How to Use the Yield vs. Safety Scatter Chart
The ideal dividend stock sits in the upper-right quadrant: high yield and high safety score. The Safety Score (0–100) is calculated from two components — consecutive dividend growth streak (up to 50 pts) and payout ratio health (up to 50 pts). A stock with both a high yield and a high safety score typically has decades of uninterrupted dividend growth backed by conservative earnings retention.
Stocks in the lower-right (high yield, low safety) warrant caution — elevated yields can signal dividend stress or a falling stock price. The Screener lets you filter by exact thresholds. Use the Dividend Calculator to project income from any highlighted stock.