BETA
This is a BETA experience. You may opt-out by clicking here

More From Forbes

Edit Story

Ship Finance International (SFL) Passes Through 11% Yield Mark

Following
This article is more than 9 years old.

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, in trading on Monday, shares of Ship Finance International Ltd (NYSE: SFL) were yielding above the 11% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $1.64), with the stock changing hands as low as $13.65 on the day. Dividends are particularly important for investors to consider, because historically speaking dividends have provided a considerable share of the stock market's total return. To illustrate, suppose for example you purchased shares of the iShares Russell 3000 ETF (IWV) back on 5/31/2000 — you would have paid $78.27 per share. Fast forward to 5/31/2012 and each share was worth $77.79 on that date, a loss of $0.48 or 0.6% decrease over twelve years. But now consider that you collected a whopping $10.77 per share in dividends over the same period, increasing your return to 13.15%. Even with dividends reinvested, that only amounts to an average annual total return of about 1.0%; so by comparison collecting a yield above 11% would appear considerably attractive if that yield is sustainable. Ship Finance International Ltd (NYSE: SFL) is a member of the Russell 3000, giving it special status as one of the largest 3000 companies on the U.S. stock markets.

In general, dividend amounts are not always predictable and tend to follow the ups and downs of profitability at each company. In the case of Ship Finance International Ltd, looking at the history chart for SFL below can help in judging whether the most recent dividend is likely to continue, and in turn whether it is a reasonable expectation to expect a 11% annual yield.

Click here to find out which 9 other dividend stocks just recently went on sale, at DividendChannel.com »


Special Offer: Free Sample Issue to the Preferred Stock List Newsletter


According to the ETF Finder at ETFChannel.com, SFL makes up 2.99% of the Guggenheim Shipping ETF (AMEX: SEA) which is trading higher by about 0.1% on the day Monday.