Despite being down as much as 7% through the first few months of the year, the S&P 500 Index has performed well in 2026. Overall, the index’s total return sits near 10%, which is approximately in line with its average return over a full year.
Three stocks that recently raised their dividends are not only beating the S&P 500 this year, but also boast higher dividend yields than the index average. Using the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: SPY) as a proxy, the index’s yield is only around 1%.
