The 5 Top Dividend Stocks for Long-Term Returns

As shares of companies that consistently increase their dividends tend to outperform, MarketWatch calculated which companies that consistently raise their dividends have generated the best long-term total returns. It found 43 stocks in the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400 and S&P SmallCap 600 that have raised their dividends in each of the past 29 years. That includes 28 large-cap stocks, nine mid-cap stocks and six small-cap stocks. So which stocks had the best total returns during the past decade?

1. Stepan, a specialty chemical maker based in Northfield, Ill., returned 569 percent. Its five-year return is 253 percent. 2. V.F. Corp., a clothing manufacturer based in Greensboro, N.C., has returned 551 percent during 10 years and 296 percent during 5 years. 3. W.W. Grainger, a wholesale supply distributor based in Lake Forest, Ill, has a 10-year return of 445 percent and a five-year return of 235 percent. 4. Questar, a natural gas distributor based in Salt Lake City, has a 10-year return of 398 percent and a five-year return of 169 percent. 5. Nordson, a machinery maker based in Westlake, Ohio, has a 10-year return of 364 percent and a five-year return of 333 percent.

Source: Money News

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