The dividend payout ratio is one of the most informative and popular metrics used to analyze the safety of a company's dividend. However, many investors do not realize the number of different ways that dividend payout ratios can be calculated and the other factors that should be considered when assessing the safety of a [...]
In the spirit of tax season, it's worth reviewing the differences between qualified dividends and ordinary dividends. While not the most exciting of subjects, understanding what you can do to maximize the amount of your dividends classified as qualified instead of ordinary can potentially save you thousands on your tax bill - and it only [...]
Flowers Foods (FLO) is a reliable company in the consumer staples sector that currently offers a reasonable valuation, a safe 3.2% dividend yield, and above-average dividend growth potential. The business has been very good to shareholders over the last decade as well. FLO’s stock delivered a 12.9% annualized return from 2006-2015, handily beating the [...]
H.B. Fuller (FUL) is a small cap dividend growth stock that few investors are familiar with. However, this dependable business has increased dividends paid for 46 consecutive years and is worth some attention. The company operates in a large and stable industry with strong growth prospects. Management is also shifting more of H.B. Fuller’s [...]
Fewer than 100 of the more than 10,000 publicly-traded companies have increased annual dividends for at least 26 consecutive years. National Retail Properties (NNN) is one of them. Perhaps more impressively, National Retail’s average annual total return for the past 25 years has been 14.8%, significantly outpacing the market to provide meaningful value for [...]
News broke this weekend that Valspar (VAL) agreed to be acquired by Sherwin-Williams (SHW) for $113 per share, representing a premium of 35% to Valspar's closing price on Friday. We own Valspar in our Long-term Dividend Growth portfolio and were pleased with this development. We had previously analyzed the coatings industry and published research on Sherwin-Williams and [...]
Digital Realty Trust (DLR) is a fast-growing real estate investment trust (REIT) that has raised its dividend every year since going public in 2004. While the company is far from having a long enough dividend growth history to quality as a member of the dividend aristocrats list, it has numerous attractive qualities. Digital [...]
Wells Fargo (WFC) is Warren Buffett’s largest holding, and he first bought into the company in 1989. Buffett owns businesses with lengthy operating histories, durable competitive advantages, and excellent management teams, and Wells Fargo is no exception. Warren Buffett even added to his stake in the company during the fourth quarter of 2015, making [...]
Duke Energy (DUK) is a favorite high-yield dividend stock for income investors, and it’s no wonder why. The company has paid uninterrupted quarterly dividends for 90 years and is set to increase its dividend for the ninth consecutive year in 2016. Regulated utility companies such as Duke can provide safe retirement income with less [...]
Yield-starved investors should familiarize themselves with Southern Company (SO), a highly dependable business that has paid dividends every quarter for more than 65 consecutive years. With a high yield of 4.4%, low stock price volatility, and a track record for outperforming the S&P 500 Index over the last 30 years, Southern Company is the [...]
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) has steadily grown its dividend for 40 straight years and has an operating history that dates back more than 100 years. Few businesses have demonstrated such durability, and the ones that have are always worth a look for our Top 20 Dividend Stocks portfolio. After all, it takes meaningful competitive [...]
C.R. Bard (BCR) is a member of the dividend aristocrats list that has nearly doubled the market’s performance over the last decade. The company’s dependable business model has resulted in steady earnings growth and dividend increases. We love buying these types of companies for our Top 20 Dividend Stocks portfolio, but let’s take [...]
HCP Inc. (HCP) is the only real estate investment trust (REIT) in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index. With a dividend yield in excess of 7%, it’s no surprise that this stock has been a popular holding for investors living off dividends in retirement. Generally speaking, dividend aristocrats are some of the most reliable [...]
Have you ever wondered which sectors you should look in to find the best dividend stocks? With thousands of dividend-paying stocks to choose from, knowing where to begin the hunt for safe dividend income can feel overwhelming. Not all stock sectors are equally attractive when it comes to dividend income. Some are characterized by short product [...]
McGraw Hill Financial (MHFI) owns one of the most important brands in the financial services market and has grown into a powerhouse provider of mission-critical information. The company’s many strengths have enabled helped it grow its dividend for more than 25 consecutive years, making it a member of the dividend aristocrats list and a [...]