, though, its total return was 2.3 percent.


     
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