A Look At The Historic Performance Of Dividend Champions (Part 2)

Summary

• We continue to explore the stocks in the Dividend Champions, with the longest continuous annual dividend increases.
• We are breaking these stocks into groups of 10, based on the length of time that they have increased dividends, annually.
• Some of these companies are household names and some are not.
• Most of them bear witness to the idea of finding quality companies, holding them, reinvesting dividends, and adding to your holdings over time when they are priced at bargain rates.

Introduction:

Continuing with our list of Dividend Champions (click for the link) having an annual dividend growth history, in excess of 50 years, today, we will take a look at the next 10 companies that comprise our list.

Again, we are not making any value judgments, relative to any of the stocks on this list.  Simply reporting the companies, their performance relative to SPY over the last 20 years, and their own performance during that same time period.

There will be some very interesting surprises, however, in the performance of some of the stocks that make up this list.

Out Next Group of Ten:

I've pointed out, in various articles and blogs, the stocks that make up the largest part of my portfolio.  Those companies are Procter and Gamble (PG), which was in the first group of 10 stocks; Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), Coca-Cola (KO), Colgate Palmolive (CL), which are in this group of 10; and then Kimberly Clark (KMB), Abbott Labs (ABT), McDonald's (MCD), 

Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) has been increasing dividends, annually, for 57 years.

Coca-Cola (KO) has been increasing dividends, annually, for 57 years.

Lancaster Colony (LANC) has been increasing dividends, annually for 57 years.

Lowe's Company (LOW) has been increasing dividends, annually for 57 years.

Colgate Palmolive (CL) has been increasing dividends, annually, for 56 years.

Nordson  Corp (NDSN) has been increasing dividends, annually, for 56 years.

Hormel Food Corp (HRL) has been increasing dividends, annually, for 53 years.

ABM Industries (ABM) has been increasing dividends, annually, for 52 years.

California Water Service (CWT)  has been increasing dividends, annually, for 52 years. 

Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)  has been increasing dividends, annually, for 52 years. 

What You Should Know:

This second group of Dividend Champions have some of my larger holdings and favorite companies. 

Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) is a company that I've owned for a long time and have added shares to my position, over the years.  I like buying shares with a yield of 3% or more.

Coca-Cola (KO) is a company that I used to work for.  I have accumulated stock in the company since 1980 and it was one of my largest positions, until recently, when I took shares off the table at $60 a share.  I like to buy shares when the dividend is 3.75% or greater.

Colgate Palmolive (CL) is absolutely one of my favorite stocks and I like to add to my position when the yield is above 2.5% and have done so, over the years.

Lancaster Colony (LANC) is a company that I came across a while back when my ex-wife was an executive recruiter.  Never heard about the company and they have some odd brands, but it has been a long term winner.  Don't own a lot of shares, but it's a set it and forget it company.

Lowe's (LOW) is a company that I began purchasing after I bought my second house.  There was a store not far from me and I really liked shopping there.  The Home Depot was not as close to where I lived and they had begun getting rid of their "experts" that worked the aisle helping you out.  Home Depot is a great company, though.

Hormel Foods (HRL) came to my attention on a camping trip, when I was a kid. They made a product called Spam.  It's something you either love or hate.  There is no in between.  They make other products, besides Spam, and Skippy Peanut Butter is one of their products that I am addicted to.  I absolutely love this country when the dividend is yielding 3% or better.

Summary:

While the blog is looking at the performance of these companies from the year 2000, these companies were already Dividend Champions when 2000 rolled around.

One thing to understand is that most investors do not invest in a vacuum, but will add additional shares of stock to their holdings when those companies appear to be a value.

Or at least, they should.

I've always tried to find quality companies, priced at a value and then adding to my holdings in that stock when I have money available and the stock appears to be a bargain.

In the last 12 months we have been adding shares to our holdings and have purchased additional shares of (ABBV), (ABT), (MSFT), (AVGO), (QCOM), and others, mostly Dividend Champions, but a few that are not.