Dividend stocks are good for investors who want to receive a steady income even as the market marches upwards. Investors seek these stocks for dividend yields.
Ideally, a good dividend stock offers excellent free cash flow, have safe payout ratios, sport good long-term outlooks, and prioritize rewarding stockholders with great dividend hikes.
Here are some of the best long-term dividend stocks you can invest in today.
Lowe’s Companies
Lowe’s Companies stocks have a dividend yield of 2.1%, with an annual dividend growth rate on 21.7% in a 5-year period. Its shares have a yield-to-date gain of 18.7%.
This company has been around for at least 65 years and is the world’s second biggest home improvement retailer.
Through the years, the company has developed an extensive line of products for house improvement across building materials, tools, lawn, paint, kitchens, et cetera.
Among the business’s key competitive advantages are a diversified customer base, a solid brand name, and an extensive range of products.
Honeywell International
Honeywell has a dividend yield of 2.19%, with a 5-year annual dividend growth rate of 13.0%. Its year-to-date gain is around 24.54%.
This is a diversified global tech and manufacturing company that supplies industrial products, services, and software to a diversified customer base.
More importantly, the company has invented some key technologies that resolve some of the world’s most important challenges in terms of safety, security, technology, and urbanization, among other things.
It also has a broad portfolio of technology, products and services, and growing presence in emerging areas like Internet of Things, and energy efficiency.
For dividend investors, it’s good news to know that Honeywell has paid out uninterrupted dividends for more than two years.
Apple Inc.
Apple has a dividend yield of 1.37%, with an annual dividend growth rate of 13.00% and a year-to-date gain of 42.21%.
Needless to say, Apple is one of the world’s most valuable companies. It’s the second biggest smartphone company in the world, holding more than 10% of the industry’s global market share.
Among its key products are the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV. These products represent the majority of its 2018 sales.
Its key competitive advantages include a strong and recognized brand name, geographical dominance, broad product portfolio, and very good customer relationship.
With these things in mind, it’s fair to say that Apple will continue increasing its dividend payout in the longer term.
Automatic Data Processing
Automatic Data Processing or ADP has a dividend yield of 1.97%, sporting a 5-year annual dividend growth rate of 9.90% and a year-to-date gain of 23.07%.
ADP sits as a top global provider of cloud-based Human Capital Management (HCM) solutions. It’s also a leader in business outsourcing services, analytics, and compliance expertise.
Among the many businesses of this company are recruitment and talent management. It has helped businesses to improve their business results and lessen the burden of non-core, administrative tasks.
The company has been around for more than six decades, and it has accumulated deep insights and cutting edge technologies that have improved human resources and made it a strategic business advantage.
