The cumulative dividend payout of S & P 500 stocks in the second quarter hit a new record, so investors can seek safe investments in dividend-paying stocks and dividend ETF.

S & P components paid $140.6 billion in dividends in the second quarter, according to the S & P Dow Jones Indices. From this point of view, this figure is higher than the $137.6 billion in previous quarters and $123.4 billion in the second quarter of 2021.

Dividend ETF has become a popular investment target as investors look for returns in an uncertain market. In 2022, the world's five largest dividend exchange-traded funds attracted nearly $20 billion.

The five funds are:Dividend growth Index ETF-Vanguard (VIG.US) $、$Vanguard High dividend yield ETF (VYM.US) $、$US dividend stock ETF-Schwab (SCHD.US) $、An Shuo core dividend growth ETF (DGRO.US) $和Dividend Index ETF-iShares Dow Jones (DVY.US) $。

But looking ahead, dividends are likely to be bleaker than ever.

"the outlook for dividend growth in the next few years will be more modest than last year," said Chris O'keefe, chief portfolio manager at Logan Capital Management. But the outlook remains attractive to dividend strategies. In an environment of slowing growth, continued growth, earnings and dividends will mean much more to investors than they did in the past. "