The 1 Dividend Stock I Want to Own in 2016

The most important question I ask about any investment is, "Would I want my wife to own this if I were dead." I have tough standards, but there's one company I've watched for years that passes muster with over 100 years of history behind it, a globally recognized and respected brand, an over 50 year track record of returning value to shareholders via annual dividend hikes, and a seat at the table of a global growth trend. I'm hoping that 2016 is the year that I get to own this giant. Here's what it is and why...

When I look for companies that I would be happy for my wife to own, I want to see diversification, a long and successful operating history, and a dedication to returning value to shareholders via dividends. And on that score, few match up to Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ). JNJ traces its history back to 1886. That means the healthcare giant has seen a few business cycles in its history and, more importantly, lived to tell about them. This isn't some start up that's only known good times. So I like that Johnson & Johnson has managed to survive for more than 100 years. But I also like the diversification it offers. It operates in the consumer products space noted above, but also in the pharmaceuticals (about 45% of sales, rounding up) and medical device (35%, rounding down) markets.

Source: Motley Fool

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