Most dividend investors are searching for a reliable source of income from well-run companies. Some bigger, more established companies do a fantastic job of paying out dividends. The best of them are known as Dividend Aristocrats — companies in the S&P 500 index that have increased their dividends annually for at least 25 consecutive years.
Dividend Aristocrats are great stocks to hold in uncertain economic times, as these are companies that have made a concerted effort to pay out dividends no matter what the market conditions. However, by focusing on Dividend Aristocrats only, investors can miss out on great companies that may not have a chance of entering into the S&P 500 anytime soon.
One company that falls into this category is United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI), a bank that has increased its dividend for 47 years straight, It’s a great income stock worthy of further consideration by dividend-focused investors.
