Dividend income ?

For investors looking for dividend income, Europe currently offers a very different proposition from the US.

The gross TTM dividend yield — dividends paid over the past twelve months relative to the current index level — stands at 3.42% for the STOXX Europe 600 and 3.19% for the DAX, compared with just 1.04% for the S&P 500.

In other words, European equities currently offer roughly three times the dividend yield of the US market. The gap reflects differences in sector composition, payout culture and valuation levels.

For income-oriented investors, Europe clearly offers the more attractive starting yield today.