10 Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

From bottom to top, my companies are:

10. Exxon Mobil (XOM): XOM has increased its dividend every year for the past 26 years. Additionally, the company is within 23% of its 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 41%.

9. Abbott Laboratories (ABT): ABT has increased its dividend every year for 36 years in a row. ABT is within 22% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 41%. I previously wrote about ABT, displaying the altimeter for ABT on a long term basis.

8. McCormick & Co. (MKC): MKC has increased its dividend every year for 22 years. Also, MKC is within 20% of its 52-week low with dividend payout ratio of 42%.

7. Becton Dickinson (BDX): BDX has increased its dividend every year for 36 years in a row. BDX is within 19% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 27%. I mentioned BDX on May 4, 2009, suggesting that this stock should be bought. On August 19, I reiterated my claim that BDX was worthy of consideration, especially after Warren Buffett himself jumped on board after our earlier posting.

6. Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY): PNY has increased its dividend every year for 29 years in a row. PNY is within 16% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 69%.

5. Northwest Natural Gas (NWN): NWN has increased its dividend every year for 54 years in a row. NWN is within 16% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 59%. I previously mentioned NWN on September 22 and again on October 3.

4. Bard Inc. (BCR): BCR has increased its dividend every year for 54 years in a row. BCR is within 14% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 13%. On April 23, I mentioned that BCR has a very low debt level which allows the company to weather further economic declines. On August 26, after gaining 10.11% in four months, I recommended selling this stock.

3. Weyco Group (WEYS): WEYS has increased its dividend every year for 28 years in a row. WEYS is within 13% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 54%. Weyco, the maker of Florsheim shoes, was featured on Dividend Inc. on July 6. Two negatives for this company are that its payout ratio is so high and the stock is not very liquid.

2. Cardinal Health (CAH): CAH has increased its dividend every year for 16 years in a row. CAH is within 10% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 32%. CAH was featured on June 4 and is considered, in my opinion, to be one of the most underpriced healthcare stocks out there. The current low price of CAH is due to the spinoff of the CareFusion (CFN) unit. However, the upside projections of CAH are, at minimum, in the $40 range.

1. Wal-Mart (WMT): WMT has increased its dividend every year for 33 years in a row. WMT is within 8% of the 52-week low with a dividend payout ratio of 30%. WMT was first mentioned on June 18 when I pointed out the fact that with such an extended range bound price for the stock there has to be value accruing in the stock. A further examination of WMT was offered on September 19 and I determined that, on a price-to-dividend basis, WMT is poised in increase in value. One significant downside for this stock is the large increase in shares outstanding in the last few years.