“`html
On Wednesday, shares of Annaly Capital Management Inc (Symbol: NLY) traded as low as $19.96, yielding above 13% based on its annualized quarterly dividend of $2.60. Annaly Capital is a member of the Russell 3000 index, signifying its status as one of the largest 3,000 companies in the U.S. stock market.
Historically, dividends have contributed significantly to total stock market returns. For example, an investment in the iShares Russell 3000 ETF (IWV) from May 31, 2000, to May 31, 2012, resulted in a total return of 13.15% when accounting for $10.77 in dividends, despite a slight decrease in share price over that period.
“`
