- According to Bespoke Investment Group, the stocks in the S&P 500 in the highest-yielding decile are off 5.3% year-to-date, while those in the lowest-yielding decile are up 9.8%.
- Investors, writes Chris Dieterich, appear to be treating high-yielders like bonds, and selling as rates rise.
- Two examples in ETF land: Utility stocks were the best performers last year, but the XLU is off 11% in 2015. Another strong performer in 2014, the Vanguard REIT Index ETF (NYSEARCA:VNQ) is lower by 5%.