S&P 500 Equal Weight dividend yield: 1.56%

Yield isn't the whole payout anymore#

Since the 1980s, buybacks have grown into a cash return as large as dividends — often larger. A company repurchasing 3% of its shares returns cash just as surely as one paying a 3% dividend, but only the latter shows up here. That's why a low headline yield understates what S&P 500 Equal Weight actually returns to shareholders. We measure the combined figure from actual SEC cash-flow filings on the shareholder yield list (dividends + net buybacks ÷ market cap), and the pure-income ranking on the highest dividend stocks list.

FAQ#

What is the S&P 500 Equal Weight's dividend yield?

About 1.56% — the weighted average of every member's indicated dividend yield (non-payers counted at zero), updated daily.

Why is the yield low by historical standards?

Valuations are high, and the buyback era moved much of the cash return out of dividends entirely — a company repurchasing shares returns cash without it ever showing in the yield.

Which S&P 500 Equal Weight stocks pay the highest dividends?

See our highest-dividend-stocks list — the fattest verified yields, each cross-checked against price data to confirm the dividend was actually paid. For dividends plus buybacks combined, the shareholder-yield list ranks total cash returned to owners from SEC cash-flow filings.