One of the main parameters I look for when I study companies to invest in is their dividend growth rate. Have they consistently grown their dividends over many years? Are they growing their dividends in a manner that outpaces inflation? Is the growth rate sustainable? etc. etc.
Dividend aristocrats have raised their dividends consistently for at least 25 years and a majority of the companies I own falls into this category. But when do they typically raise their dividends?
I have made a list with each month of the year and a few examples of companies that typically raise their dividends that month. Note that I say typically, because they are in no way obliged to raise it the same month every year. In order to stay an aristocrat they have to pay more each year. Whether the increase is consistently in the same month or not does not matter. I have merely checked for consistency a few years back, and if they are fairly consistent, they are on the list.
Some of these companies I own, some are on my watch list and some may not ever be in my portfolio. Some are aristocrats, some have not yet achieved aristocrat status. Some may never.
I will revisit and add to (and hopefully not subtract from) this list as time goes by in order to keep it updated. Please let me know if there are any companies you want me to add.
January – NIKE (NKE), Franklin resources (BEN)
February – Abbvie (ABBV), AT&T (T)
March – 3M (MMM), Pfizer (PFE), Waste Managment (WM)
April – Albemarle (ALB), Genuine parts company (GPC), Coca-Cola (KO), Walmart (WMT)
May – Apple (AAPL), Colgate-Palmolive (CL)
June – PepsiCo (PEP), Johnson&Johnson (JNJ), IBM (IBM)
July – Leggett&Platt (LEG)
August – Caterpillar (CAT)
September
October – Altria (MO)
November
Good post!
I like the thought of having monthly income from dividends. You listed some pretty nice companies there!