Buckingham: Don't Fear The Rate Hikes

Many investors and pundits have been assuming that it will be bad news for stocks when the Federal Reserve starts raising interest rates. But John Buckingham says history indicates the reality may be otherwise.

“Despite significant volatility, equities have, in fact, actually gained ground for the full 6 months before, as well as 12 months after, Fed tightenings,” Buckingham writes for Forbes. “No doubt there has been plenty of volatility around major Fed moves, with sizable short-term losses sometimes suffered by those who couldn’t stomach the fluctuations, but those willing to remain patient have been rewarded far more often than not.”

Buckingham says value stocks and dividend stocks have performed particularly well in periods when rates started rising from a very low level. He looks at three dividend value picks, including Entergy.