This Surging 8.2% Dividend Proves The Economy Is Fine

The author argues the U.S. economy is stable and growing, citing Fed data showing retail spending up ~3.1% year-over-year and broadly similar spending trends across income groups. He recommends investors favor stocks — specifically a high-yield closed-end fund, Eaton Vance Tax‑Managed Diversified Equity Income Fund (ETY) — which yields 8.2% and has raised its dividend 23% over three years. ETY holds large S&P 500 names (NVIDIA, Apple, Amazon, Coca‑Cola) and currently trades at a meaningful discount to NAV (roughly 6%), vs. a decade average discount of 1.9%; reversion could imply ~4% price upside plus the 8.2% yield. The piece is bullish on equities, framing ETY’s high yield and discount as an attractive way to capture income and potential capital gains while broader macro worries persist.