The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which analyst John Reeves discusses topics across the investing world.

Over the next several weeks we'll be looking at each of the components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and subjecting each of them to a dividend checkup. Today, we're looking at Verizon. Verizon dominates the wireless industry, and has also been named one of the Top 25 Dividend Giants by the ETF Channel. Verizon has been raising its dividend at a rate of around 4% to 5% per year over the past several years. It currently has a yield of 4.7%, which compares very favorably with the Dow average of 3%.

Verizon has a very high yield, but may require a closer look by investors. If you'd like to learn about some additional high-yielding stocks, The Motley Fool has compiled a special free report outlining our top nine dependable, dividend-paying stocks. It's called "Secure Your Future With 9 Rock-Solid Dividend Stocks." You can access your copy today at no cost! Just click here to discover the winners we've picked.