dividends are irrelevant for the following reason.

a) a noble prize was awarded to merton miller, who came up with this
maxim

b) if a company will issue dividends, it could just as well keep that
money and invest on its growth and/or expansion, which long term
compensates for the issuance of dividends. reinvesting the dividends
makes this all the more obvious. why reinvest [post-tax] if the
company can do it for you? when companies grow too big they no longer
know how to invest in growth [or do not want to]; when they sense
weakness in the demand for their stock they may also choose to issue
dividends; but this is hogwash long term.

Dividends are NOT irrelevant. Over time, dividends that are re-
invested will return more than any stock strategy. Dividends RULE!!!

However, DIA is a better fund because it is more diversified, and
hence less likely to suffer from sectors downturns, such as the
financials and housing at the moment. Plus DIA yields a nice 2.1%,
which over time (33.5 years to be exact) will by itself double your
investment.

compare this ETF with the dow jones (DIA) which yields less. you will
notice that DIA overshoots, why? because it yields less. dividends are
long term irrelevant.

I'd be happy to start a discussion here....Is there anyone out there
that would listen?