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Investors are worried about the U.S. economy. Consumer confidence dropped sharply in February, and key measures like the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the U.S. services sector have slipped into contraction.

Dividend stocks are gaining popularity again due to the recent wave of bearishness in the stock market. Both retail and institutional investors chased AI and growth stocks in the past two years, and dividend stocks were rarely on their bucket list as the returns paled compared to the hottest names on the market.

Dividend investors don't buy shares of companies hoping they will suspend their payouts soon. The longer a corporation maintains its dividend program, the more attractive it is to income seekers, all else being equal.

Various strategies, including bonds, life insurance, and annuities, can generate investment income during retirement. Maximize your opportunities to meet financial goals.

These stocks offer monthly dividends and high yields, making them top investments to generate solid passive income.

As discussed, Target is a Dividend King with more than 50 consecutive years of dividend increases. But the last couple of raises have been less than 2%, meaning that the company is basically making the bare-minimum raise to keep its streak alive. On the earnings call, management said it plans to make a low-single-digit increase later this year.

The best dividend exchange-traded funds (ETFs) do not only provide steady income – they also deliver strong total returns. That means when you reinvest the dividends, your long-term gains should be comparable to, if not better than, a broad market ETF.

Home Depot (NYSE: HD) is a retailer that needs no introduction. Home Depot's expansion has corresponded with a strong stock performance. As an industry leader and a component of both the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI),