Investing in dividends allows an investor to take advantage of many aspects of investing while moving away from reliance on inherently volatile stock market prices.
Dividends are paid based on a per share basis (each share is entitled to a dividend payment), with an ex-dividend date being the deadline for making the stock purchase.
The stock market can hardly be predicted with any accuracy. Stocks fluctuate based on the fickle demands of investors and the actions of massive hedge funds and other large companies.