High Dividend Stocks 101

I’ve got to admit that lately I’ve felt less like we’re the great buying opportunity opportunity of a lifetime, and more like we’re living under the Sword of Damocles. I respect that feeling, even though I’ve left most of my retirement money in stocks (including funds/etfs).

Since I know a lot of feel this way though, I wonder if I’m wrong, and look for evidence of that. Lately, I haven’t found much. And that’s why I really enjoyed an article from Seeking Alpha.

Thus, these companies are raising their dividends for two very solid reasons: 1. Their earnings are growing and they are confident enough in their prospects, even in a slow economy, that they are free to increase their dividends; 2. Almost all of the companies mentioned here have long histories of increasing their dividends. It is in their culture.

In particular, it has me taking another look at KMP and FPL. Do you think it’s time?