The following is an exerpt from 10 Top Dividend Stocks From Around the World, orginally published by Kiplingers.
The United States of America is one of the largest wealth creation machines in the history of the world. According to Credit Suisse, American stocks returned an inflation-adjusted annualized 6.5% between 1900 and 2014 – behind only Australia and South Africa, which lead all international stocks at 7.4% each. Go, ‘Merica!
But while American stocks have been the better long-term bet, they’re not always the best bargain. In fact, the U.S. market is priced to deliver subpar returns over the next decade, whereas many international stocks are downright cheap.
The cyclically adjusted price-to-earnings ratio (“CAPE”) is more than double its long-term average. And according to John Del Vecchio, co-manager of the AdvisorShares Ranger Equity Bear ETF (HDGE), “The median price/sales ratio on the S&P 500 is the highest it has ever been in history. We are three standard deviations above the average. You don’t need to be a math whiz to understand that this is a big deal.”
But while U.S. stocks are looking bubbly, investors can find bargains overseas.
“The U.S. market has been the best performing stock market in the world since the Great Financial Crisis, but that has led U.S. stocks into expensive territory,” says Meb Faber, chief investment officer of Cambria Investment Management. “The good news is that historically, U.S. vs. foreign stock outperformance is a coin flip in any given year. And with valuations abroad being much lower (particularly in emerging markets), we could see foreign stocks outperform over the next several years and even accelerate.”
Today, we’ll look at 10 solid international dividend stocks for investors looking to add foreign exposure to their portfolios. Investors will want to note that international taxes may apply, and that overseas stocks have much more varied payout schedules than the balanced quarterly routine of most U.S. companies. Still, even if Wall Street defies the laws of gravity and continues to outperform its international peers, these stocks will provide a steady stream of dividend income while we wait for market leadership to shift.
To read more, see 10 Top Dividend Stocks From Around the World.