For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL –February 27, 2013 – Today, Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights Features: The Coca-Cola Company (KO), The Sherwin Williams Company (SHW) and Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM).
3 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks
Standard & Poor's runs an index called the "Dividend Aristocrats." These are companies in the S&P 500 that have not only paid a dividend every year for the past 25 years but have also increased that dividend every year during that time.
Yes, that includes the Great Recession years.
In 2009 and 2010, many companies couldn't handle the pressures of the economic downturn. They might have kept their dividends, but they were slashing them or keeping them where they were at. Fewer were raising them for obvious reasons.
The number of companies in the Aristocrats fell to 42 in 2010 from 52 in 2008. That was the lowest number in the last 5 years.
But by 2012, the number had moved higher and was again at 52 companies.
3 Companies That Raised Their Dividends Again In 2013
Just because a company has raised its dividend 25 years in a row, doesn't mean it will keep doing so. But these 3 companies have already announced their 2013 increases, extending their recent streaks.
-
Coca-Cola
-
Sherwin Williams
-
Archer Daniels Midland
The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
Forget about raising the dividend for 25 years in a row. What about 51 years?
On Feb 21, the world's largest beverage maker announced it was raising its dividend 10% to 28 cents a quarter. The dividend is payable on Apr 1 to shareholders of record as of March 15.
Coke has raised its dividend every year since 1963. It currently yields 2.9%.
Coca-Cola is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Earnings are expected to grow 6.6% in 2013.
The Sherwin Williams Company (SHW)
Sherwin-Williams was founded in 1866, just after the Civil War. It paid its first dividend to shareholders in 1885 and it has continued to reward shareholders ever since.
On Feb 13, Sherwin-Williams announced its 35th consecutive dividend increase. Jimmy Carter was President when that streak began.
It increased it 28% to 50 cents per share. It is payable on Mar 8 to shareholders of record as of Feb 25. It currently yields 1.3%.
Sherwin-Williams is also a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Earnings are expected to grow 19.2% in 2013.
Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM)
Archer Daniels Midland was founded in its current incarnation in 1923. The "supermarket to the world" has paid a dividend every quarter since 1932. Even the struggles of the 1930s and World War II didn't stop it from rewarding shareholders.
It has raised it every year over the last 25 years. On Feb 6, ADM announced a 8.6% increase to 19 cents per share. This is a yield of 2.4%.