First Quarter 2013 Dividend Rate Increases $14.5 Billion: S&P Dow Jones Indices

NEW YORK, April 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- S&P Dow Jones Indices announced today that dividend net increases (increases less decreases) were $14.5 billion during the first quarter of 2013 for U.S. domestic common stock.  The indicated dividend rate excludes special and extra one-time dividend payments, and was therefore not impacted by the massive late-year rush to avoid potential higher taxes. During Q1 2013, 944 dividend increases were reported, a 39.4% gain over the 677 dividend increases reported during Q1 2012. Of the approximately 10,000 U.S. traded issues, 139 companies decreased dividends in Q1 2013 compared to 35 companies in the Q1 2012. For the 12 months ending March 2013, there were 3,154 positive dividend events compared to 2,120 such events in the prior 12 months, with 389 negative events in 2013, compared to 119 in the prior 12 month period.

"Dividends continued to increase in the first quarter with actual cash payments increasing 12% and the forward indicated dividend rate reaching a new all-time high," says Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices. "Payout rates, which historically average 52%, continue to remain near their lows at 36%. At this point, 2013 will easily surpass the 2012 record dividend payment, which speaks to the growth of dividends since 2012 payments included accelerated payments from 2013."

The percentage of non-S&P 500 domestic common issues (ASE, NYSE, NASD) paying a dividend continued to increase, reaching 46.1% in Q1 2013, up from 43.6% in Q4 2012 and was notably up from the 41.7% in Q1 2012. The paying issues in the large-cap S&P 500 reached 81.2%, a level not seen since November 1999, with all 30 members of the Dow Jones Industrial Average paying a dividend.

Silverblatt determined that the weighted dividend yield was 2.61% at the end of Q1, down from 2.80% at year-end, and slightly up from the 2.58% yield at the end of Q1 2012. "The lower yield is the result of the strong 10% equity increase in the first quarter. Dividend yields remain relatively attractive compared to other instruments such as corporate bonds, treasuries, and bank CDs, especially considering the new 'permanent' tax rate, which, while higher than last year, maintains preferential treatment for dividends," says Silverblatt.

Looking ahead, Silverblatt continues to see positive indicators for dividends, including earnings coverage and high cash levels. "The dividend cycle is solidly back on the upward track, with both investors and companies viewing them positively," adds Silverblatt. "While growth is slower than the initial 2011-12 recovery period, it is broad across sectors and has support from both investors and companies."

To download the S&P Indices Dividend Report, please visit the following web address: www.spindices.com/indices/equity/sp-500 and click on "S&P 500 Monthly Dividend Report" from the "Additional Info" drop down box. For more information about S&P Dow Jones Indices, please visit www.spindices.com.

About S&P Dow Jones Indices
S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., is the world's largest, global resource for index-based concepts, data and research. Home to iconic financial market indicators, such as the S&P 500® and the Dow Jones Industrial Average(SM), S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC has over 115 years of experience constructing innovative and transparent solutions that fulfill the needs of institutional and retail investors. More assets are invested in products based upon our indices than any other provider in the world. With over 830,000 indices covering a wide range of asset classes across the globe, S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC defines the way investors measure and trade the markets. To learn more about our company, please visit www.spdji.com.

Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC ("S&P"), a subsidiary of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC ("Dow Jones").  These trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P and their respective affiliates (collectively "S&P Dow Jones Indices") do not sponsor, endorse, sell, or promote any investment fund or other investment vehicle that is offered by third parties and that seeks to provide an investment return based on the performance of any index. This document does not constitute an offer of services in jurisdictions where S&P Dow Jones Indices does not have the necessary licenses. S&P Dow Jones Indices receives compensation in connection with licensing its indices to third parties.

SOURCE S&P Dow Jones Indices

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