The Next Dividend to Die?

Mail services provider and former Dividend Aristocrat Pitney Bowes recently sliced its dividend in half. Who might be next? In the video below, Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos discusses some of the pitfalls of reaching for high yields, arguing that any yield much above 4% is worth watching closely for signs of an impending cut -- particularly if the company's sales are falling and its payout ratio is climbing.

One such stock is Garmin . The company's GPS equipment sales continue to shrink, but it still plans to pay out $1.80 a share in dividends this year -- exactly four times what it earned in the first quarter.

Demitrios argues that while Garmin's 5% yield may look attractive, there are plenty of better options in the market. For example, you might want to take a closer look at consumer giants McDonald's and Procter & Gamble .

McDonald's turned in a dismal year in 2012, underperforming the broader market by 25%. Looking ahead, can the Golden Arches reclaim its throne atop the restaurant industry, or will this unsettling trend continue? Our top analyst weighs in on McDonald's future in a recent premium report on the company. Click here now to find out whether a buying opportunity has emerged for this global juggernaut.

The article The Next Dividend to Die? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Demitrios Kalogeropoulos owns shares of McDonald's. Erin Miller has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends McDonald's and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool owns shares of McDonald's. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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