Just poking around... and I thought of something else I wanted to add to my post above.
Again - please do not use my EXAMPLES as a reason to invest in that particular company. I have to use something as an example... so just picking on this one.
When you blow up McDonalds (MCD) 5 year chart on Google Finanace.... notice something that I think is VERY IMPORTANT for ALL STOCKS....
In 2008 this company paid a .38 share quarterly dividend.... in 2011 they were paying a .70 share per quarter. That is almost a double in the dividend.
That's just HUGE! Had you paid the highest price for the shares in '08 - $65 - and held - you'd be getting $2.80 a year per share in CASH...
Annual dividend divided by the share price.... 2.80 / 65. = 4.30%
Forget the 43% growth in your investment! I'll take a 4.30% dividend on a steady Eddy any day!
So again -- this is just an example of some things to think about and look for when you're investing.
OH --- And BTW --- Had you paid $65 a share in September of '08 -- you'd be real unhappy when the shares dipped to $52 in May of '09...... that is -- unless you viewed this as a buying opportunity and added to your position! Because that $52 a share "investment" is paying you 5.38% and you're gain is even larger!
I'll repeat -- don't just look at this stock -- I'm explaining how to THINK about any of the stocks you own already -- or stocks you're planning to buy. This is about teaching you to fish - not catching you a fish.
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