SHARE Dividends are back. Shareholder payouts were slashed or suspended at the start of the pandemic, but are being restored at impressive speed. This is yet more good news for investors, who are already celebrating US stock markets hitting all-time highs, with the S&P 500 smashing through 4,000 for the first time in April. The great global dividend revival isn’t as spectacular as that, as total payouts remain well below pre-pandemic levels, but the recovery has been faster than many expected and the direction of travel is clear. Given the long-term benefits of dividends to your portfolio, it is worth paying attention.