Core Viewpoint - Flowers Foods is currently yielding above 6% based on its quarterly dividend, which is annualized to $0.99, with shares trading as low as $16.43 [1] Group 1: Dividend Importance - Dividends have historically provided a significant portion of the stock market's total return, making them crucial for investors to consider [1] - An example illustrates that despite a nominal loss in share price over twelve years, dividends can substantially enhance total returns, as seen with the iShares Russell 3000 ETF [1] Group 2: Company Status - Flowers Foods is a member of the Russell 3000, indicating its status as one of the largest 3000 companies in the U.S. stock markets [1] - The predictability of dividend amounts is influenced by the company's profitability, which is essential for assessing the sustainability of the current yield [2]

Core Insights - Noble's shares are yielding above 8% based on its quarterly dividend, which is annualized to $2, with the stock trading as low as $24.60 [1] - Dividends have historically contributed significantly to the total return of the stock market, exemplified by the iShares Russell 3000 ETF, which saw a 0.6% decrease in share price over twelve years but provided $10.77 per share in dividends, resulting in a total return of 13.15% [1] - The average annual total return, even with dividends reinvested, was about 1.0%, making an 8% yield from Noble appear attractive if sustainable [1] - Noble is part of the Russell 3000, indicating its status as one of the largest companies in the U.S. stock markets [1] Dividend Analysis - Dividend amounts are generally unpredictable and fluctuate with company profitability [2] - Historical performance data for Noble can assist in assessing the likelihood of maintaining the recent 8% annual yield [2]