AT&T (T) has been in the spotlight much of this year. Not only does its satellite TV business continue bleeding subscribers, but the company's debt load ballooned following the firm's acquisition of Time Warner. With roughly $170 billion in net debt and $13 billion in annual dividend payments that consume more than half of AT&T's free cash flow, some income investors are nervous that a dividend cut is inevitable to help shore up the balance sheet. Based on the information we know today, that outcome seems unlikely. On November 29, AT&T's management hosted an investor conference and made statements in support of our belief, helping fuel a 2.2% rise in T's stock price the following day.

United Technologies (UTX) is one of America's oldest and largest industrial conglomerates. That business model has served income investors well, with the company recently becoming a dividend aristocrat by announcing its 25th consecutive annual dividend increase and also boasting a track record of paying uninterrupted dividends since 1936. However, on November 26, 2018, the firm announced plans to break up into three separate companies, which sent shares plunging as much as 6% on the news. Let's take a look at why United Technologies is splitting up its business units and what it means for long-term dividend growth investors who hold the stock.

Have you ever wondered if you should reinvest dividends or take them in cash and decide where to invest the money yourself? After all, a downside of reinvesting dividends in a bull market is reinvesting automatically at higher stock prices. Perhaps it makes more sense to take cash dividends and invest them only in undervalued stocks. On the other hand, reinvesting dividends allows investors to purchase fractional shares, and sometimes companies with dividend reinvestment programs offer a discount on their shares. While reinvesting dividends through a dividend reinvestment plan, or DRIP, can be great, it's not always appropriate for everyone. Let's take a look at when you should (and shouldn't) reinvest your dividends. When It's a Good Idea to Reinvest Dividends [...]

One appeal of long-term dividend growth investing is the ability to increase your share count by reinvesting dividends. As companies continue growing their dividends and the number of shares you own rises, you can achieve exponential income growth over time. Dividend reinvestment plans, or DRIPs, are the easiest way for hands-off investors to execute this simple strategy because they allow your dividends to be paid in partial shares each quarter (or month). However, like with all investment tools, taxes are an important consideration. Let's take a look at what you need to know about DRIP taxes, including ways to minimize how much you'll have to pay to the IRS each year.