Dividend income is often overlooked amid gyrations in the stock market. Consider that in 2024, market bulls were boasting about 24%-plus S&P 500 returns. No one was very focused on the broad market index's 1.2% dividend yield. But dividends are an important element of return, and 2025 for a while was bearing that out. Through May, the S&P 500 was up a thin 1.1%; without dividends, there was essentially no returns at all. Of note, dividend income accounted for 42% of the total return of the S&P 500 between 1930 and 2012, according to Hartford Funds. And that's just the average. In some of those decades, dividends accounted for more than 50% of total returns and even 100%. More recently, dividends have accounted for a smaller portion of returns, at around 15%-20%. But not all dividends are created equal, though, and it is important to understand the difference between the two main investment categories: high-yield stocks and dividend-growth stocks.

American Express is a global financial institution, operating in about 130 countries, that provides consumers and businesses charge and credit card payment products. The company also operates a highly profitable merchant payment network. It operates in four segments: US consumer services, US commercial services, international card services, and global merchant and network services. In addition to payment products, the company's commercial business offers expense management tools, consulting services, and business loans.

American Express provides charge-card and credit-payment-card products and travel-related services to customers worldwide. The company's product portfolio consists of charge-card and credit-card products; expense-management products and services; consumer and business travel services; stored-value products, including travelers checks and other prepaid products; network services; point-of-sale, marketing, and information products and services for merchants; fraud prevention services; and the design of customer loyalty and rewards programs.

Stocks were lower on Thursday. Earnings continue to drive sentiment, though investors are keeping an eye at all times on the Middle East. On the earnings front, software stocks led the move lower with renewed fears about the impact of AI on the industry. Also of note were higher oil prices that are the result of the war in Iran and the related impact on the Strait of Hormuz. After the close, however, some good news came in the form of a three-week extension of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon.