S&P 500 Dividends (1977-2014)

The
chart shown below (click on the chart to see a larger image)
annual dividend payouts for the S&P 500 Index between
1977 and 2014. As
shown, the dividends paid by the S&P 500 Index component
companies
increased from $4.67 in 1977 to about $39.44 in 2013. This is a
total increase of about 744% and an annualized increase of 5.94% in
the dividend yield. This a solid annualized increase