Kimberly-Clark has provided investors with reliable income increases for decades. In fact, the company is one of the 51 dividend aristocrats, which can all be seen here. Kimberly-Clark pays one of the safest dividends in the market, yields close to 3%, offers mid-single digit payout growth, and sells recession-resistant products. All of [...]
Hormel (HRL) released new quarterly earnings results and updated its 2017 guidance this morning. The company's earnings grew for the 15th consecutive quarter to reach a new record, and adjusted sales and volume increased by 3% and 5%, respectively. Not bad! However, management lowered the company's 2017 earnings per share guidance to $1.65 to $1.71. [...]
There are numerous reasons to embrace dividend growth investing as the best means to achieving long-term financial independence. Most discussion focuses on traditional income stocks, those that pay out steadily growing quarterly dividends. However, occasionally a company will issue a special dividend, which is generally much larger than a regular dividend and therefore [...]
With tax season upon us and the world of dividend investing having now matured and expanded into an ever more complex universe of business types, many income investors are understandably confused about taxes on dividends. Especially since the U.S. tax code has grown into one of the largest and most convoluted parts of our [...]
GNC (GNC) surprised many income investors when management recently announced that the company’s dividend will be suspended. After all, GNC has been in business for more than 80 years, maintains a payout ratio below 40%, generates solid free cash flow, and even increased its dividend every year since it began paying one in 2012 [...]
Annuities are one of the most popular retirement investment vehicles, but they are also one of the most debated. People either love them or hate them (there’s usually no in-between when it comes to annuities). One particular aspect of deferred annuity contracts, and the one that’s at the root of almost every debate [...]
YieldCos are a relatively new class of dividend stocks luring in many investors. While many YieldCos offer strong income growth potential, not unlike the famous Dividend Aristocrats, they also come with high yields that average more than 5%. This combination of high yield and high income growth results from YieldCos' exposure to renewable [...]
Scorpio Tankers (STNG) shocked many income investors when the company announced a 92% cut to its dividend this morning. After all, the company’s management team sounded confident about maintaining Scorpio Tankers’ dividend just a few months ago in November: “If you run through our model, the company is fully able to pay its [...]
When it comes to steady dividend growers, often the best choice can often be a seemingly dull company - one that flies under the radar, yet grows steadily over decades. Many times, it’s precisely boring companies that end up becoming dividend aristocrats, which are S&P 500 companies that reward long-term income investors with over [...]
Regulated utilities have long been a staple for many retired investors living off dividends. However, while most people think of this industry as one that generally consists of high-yield, slow but steady dividend growth, that isn’t always the case. In fact, Dominion Resources (D) is one of the fastest growing regulated utilities you [...]
When it comes to dividend growth stocks there are few better choices than the legendary dividend aristocrats, S&P 500 companies which have raised their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. Investors can read analysis on all of the dividend aristocrats here. Abbott Laboratories (ABT) is a dividend aristocrat with a long track [...]
While it may surprise many investors, history has shown us that many of the best long-term investments aren’t hyper-growth companies but much more boring dividend growth machines. For example, in the last 50 years Altria (MO), formerly Philip Morris, has been one of the best performing stocks on a total return basis, rising an [...]
Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, are the best way for regular investors to gain exposure to high-quality real estate assets, including the fast growing storage space sector. Extra Space Storage (EXR) is one of the best blue chip storage space REITs, with a great track record of growing investors’ income and wealth over [...]
Regulated utilities have long been a core staple in dividend portfolios, courtesy of their high-yields, safe payouts, slow but steady dividend growth, and very low volatility. But while most people focus on the biggest and well-known names in the sector, such as Duke Energy (DUK), Southern Company (SO), and Consolidated Edison (ED), there are [...]
When it comes to world class long-term wealth compounders, often the best choice isn’t the next great hyper-growth tech stock, but something far duller. Take, for example, industrial companies such as 3M (MMM), which have legendary track records of consistent outperformance and dividend growth that span over half a century. Emerson Electric (EMR) is [...]