Dividend Aristocrat List for 2011

The Dividend Aristocrats index includes members of the S&P 500 which have raised distributions for at least 25 years in a row. This is no small accomplishment, given the fact that this long period of time includes several recessions, oil price shocks and two wars in Iraq. The companies that could achieve this accomplishment have been able to generate rising dividends for at least 25 years, due to their strong competitive advantages and sound business models. Only a company with a competitive advantage could afford to raise dividends to shareholders for such a long period of time.Over the past few years, the S&P Dividend Aristocrats index has consistently beaten the S&P 500. Over the past 5 years, it has delivered annualized total returns of 5.20%, which was over four percent higher than S&P500's 1% annualized return for the same time period. This is despite the fact that many former Dividend Aristocrats in the financial sector cut dividends and were booted out of the elite dividend index during the financial crisis of 2007-2009. There are 42 stocks remaining right now. Below you could see the list of all current Dividend Aristocrats.... Read more