A dividend aristocrat is a label ascribed to a company that has increased its dividend payout each and every year for at least the past 25 years. Considering that thousands of stocks are traded on the major US stock exchanges, there aren’t all that many dividend aristocrats — typically only around 50. A handful of companies that have managed to maintain a presence on this exclusive list (and happen to be Dow stocks) are: 3M (MMM), AT&T (T), Coca-Cola (KO), Exxon Mobil (XOM), and McDonald’s (MCD).
Related Terms: Dividend – Dividend Yield – Dividend Per Share – Ex-Dividend Date – Dividend Record Date – Dividend Payment Date – Dividend Declaration Date – Dividend Reinvestment Plan – Dogs of the Dow