Value Investing News

For investors in dividend growth stocks, The Broad Dividend Achievers™ Index is one of the most widely used resources. With 211 stocks on the 2012 list, it is certainty one of the largest lists and contains most stocks listed on other similar lists. In addition, to the mainstream dividend growth stocks, The Broad Dividend Achievers lists many up and coming stocks that...

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Dividend growth investing is a long-term strategy. A growing dividend is a sign that the company is becoming more valuable. Companies that consistently increase dividends tend to have steadily rising share prices and the best way to benefit from this is to buy and hold the stocks. Diversification and a focus on blue-chip stocks provides insurance for the few companies that don't pan out.

Compound interest is what occurs when interest previously earned is added to the principle and is considered when calculating future interest – i.e. earning interest on interest. So, what’s more powerful than compound interest? Compound dividends! Compound dividends are like compound interest on steroids – you are not only earning on reinvested dividends, but the dividend rate is increasing.

Readers of this space know that the primary focus of my investing efforts is to build an ever-increasing income income stream by investing in dividend growth securities. This means that often I will choose a lower yielding security with better dividend growth prospects over a higher yielding security. As one that values diversity, I also invest in some high yield securities.

When analyzing the dividend increases announced for the past week, I noticed that the data confirms my expectations. Most of the higher yielding stocks that announced dividend increases have had slow distributions growth, with some exceptions. Master Limited Partnerships seem to be on a roll this month.

Are you looking for companies that can sustain and grow their dividend? In making that determination, a company’s Statement of Earnings is one of the last places you should look. Cash is king for the dividend investor and the Statement of Cash Flows is where astute investors begin when they want to understand the viability of a company.