3 Dividend Stocks That Can Help You Crush Inflation

Inflationary pressures have been a hot topic for investors over the past year. In April, the consumer price index (CPI) showed inflation at 8.3%. While this was down slightly from March's reading, it represented the 12th month in a row of inflation topping 5%.  

When inflation is elevated, many investors turn to dividend stocks as a good source of market returns. According to Fidelity, dividends have accounted for 40% of the S&P 500's total returns since the 1930s. And during inflationary periods, these stocks account for an even larger share of market returns. During the inflationary decades of the 1940s and 1970s, dividends accounted for 65% and 71%, respectively, of the market's total returns.  

Three dividend stocks you could buy today that can help you crush inflation and higher interest rates to come are U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB), United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI), and Unum Group (NYSE: UNM).

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Source Fool.com