As Fashionable As Top Hats And Walking Sticks

From its December 1989 inception through the end of 2022, the Dividend Aristocrats (DA) Index handily outperformed the S&P 500, posting an 11.8% annualized return compared to the parent index’s 9.7% gain. However, the AI mania driving the market today has erased much of that 33-year advantage, and Dividend Aristocrats rank as the worst performing style since the beginning of 2023. We were intrigued by this turnabout and what it means for investing in dividend growers going forward.