Dividend investing remains attractive in the energy sector, as Chevron maintains its 3.9% yield. Oil price stabilization above $80 per barrel supports further dividend growth, appealing to long-term yield hunters. To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. MAIN's 6.8% yield comes from monthly payouts totaling $3.00 per share over the past year, including a supplemental dividend that rewards excess earnings. This isn't luck -- it's strategy. The company maintains a payout ratio near 63%, leaving room for reinvestment and buffers against downturns. In 2025, despite economic headwinds, MAIN grew net investment income by 8%, driven by a diversified portfolio of 180-plus investments across industries like healthcare and tech services. Index-based dividend investing ETFs, such as the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG), show consistent returns year-to-date, outperforming broader market benchmarks by focusing on dividend growth leaders.