Seven 40-Year-Plus Dividend Growers To Buy In July

Foreword

This article is based on the monthly lists of Champions, Contenders, and Challengers (CCC) created by the late David Fish and posted on dripinvesting.org as maintained Dividend Radar.

Any collection of stocks is more clearly understood when subjected to yield-based (dog catcher) analysis, these CCC lists are perfect for the dogcatcher process. Here is the current list of 62 longest annually increasing dividend stocks in the Champion-documented collection, per updated data from YCharts sampled July 14.

The Ides of March 2020 plunge in stock market prices devastated the Champions. However, none suspended or reduced dividend payouts. In fact, the drop in prices of 8 of the top 40 (listed by yield) reliable 40yr+ boosters made the possibility of owning productive dividend shares from this collection more viable for first-time investors back in May 2020.

As of July 14, 2022, however, 7 of the now 62 40-year dividend-growing stocks showed annual dividends from a $1K investment exceeding their single share price. They were: Universal Corp (UVV); Leggett & Platt Inc (LEG); Franklin Resources Inc (BEN); Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc (WBA); Telephone and Data Systems Inc (TDS); Old Republic International Corp (ORI); United Bankshares Inc (UBSI). Some consider dividends from $1K invested exceeding share price a buy zone alert.

See the Afterword at the tail of this article for a list of July’s 62 stocks in their order of longevity raising dividends. The shortest is 40 years; the longest is 68. Recent vs fair price comparisons are also found there.

Actionable Conclusions (1-10): Analysts Estimate 25.97%-56.39% Net Gains For Ten Top 40yr+ Dividend Growing Dogs For July

Four of ten top-yield 40yr+Dividend-increasing stocks were also among the top gainers for the coming year based on analyst 1-year target prices. (They are tinted gray in the chart below). Thus, the yield-based forecast for these July dogs was graded by Wall St. Wizards as 40% accurate this month.

The following projections were based on estimated dividends from $1000 invested in each of the highest yielding stocks plus their aggregate one-year analyst median target prices, as reported by YCharts. Note: target prices from less than two analysts were not applied.

Ten probable profit-generating trades projected to July 16, 2023, were:

Telephone and Data Systems Inc was projected to net $508.65 based on target price estimates from four analysts, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 6% more than the market as a whole.

Stanley Black & Decker Inc (SWK) was projected to net $419.29 based on the median of target price estimates from fifteen analysts, plus annual dividend, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 37% over the market as a whole.

Emerson Electric Co (EMR) was projected to net $337.47 based on dividends, plus the median of target estimates from twenty-three brokers, less transaction fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 41% greater than the market as a whole.

Air Products and Chemicals (APD) was projected to net $319.77, based on the median of target price estimates from twenty-one analysts, plus annual dividend, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 17% less than the market as a whole.

Medtronic plc (MDT) was projected to net $300.95, based on dividends, plus the median of target price estimates from twenty-one analysts, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 23% under the market as a whole.

Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) was projected to net $261.55, based on dividends, plus the median of target price estimates from twenty-five analysts, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 7% over the market as a whole.

Target Corp (TGT) was projected to net $245.15, based on a median of target price estimates from twenty-seven analysts, plus dividends, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility equal to the market as a whole.

National Fuel Gas Co (NFG) was projected to net $227.64, based on dividends, plus the median of target price estimates from five analysts, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 33% under the market as a whole.

Walgreens Boots Alliance was projected to net $224.65, based on the median of target estimates from sixteen analysts, plus dividends, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 40% less than the market as a whole.

3M Co (MMM) was projected to net $213.72, based on dividends, plus median target price estimates from eighteen analysts, less broker fees. The Beta number showed this estimate subject to risk/volatility 5% less than the market as a whole.

The average net gain in dividend and price was estimated at 30.59% on $10k invested as $1k in each of these ten stocks. These gain estimates were subject to average risk/volatility 3% less than the market as a whole.

The Dividend Dogs Rule

Stocks earned the “dog” moniker by exhibiting three traits: (1) paying reliable, repeating dividends, (2) their prices fell to where (3) yield (dividend/price) grew higher than their peers. Thus, the highest yielding stocks in any collection became known as “dogs.” More precisely, these are, in fact, best called, “underdogs”.

50 Reliable 40yr+ Dividend-Growing Stocks Show July Target Gains

50 July Yields From 40yr+ Dividend Hiking Stocks

Actionable Conclusions (11-20): 10 Top 40yr+ Dividend Boosting Stocks By Yield

Top ten Reliable 40yr+ Dividend Stocks by yield for July represented seven of eleven Morningstar sectors. The consumer defensive sector representative placed first, Universal Corp [1]. One healthcare outfit placed second, Walgreens Boots Alliance [2].

Third place went to the consumer cyclical representative, Leggett & Platt Inc [3].

Thereafter four financial services representatives placed fourth, and eighth, through tenth: Franklin Resources Inc [4], Old Republic International Corp [8], United Bankshares Inc [9], and Community Trust Bancorp Inc (CTBI) [10].

Fifth place was claimed by the lone communication services representative, Telephone and Data Systems [5]. One industrials sector representative placed sixth, 3M Co [6].

Finally, one energy sector member claimed seventh, Exxon Mobil Corp [7] to complete the 40yr+ Dividend Growing Stocks top ten by yield in this July survey.

Actionable Conclusions: (21-30) Top Ten 40yr+ Dividend Growing Dogs Showed 17.68%-47.16% Upsides, While (32) Four Down-Siders Appeared Per Broker Estimates

To quantify top dog rankings, analyst median price target estimates provide a “market sentiment” gauge of upside potential. Added to the simple high-yield metrics, analyst median target price estimates became another tool to dig out bargains.

Analysts Forecast A 0.21% Disadvantage For 5 Highest Yield, Lowest Priced Of The Top 10 40yr+ Dividend Growing Dogs To July 2023

Ten top 40yr+ Dividend growing dogs were culled by yield (dividend/price). Results provided by YCharts did the ranking.

As noted above, top ten Reliable 40yr+ Dividend dogs screened 7/14/22 showing the highest dividend yields represented seven of eleven sectors in the Morningstar scheme.

Actionable Conclusions: Analysts Predicted 5 Lowest-Priced Of The Ten Highest-Yield Reliable 40yr+ Dividend Growing Dogs (31) Delivering 14.74% Vs. (32) 14.77% Net Gains By All Ten Come July 2023

$5000 invested as $1k in each of the five lowest-priced stocks in the top ten 40yr+Dividend kennel by yield were predicted by analyst 1-year targets to deliver 0.21% LESS gain than $5,000 invested as $.5k in all ten. The very lowest-priced selection, Telephone and Data Systems was projected to deliver the best net gain of 50.87%.

The five lowest-priced top-yield 40yr+ Dividend dogs as of July 14 were: Telephone and Data Systems Inc; Old Republic International Corp; Franklin Resources Inc; United Bankshares Inc; Leggett & Platt Inc, with prices ranging from $15.29 to $36.25.

Five higher-priced Kiplinger top-yield most reliable 40yr+ dividend dogs as of July 14 were: Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc; Community Trust Bancorp Inc; Universal Corp; Exxon Mobil Corp; 3M Co, whose prices ranged from $36.86 to $128.31.

The distinction between five low-priced dividend dogs and the general field of ten reflected Michael B. O’Higgins’ “basic method” for beating the Dow. The scale of projected gains based on analyst targets added a unique element of “market sentiment” gauging upside potential. It provided a here-and-now equivalent of waiting a year to find out what might happen in the market. Caution is advised, since analysts are historically only 20% to 80% accurate on the direction of change and just 0% to 15% accurate on the degree of change.

Afterword

Here’s All 62 Dogs by Years

Finally, in case you missed this tidbit in the foreword, here it is to close out the afterword for this article: This pre-September list showed 7 of the 62 40-year dividend-hiker stocks show annual dividends from a $1K investment exceeding their single share prices. They were: Universal Corp; Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc; Leggett & Platt Inc; Franklin Resources Inc; Telephone and Data Systems Inc; Old Republic International Corp; United Bankshares Inc. Some consider dividends from $1K invested exceeding share price a buy zone alert.

Here is How All Ten Top 40yr+ Boosted Dividend Dogs Could Become Fair-Priced

Since eight of the top ten 40Yr+ Dividend Dog shares were recently priced less than the annual dividends paid out from a $1K investment, the above charts compare those eight plus two at recent prices (top chart) with the fair pricing of all ten top dogs conforming to (or exceeding) that ideal (middle chart). The dollar and percentage differences between recent and fair prices are detailed in the bottom chart.

With renewed downside market pressure to 39.8%, it is possible for all ten highest-yield 40Yr+ Dividend Boosted stocks, to become fair-priced with their annual yield (from $1K invested) meeting or exceeding their single share prices. A mere .05% drop in price would cause Community Trust Bank Corp to be the eighth out of ten to become fair priced.

A follow-up article identifying the ‘Safer’ 40yr+ Durable Dividend dogs will appear next week after July 22 in the Dividend Dogcatcher pages of Seeking Alpha’s Marketplace.

The net gain/loss estimates above did not factor in any foreign or domestic tax problems resulting from distributions. Consult your tax advisor regarding the source and consequences of “dividends” from any investment.

Stocks listed above were suggested only as possible reference points for your stock purchase or sale research process. These were not recommendations.