Wells Fargo (WFC 2.74%) is a selection for the real-money Inflation-Protected Income Growth portfolio. In this brief video, portfolio manager Chuck Saletta offers three reasons he's holding on to the megabank's stock despite its 20% increase since he bought the shares in May 2013. Chuck also compares Wells Fargo's progress since the financial crisis to Bank of America (BAC 3.35%) and Citigroup (C 1.41%) to showcase what makes Wells Fargo such a rock-solid bank.

Is Wells Fargo a dividend stock for the next decade?
Wells Fargo made the cut for this portfolio in large part because it was so quick at recovering its dividend after the financial crisis. Dividends matter, and the smartest investors know that dividend stocks simply crush their non-dividend-paying counterparts over the long term. That's beyond dispute. They also know that a well-constructed dividend portfolio creates wealth steadily, while still allowing you to sleep like a baby.

Knowing how valuable such a portfolio might be, our top analysts put together a report on a group of high-yielding stocks that should be in any income investor's portfolio. To see our free report on these stocks, just click here now.

Summary:

  • Wells Fargo's dividend has increased to $0.35 per share -- beyond where it was at the start of the financial crisis -- and is still well covered, with room to continue growing. Contrast that with Bank of America and Citigroup, whose dividends are still at the $0.01 per share they fell to during the crisis.
  • Wells Fargo was able to increase its dividend faster than Bank of America and Citigroup because Wells Fargo has a solid balance sheet and a strong capital structure. As a result, Wells Fargo received Federal Reserve permission to restore its dividend far faster than those other megabanks.
  • Wells Fargo still looks reasonably priced, with a market cap in line with the iPIG portfolio's fair-value estimate.

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