The stock market is off to the worst start in almost 100 years, and things likely will get worse before they get better. Last week’s horrible inflation reports highlighted just how much the increase in prices are hammering away at consumers’ purchasing power. The 66 companies that made the cut for the 2022 Dividend Aristocrats list have increased dividends (not just remained the same) for 25 years straight.
It would be nice to go back 20 years to 5% guaranteed certificates of deposit (CDs), but that is a long way off. Investment-grade bonds have been hammered this year, so they are not an alternative. Often when income investors look for defensive companies paying big dividends, they are drawn to the Dividend Aristocrats, and with good reason.