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These are our most recent articles. Also see which stocks have been this week’s best and worst performers.
Aflac (AFL): A Cheap Dividend Aristocrat or Value Trap?
Over the past decades boring old insurance specialist Aflac (AFL) has done a remarkable job of enriching long-term income growth investors thanks to its impressive 34-year dividend growth streak. That's courtesy of its strong, cash-rich business model, which has allowed it to grow its dividend by 14.6% annually over the past quarter century, resulting in annual total returns that easily beat the S&P 500's. Of course past performance is no guarantee of future results, and recently Aflac has struggled to generate the kind of sales, earnings, cash flow, and dividend growth that investors have come to expect from it. However, many insurance companies can make for great investments. Warren Buffett would agree given his ownership of GEICO and some of [...]
Medtronic (MDT): A Dividend Aristocrat With Double-Digit Payout Growth Potential
Medtronic (MDT) is one of the largest medical device makers in the world and, with 39 consecutive years of dividend growth, one of the venerable dividend aristocrats here. Even more impressive? Over the last 39 years, Medtronic has rewarded income investors with 18% annual dividend growth, making it not only highly reliable, but also one of the fastest payout growers on Wall Street. Let's take a look at what makes this medical blue chip stock so special and see if it's likely to continue increasing its dividends at a double-digit clip over the coming years. While Medtronic may not sport the yields offered by some of the best high dividend stocks here, it may represent one of the few [...]
Ecolab (ECL): A High Quality Dividend Aristocrat Held by Bill Gates
Ecolab (ECL) is arguably one of the most reliable businesses that money can buy, which is perhaps why the company is a large holding in Bill Gates' dividend portfolio here. Although Ecolab's dividend yield is low (1.1%), the company’s long-term growth outlook is excellent and supported by its impressive moat (90% recurring revenue in the form of essential consumables; entrenched customer relationships; twice as large as its next biggest competitor; more than 25,000 customer-facing employees). Dividend growth investors will also appreciate the fact that Ecolab is a member of the dividend aristocrats list here, highlighting the durability of its business and its shareholder-friendly culture. Let's take a closer look at this impressive dividend grower to see if [...]
Illinois Tool Works (ITW): A Dividend King With Double-Digit Total Return Potential
Illinois Tool Works (ITW) is one of the strongest, most diversified companies that a dividend growth investor can find in the industrial sector. While the stock only yields close to 2% today, the company has consistently raised its dividend at a double-digit pace for many years. In fact, Illinois Tool Works has been growing its annual payout every year since 1964 and is a member of the dividend kings group here. Let's take a closer look at the business to see if it could be a good fit today for a diversified dividend growth portfolio. Investors seeking higher income can review some of the best high dividend stocks here. Business Overview Founded in 1912, in Glenview, [...]