First of all, Ford has had erratic div payouts over the last 21 years cutting and raising as they please and so did GM, that takes them out of running for a long term div play. Citi has been erratic also but not to the degree of F and GM. If you want to invest long term div stocks you have to go to solidly paying div stocks like Coca Cola. Lets say in 2003 you bought at $43 and collected dividends as the stock went to $60 in 2007 and to see it fall back down to $43 in late 2008. Your stock price is break even but with divs you are up 25%+. Stock goes down 25% more from the current price, you are even.