The Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. and Mergent Inc. announced the launch of a new index.

The new NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Index is designed to track the performance of U.S. companies that are listed on NASDAQ and meet Dividend Achievers requirements of increased annual regular dividend payments for the last 10 or more consecutive years. A subset of Mergent’s Broad Dividend Achievers Index, the Index offers a unique approach for NASDAQ investors seeking a long-term portfolio of higher risk-adjusted returns.

Mergent’s Dividend Achievers are companies that have increased their annual regular dividends for at least the past 10 consecutive years and have met specific liquidity screening criteria. The Dividend Achievers are typically companies with strong cash reserves, solid balance sheets and a proven record of consistent earnings growth. Mergent has been identifying these strong dividend-paying companies for more than 25 years.

The NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Index is calculated using a market capitalization weighting methodology. The index will be calculated and disseminated on a price return basis and a total return basis.

“We are pleased to be partnering with NASDAQ at a time when recognition is growing for the benefits of dividend-focused investing,” said Jonathan Worrall, Mergent CEO. “The NASDAQ-traded Dividend Achievers are solid, dividend-paying companies with an historically strong performance pattern, and they offer investors excellent long-term investment opportunities.”

NASDAQ executive vice president, John Jacobs commented, “The NASDAQ Dividend Achievers Indexes will provide investors with a new and useful tool that seeks to track the performance of some of NASDAQ’s largest and industry leading companies. We are pleased to collaborate with Mergent to create indexes that are composed of diverse sets of NASDAQ companies. Indexing is a recognized strategy that appeals to many investors.”

www.dividendachievers.com
www.mergent.com
www.nasdaq.com/newsroom