Whether deserved or not, dividend stocks have a reputation for being somewhat boring—sturdy and dependable, but in low-growth industries or comprising companies that are well beyond their days of rapid share price gains. Though dividend stocks are not necessarily safe in all cases, they have a reputation for being a strong defensive play.
On the other hand, Momentum stocks often don't pay dividends because they are in a high-growth stage of development when companies typically reinvest capital into the business itself to fuel further expansion. Thus, when a company has an impressive dividend yield and a recent history of upward price movement, it's a win-win for investors.
