Not long ago, dividend stocks were the clear income champions. In July 2016, nearly two-thirds of S&P 500 ($SPX) companies (about 63.4%) offered a higher dividend yield than the 10-year Treasury. That was the peak of a post-financial-crisis era when ultra-low rates made equities the go-to source of cash flow for yield-hungry investors.
Today, that picture has completely flipped. As of late August 2026, fewer than 4% of S&P 500 stocks (16 stocks) yield more than the 10-year Treasury, the lowest share since May 2007.
