The dividend aristocrats have again proven their value in 2014. The basket of US stocks that have increased their dividends for at least 25 years in a row and are part of the S&P 500, gained in 2014 more than 13%.
Dividend Aristocrats up 13.05% in 2014.
The 53 stocks included in the S&P500 index and so each year managed to increase their dividends, the price return over 2014 was 13.05% and including the dividend yield, the total return was 15.75%. The total return was just as many years, higher than the S&P 500, the SPX had last year a total return of 13.69%.
The 10 year’s annualized total return for the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index is 10.55%
See below the performance per share for 2014 and the dividend yield (31-12-2014):
Strong dividend increase
Pentair had the poorest performance in 2014 of all dividend aristocrats, but surprised with the highest dividend increase of 28% in 2014. Pentair has increased their quarterly dividend form $0.25 to $0.30. Other companies increased their dividend pay-out in 2014 also, for example Lowe’s (+27.8%), Franklin Resources (+25%) and Hormel Foods (25%). In total 19 dividend aristocrats managed to increase their dividends with more than 10%, including 3M (+20%) and Pepso-Co (+15%)
