BOSTON (AP) — There’s no such thing as an investment for all seasons, but dividend-paying stocks come close.

When the market rallies, dividend stocks generally post solid but not market-beating returns. If stocks decline, dividend-payers are unlikely to fall as steeply. Part of the reason is that dividend-paying companies are typically mature and large, with steady sources of revenue that hold up when the economy skids. And through good and bad, dividend-payers can be counted on to distribute a portion of their earnings.