When it comes to investments, don’t judge a book by its cover. The market’s ups and downs may mesmerize, but dividends are a critical indicator of value. Over the past century, dividends have accounted for 31% of the S&P 500’s returns, with compounding driving gains exponentially higher.

Including dividends, the S&P 500’s return from 1930 to 2025 would be 9,584 points, compared to 278 points without payouts. Investors can access high-dividend stocks through ETFs like iShares Select Dividend, Schwab US Dividend Equity, and Vanguard High Dividend Yield.

Six ETFs offer attractive price-to-earning ratios and strong dividend quality, like iShares Select Dividend, Schwab US Dividend Equity, and Vanguard High Dividend Yield. State Street SPDR S&P Dividend, iShares Core High Dividend, and ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats are also worth considering for dividend-focused investments.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: 6 Affordable ETFS for Dividend Aristocrats