Our Dividend Informer Picks Are Thriving in Q1 2026
When the market gets choppy, a lowered-volatility approach can deliver benefits, as editor Doug Gerlach explains.
Hello, informed dividend investors!
In the first quarter of 2026, the stock market experienced significant turmoil, but the Dividend Informer delivered outsized results for its subscribers. While broader market struggled, our carefully selected coverage list of dividend-paying equities proved the immense value of a disciplined investing approach.
Between January 1 and March 31, 2026, the S&P 500 index suffered a steep decline, posting a compound annual return1 of -18.22%. Even traditional safe havens like the S&P Dividend Aristocrats managed only a 6.45% return. In stark contrast, the Dividend Informer achieved a remarkable 14.72% compound annual rate of return over the exact same period.
How did our selections outperform during such a difficult environment? It comes directly down to our newsletter’s primary objective: providing a combination of income and long-term appreciation while actively working to reduce portfolio volatility.
We have consistently warned that blindly chasing high yields is a dangerous strategy that often harms total returns. Instead, our stock selection relies on a rigorous, “quality-first” philosophy.
During periods of market turmoil, a highly disciplined dividend investing approach is more vital than ever. We focus exclusively on mature, reasonably valued companies with solid balance sheets and the significant free cash flow required to support consistent dividend payouts.
By meticulously evaluating potential investments across four strict proprietary criteria—Capital Return, Growth, Stability, and Governance—we filter out companies that rely on debt to finance payouts or possess high exposure to economic downcycles. We specifically seek out highly stable businesses that demonstrate consistent growth and lower volatility than the broader market.
As our phenomenal Q1 2026 results demonstrate, our strategy of targeting a modern, “all-of-the-above” approach to capital return provides a sturdy shield against market downturns. We help investors “ease up on the throttle” and reduce risk without sacrificing adequate total returns or moving entirely to cash.
If you are looking to escape the roller coaster of broad market indices and want to build a resilient portfolio of high-quality dividend stocks, the Dividend Informer offers the expert research you need.
Subscribe today to unlock actionable opportunities and navigate the rest of 2026 with confidence.
About Return Calculations. Compound Annual Return (CAR) figures are calculated using industry-standard Internal Rate of Return (IRR) methodology, which accounts for all cash flows into and out of the portfolio — including dividends, purchases, sales, and expenses — over the measurement period. Benchmark comparisons are calculated using the same cash flow methodology: rather than assuming a single static investment at the beginning of the period, index returns are calculated by replicating the actual timing and amounts of each portfolio cash flow. This produces a true apples-to-apples comparison. CAR figures for short periods may appear elevated or reduced relative to longer-term norms; they are best understood as the annualized rate that would result if the period's return continued for a full year. Past rates of return are not indicative of future results.