Dividend investors thrive on stocks that make rising payouts over time, and with conditions in the U.S. economy as favorable as they've been lately, hundreds of companies have recently been able to reward their shareholders with higher dividends. Yet even amid the large group of dividend stocks making payout increases, a few still stand out for the size of their increases and the consistency of their dividend growth over the long run.
In the following slideshow, you'll learn how Cintas (CTAS 0.56%), Yum! Brands (YUM 0.40%), and Lockheed Martin (LMT -0.55%) have given their shareholders higher dividend payouts going forward. In addition, you'll learn a little bit more about the business prospects these companies have, in order to help you and other dividend investors figure out whether the payout increases they've made are sustainable or represent just a flash in the pan that could easily give way to reversals in the future.
The $15,978 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. In fact, one MarketWatch reporter argues that if more Americans knew about this, the government would have to shell out an extra $10 billion annually. For example: one easy, 17-minute trick could pay you as much as $15,978 more... each year! Once you learn how to take advantage of all these loopholes, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Simply click here to discover how you can take advantage of these strategies.
