The 10 Best Dividend Aristocrat Stocks

Dividend Aristocrats are stocks that are members of the S&P 500 and that have increased their dividends every year for the past 25 years.

These stocks have become a popular group for both income seekers and retirees alike. And it’s easy to see why. The group provides extremely reliable dividends and market-beating returns.

Over the past 25 years, Dividend Aristocrats have almost doubled the performance of the S&P 500. And in the last 10 years, the Aristocrats gained more than 205.12% while the S&P was up 134.02%

Currently there are 50 Aristocrats. They include household names like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Target (NYSE: TGT) and The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX).

But not every Divided Aristocrat is worthy of a standing ovation when it comes to yield.

To make it as an Aristocrat, all you have to do is pay a dividend and raise it once a year. It doesn’t matter how big the payout. As a result, many stocks are dishing out some puny yields.

And it’s also important to know which stocks have a stable dividend based on cash flow, and those that are in trouble.

That’s why we put together a list of the top Dividend Aristocrat stocks, because many investors don’t realize what it takes to determine if a company’s dividend payout is safe or in distress.