There's no question that dividends can be a powerful part of any long-term investor's portfolio. There are very few things that are guaranteed in the investing world, but the best dividend stocks always come through for shareholders quarter after quarter.
The biggest concern for investors searching for dividend stocks is that a company will cut its dividend at the first sign of financial hardship. As impressive as is for companies to maintain its dividends through thick and thin, some companies kick dividend reliability up a notch higher.
Remarkably, a handful of blue-chip dividend stocks have an impeccable track record of more than 50 consecutive years of dividend hikes.
That's right, the Vietnam War, stagflation, two oil booms and busts, the Dot Com Bubble and the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression have come and gone, and these five dividend stocks have upped their payouts in each of the last 50 years.
Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) owns popular brands like Motrin, Tylenol, Benadryl, Band-Aid and Listerine. The dividend stock currently yields 2.6% after an incredible 54 consecutive years of dividend hikes.
JNJ stock issued its most recent dividend hike in May, when its quarterly payment climbed from
In recent years, the dividend stock has shown no signs of slowing down. JNJ's total return in the last decade is 94%, significantly greater than the S&P 500's return of 70%.
The Coca-Cola Co.
Not to be outdone, The
KO's current yield is 3.2%, including its most recent quarterly dividend hike from
Lowe's Companies, Inc.
When Lowe's
In the past 50 years, LOW stock has been one of the top performers in the market, producing a total return of 15,980%. Over the last decade, the dividend stock has returned 195%.
Remarkably, LOW's net income is down 18% in the last decade, but the company has reduced its share count via buyouts by about 5% per year in that time.
3M Co.
Procter & Gamble Co.
All of the stocks mentioned above have impressive histories of dividend hikes.
PG is the owner of household brands like Crest, Tide, Pampers, Head & Shoulders and Gillette.
The stock's most recent dividend hike came in April when it upped its quarterly payment from
PG has been one of the superstar dividend stocks of the last 50 years and has produced a total return of 2,710% in that time.