The 57 Dividend Aristocrats Ranked By Quality Score

The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index is a list of companies in the S&P 500 that have increased their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. The list is maintained by Standards & Poors and updated each January.

I use the DVK quality scoring system to rank the Dividend Aristocrats. There are 39 Dividend Kings in the highest-quality category with quality scores in the 20-25 range.

The article includes tables listing key metrics, quality indicators, the so-called Chowder number, as well as fair value estimates. High-quality Dividend Aristocrats trading at or below fair value are suitable for further research and possible investment.

To be eligible for inclusion in the list of Dividend Aristocrats, a stock must have increased their dividend payouts for a minimum of 25 consecutive years, must currently be part of the S&P 500 index, and must have a minimum market capitalization of $3 billion. Should a company reduce its dividend or be dropped from the S&P 500 index, the stock is automatically dropped from the list of Dividend Aristocrats as well.

The Dividend Aristocrats are high-quality stocks of companies with strong and durable competitive advantages. On top of that, these companies have the desire and ability to pay shareholders increasingly higher dividends year after year.

The Dividend Aristocrats have historically outperformed the S&P 500 by about 1% per year and have exhibited somewhat lower volatility. Please see this report for more details on the Dividend Aristocrats.

Please read this article at Seeking Alpha.

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