We recently published a list of 10 Best Dividend Stocks Under $5. In this article, we are going to take a look at where ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC) stands against the other dividend stocks under $5.

Dividends have consistently been a strong source of returns over time. These stocks hold both theoretical and practical significance in assessing stock values. Although dividend stocks have underperformed the broader market in recent years, their long-term performance remains steady.

Since the beginning of 2024, the Dividend Aristocrats Index—which monitors companies that have consistently raised their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years—has yielded returns of over 8% for investors. However, this performance has fallen short compared to the broader market, which has surged by nearly 19% during the same period. Despite this shortfall, 2024 has been a favorable year for dividends overall. This improvement is largely attributable to several major technology firms, previously known for not paying dividends, announcing the start of their dividend programs. Moreover, these companies have collectively distributed billions in their inaugural dividend payments.

Also read: 12 Best Dividend Stocks For Steady Growth

The long-term performance of dividend stocks also takes into account periods of high interest rates, during which other asset classes typically experience declines. This doesn’t imply that dividend stocks only perform well during episodes of high interest rates. While there isn’t a clear connection between their performance and interest rates, historical data shows that they tend to remain relatively stable regardless of the rate environment. For instance, in certain periods of rising US interest rates, such as the mid-1970s, dividend-paying stocks outperformed the broader market. Conversely, as rates decreased from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, the performance of high-yield stocks relative to the market remained relatively stable. Even if we set aside historical data and concentrate on more recent performance, we find that elevated interest rates did not have any serious impact on the performance of dividend equities. For example, in 2022, when the Federal Reserve raised its federal funds rate seven times to tackle persistent inflation—four of which were consecutive hikes of 75 basis points—dividend stocks outperformed the broader market. This could be due to the fact that dividend-paying companies tend to be well-established and more stable, with enough confidence in their cash flows to commit to returning cash to shareholders. Moreover, committing to a dividend imposes financial discipline. Instead of using excess cash for acquisitions that may or may not create value, repurchasing shares at uncertain prices, or funding speculative growth initiatives, executives are compelled to manage payouts responsibly.

Given investors’ growing interest in dividend stocks, more companies are initiating and increasing their dividend payments. A key driver behind this trend is that many companies, particularly large tech firms, have substantial cash reserves and are rapidly boosting their free cash flows. This strong financial footing allows them to reward investors with higher dividends. According to the latest report from S&P Dow Jones Indices, companies in the index paid $153.4 billion in dividends during the second quarter of 2024, up from $151.6 billion in the previous quarter and $143.2 billion in the same period last year. The report also highlighted that there were 539 dividend increases reported, compared to 460 in the same period last year, marking a 17.2% year-over-year growth. The total amount of these increases reached $20.4 billion for the quarter, up significantly from $9.8 billion in Q2 2023. With that, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks under $5.

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ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 9

Share Price as of the close of August 23: $2.97

ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC) is a California-based company that offers specialized document solutions to businesses of all kinds. In the past three months, the shares have surged by over 9%. The gain is mainly attributed to the recent binding offer of $3.25 per share to take the company private, proposed by the company’s CEO. However, it is still uncertain whether this deal will ultimately go through.

In the second quarter of 2024, ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC) reported strong sales, and the company managed to reverse the year-over-year decline in gross margin experienced in the first quarter. Several large projects were completed in the last month of the second quarter, shifting collections into the third quarter, which temporarily subdued operating cash flow performance. However, the company remains confident that cash flows will improve in the third and fourth quarters, as they did last year. Its revenue for the quarter came in at over $75 million, which showed a 3.8% growth from the same period last year.

Digital printing was one of the best-performing segments of ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC) in Q2 2024. The sales in the segment rose by 5.8% compared to the previous year. Year-over-year sales experienced solid growth in digital color graphic printing, driven by both new and existing customers. In addition to these strong results, the company is also a solid pick for dividend seekers, especially since it has cash in its back pocket. It ended the quarter with nearly $50 million available in cash and cash equivalents. The company’s operating cash flow was $6.4 million.

On August 1, ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.05 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. The company initiated its dividend policy in 2019 but had to temporarily halt payouts in 2020 due to challenges related to the pandemic. The stock’s dividend yield sits at 6.73%, as of August 23.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q2 2024, 9 hedge funds held stakes in ARC Document Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:ARC), up from 8 in the preceding quarter. These stakes have a collective value of more than $8.7 million.

Overall ARC ranks 7th on our list of the best dividend stocks under $5. While we acknowledge the potential for ARC as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ARC but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.