Here's a novel idea: As we dive headlong into the new year, why not invest in companies that actually give you their profits?
With decades upon decades of research and scholarly thought sunk into the theory around stocks and the stock market, it can be easy to get lost in layers of abstraction. What's the stock's price-to-earnings ratio? What does a discounted cash flow model say it's worth? Is the stock in a confirmed uptrend that's taking it over the 30-day moving average?
Go ahead and shake your head like an Etch A Sketch to clear that all out. At the end of the day, a stock is an ownership stake in a business. What is that ownership stake really worth to you if the company withholds all of its profits?
What follows are 12 companies that do share their profits and are all on my watchlist for the year ahead.
Flowers Foods
Aflac
Clorox
Owens & Minor
Avon Products
Exelon
Hasbro
Molex
National Presto
Lockheed Martin
Darden Restaurants
Strayer Education
More? You want more?
I'm confident enough in all of the picks above that I'll be adding every stock to my Motley Fool CAPS portfolio -- at least, the ones that aren't already there.
If you like what I've laid out above and are thirsting for even more dividend stocks, I'd suggest you check out The Motley Fool's special report "Secure Your Future With 11 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks." You can grab a free copy by clicking here.