Over 100 years of Dividends

As a shareholder dividends are the key to earning more. Dividends are cash payments that you receive for just owning shares.  Over the long-term some investors may actually receive more in dividends than what it costs to buy the shares in the first place. 

But the key is for companies to continue to pay dividends over the long-term. Dividend Growth Stocks writes, “Sure most CEOs give lip-service to their commitment to shareholders, but what happens when times are hard. When the economy turns down and the future looks bleak, will the company hoard cash and stop its dividend or put action behind its words?”.

Over the last 100 years the world has seen a number of wars, recessions, depressions, terrorist attacks, economic downturns and numerous other negative events, but the companies listed below have continued to pay dividends year after year. Here are 9 American companies that have paid dividends for over 100 years:

Chevron Corporation (CVX) Dividend Yield: 3.45% Dividends Paid Since: 1912

Coca-Cola Company (KO) Dividend Yield: 2.96% Dividends Paid Since: 1893

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) Dividend Yield: 2.21% Dividends Paid Since: 1895

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) Dividend Yield: 4.73% Dividends Paid Since: 1885

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) Dividend Yield: 2.65% Dividends Paid Since: 1882

General Mills, Inc. (GIS) Dividend Yield: 3.17% Dividends Paid Since: 1898

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) Dividend Yield: 2.41% Dividends Paid Since: 1901

Procter & Gamble (PG) Dividend Yield: 3.10% Dividends Paid Since: 1891

The York Water Company (NASDAQ:YORW) Dividend Yield: 2.83% Dividends Paid Since: 1816

Here are 8 Canadian companies that have paid dividends for over 100 years:

Bank of Montreal (BMO) Dividend Yield: 4.38% Dividends Paid Since: 1829

Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) Dividend Yield: 4.01% Dividends Paid Since: 1833

BCE Inc. (BCE) Dividend Yield: 4.99% Dividends Paid Since: 1881

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM) Dividend Yield: 4.42% Dividends Paid Since: 1868

Imperial Oil Ltd. (IMO) Dividend Yield: 1.14% Dividends Paid Since: 1891

Laurentian Bank (LB) Dividend Yield: 4.46% Dividends Paid Since: 1871

Royal Bank of Canada (RY) Dividend Yield: 3.84% Dividends Paid Since: 1870

Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD) Dividend Yield: 3.54% Dividends Paid Since: 1857

Can you guess which company from the above list has the longest record of consecutive dividends? This company has been paying consecutive dividends for 198 years! It's The York Water Company, which is the oldest investor owned utility in the United States. This year marks the 573rd consecutive dividend paid by The York Water Company. Invest for the long-term, and purchase quality dividend paying companies when they are undervalued.

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