The last time all three of the major U.S. stock indexes hit record highs at the same time was December 31, 1999, and like today there were concerns that despite looming couldn’t stop the indexes’ onslaught.
Today, even though the political scene appears fractured, and worldwide terror seems to be on the rise, the markets hit all-time highs. The question for investors is what to do now.
The answer is buy some of the top dividend stocks, put them in your account and hold them forever. We screened the Merrill Lynch research universe for stock on the dividend aristocrats lists that were also rated Buy.
The dividend aristocrats are members of the S&P 500 and have increased their dividends for at least 20 consecutive years. We found four that investors can buy now and hold forever.
These are 5 ideal stocks for a long-term buy and hold strategy...
AT&T -- Yield: 4.44%
AT&T (NYSE:T) employs 277,200 people, generates revenue of $146,801.00 million and has a net income of $13,687.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $267.43 billion.AT&T’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $49,599.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 33.79% (the operating margin is 16.88% and the net profit margin 9.32%).
Financials: The total debt represents 31.33% of AT&T assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 102.84%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 12.57% was realized by AT&T.
Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.32. Last fiscal year, AT&T paid $1.89 in the form of dividends to shareholders.
Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 18.69, the P/S ratio is 1.81 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.17. The dividend yield amounts to 4.44%.
Stock Charts:
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| Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AT&T (T) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AT&T (T) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AT&T (T) |
Emerson Electric -- Yield: 3.52%
Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR) employs 110,800 people, generates revenue of $22,304.00 million and has a net income of $2,733.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $34.69 billion.Emerson Electric’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $4,185.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 18.76% (the operating margin is 14.67% and the net profit margin 12.25%).
Financials: The total debt represents 30.98% of Emerson Electric assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 84.67%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 29.78% was realized by Emerson Electric.
Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.77. Last fiscal year, Emerson Electric paid $1.88 in the form of dividends to shareholders.
Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 19.45, the P/S ratio is 1.56 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.37. The dividend yield amounts to 3.52%.
Stock Charts:
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| Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Emerson Electric (EMR) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Emerson Electric (EMR) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Emerson Electric (EMR) |
Coca-Cola -- Yield: 3.18%
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) employs 123,200 people, generates revenue of $44,294.00 million and has a net income of $7,366.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $191.25 billion.Coca-Cola’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $12,075.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 27.26% (the operating margin is 19.70% and the net profit margin 16.63%).
Financials: The total debt represents 49.02% of Coca-Cola assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 172.64%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 26.31% was realized by Coca-Cola.
Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.74. Last fiscal year, Coca-Cola paid $1.32 in the form of dividends to shareholders.
Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 25.34, the P/S ratio is 4.29 and the P/B ratio is finally 7.45. The dividend yield amounts to 3.18%.
Stock Charts:
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| Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Coca-Cola (KO) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Coca-Cola (KO) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Coca-Cola (KO) |
Procter & Gamble -- Yield: 3.08%
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) employs 110,000 people, generates revenue of $65,299.00 million and has a net income of $10,027.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $233.42 billion.Procter & Gamble’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $17,439.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 26.71% (the operating margin is 20.58% and the net profit margin 15.36%).
Financials: The total debt represents 24.07% of Procter & Gamble assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 53.36%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 16.45% was realized by Procter & Gamble.
Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.49. Last fiscal year, Procter & Gamble paid $2.66 in the form of dividends to shareholders.
Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 24.96, the P/S ratio is 3.56 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.12. The dividend yield amounts to 3.08%.
Stock Charts:
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| Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Procter & Gamble (PG) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Procter & Gamble (PG) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Procter & Gamble (PG) |
3M -- Yield: 2.46%
3M (NYSE:MMM) employs 89,446 people, generates revenue of $30,274.00 million and has a net income of $4,841.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $108.52 billion.3M’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $8,497.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 28.07% (the operating margin is 22.94% and the net profit margin 15.99%).
Financials: The total debt represents 33.14% of 3M assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 92.61%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 38.95% was realized by 3M.
Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $7.84. Last fiscal year, 3M paid $4.10 in the form of dividends to shareholders.
Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 22.98, the P/S ratio is 3.60 and the P/B ratio is finally 9.38. The dividend yield amounts to 2.46%.
Stock Charts:
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| Long-Term Stock Price Chart of 3M (MMM) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Payment History of 3M (MMM) |
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| Long-Term Dividend Yield History of 3M (MMM) |
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