Dividend investors have had plenty to cheer about so far in 2026. Even as the broader S&P 500 ($SPX) has remained in negative territory to open the year, dividend-focused funds like the iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) have quietly done better than the market, returning more than 2% year-to-date (YTD) in early March as investors shifted toward names with steady income.
In a market where protecting capital matters as much as chasing gains, companies that keep lifting their payouts are making it clear how confident they are.
