Dividend Aristocrats: 3 to Watch

Stock markets are having one of their best years in history. Most averages are up over 50% from their lows in March. As usual, the gains have not been spread around equally. Some of the Dividend Aristocrats have been left behind and represent superior opportunities for value investors.

Dividend Aristocrats are companies in the S&P 500 which have minimum track records of 25 consecutive annual increases for their dividends. However, this elite group has shrunk in the last year. All banks are being removed after dividend cuts. This year, General Electric (GE), Pfizer (PFE) and Masco (MAS) have cut dividends which will take them off the list by next year. But those remaining in the group represent excellent values, many have been left behind in the market surge this year. These were the kind of stocks recommended by top analysts when the markets were at their lows (so much for listening to the "experts" for investment advice) last March. Now many of these companies represent good values.