Often, when a stock has a high and rising dividend yield, it's a red flag that the dividend may not be sustainable. This is exactly what happened recently with two popular dividend stocks, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) and Annaly Capital Management (NYSE: NLY). Intel, the semiconductor chipmaker, slashed its quarterly dividend in late February to $0.125 per share, down from $0.365 the previous quarter -- a 66% cut.
In the latest trading session, Annaly Capital Management (NLY) closed at $18.25, marking a -1.83% move from the previous day.
Annaly offers a huge yield, but it's unreliable. A simpler option would be better for most investors.