100 U.S. Dividend Champions: Analyzing Historical Consistency

The first half of 2010 has ended with a relatively stable group of 100 companies that have increased their dividends for at least 25 years. This is in sharp contrast to the first half of 2009, when dividend cuts decimated a group of about 140 companies. But those that remain are worthy of consideration by any dividend-oriented investor. (You can download the latest version of the US Dividend Champions spreadsheet or PDF here.) The month ended with 82 companies on the Contenders list (15-24 years of increases) after several dozen companies were added to that roster. For the record, the average price of the 100 Champions was $44.27 at the end of June, with an average yield of 3.26%. This contrasts to the end of May, when the average price was $46.36 and the yield was 3.13%. A year ago, there were 109 companies at an average price of $36.80 and an average yield of 3.64%; the rebound from the March 2009 lows was clearly well under way.... Read more