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7 Best Dividend Aristocrats To Consider

I recently dug into the list of dividend aristocrats and looked for the best potential among this group of income investments, zeroing in on seven top stocks that I think offer investors both stability in their share price, as well as a robust dividend.

Dividend stocks with reliable dividends are a good fundament for small pocket investors. For sure, you don't might to earn the 20+ percent yearly that might Warren Buffett catch but a 6-12 percent return is a better alternative that low yields from 10 Year Treasuries.

If you’re looking for the best dividend aristocrats to buy now — for both current yield, share potential and future dividend growth — I’ve identified seven worth a look. Here they are:

HCP -- Yield: 6.03%

HCP (NYSE:HCP) employs 170 people, generates revenue of $2,266.28 million and has a net income of $893.19 million. The current market capitalization stands at $17.42 billion.

HCP’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,799.50 million. The EBITDA margin is 79.40% (the operating margin is 58.35% and the net profit margin 39.41%).

Financials: The total debt represents 45.67% of HCP assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 90.91%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 8.31% was realized by HCP.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $0.91. Last fiscal year, HCP paid $2.18 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 41.26, the P/S ratio is 7.65 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.61. The dividend yield amounts to 6.03%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of HCP (HCP)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of HCP (HCP)

Old Republic -- Yield: 4.60%

Old Republic (NYSE:ORI) employs 8,000 people, generates revenue of $5,530.70 million and has a net income of $409.70 million. The current market capitalization stands at $4.20 billion.

Old Republic’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $661.40 million. The EBITDA margin is 11.96% (the operating margin is 11.49% and the net profit margin 7.41%).

Financials: The total debt represents 5.68% of Old Republic assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 24.59%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 10.64% was realized by Old Republic.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.12. Last fiscal year, Old Republic paid $0.73 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 14.43, the P/S ratio is 0.76 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.07. The dividend yield amounts to 4.60%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Old Republic (ORI)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Old Republic (ORI)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Old Republic (ORI)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Old Republic (ORI)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Old Republic (ORI)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Old Republic (ORI)

Consolidated Edison -- Yield: 4.24%

Consolidated Edison (NYSE:ED) employs 14,601 people, generates revenue of $12,919.00 million and has a net income of $1,092.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $17.95 billion.

Consolidated Edison’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $3,235.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 25.04% (the operating margin is 16.75% and the net profit margin 8.45%).

Financials: The total debt represents 29.32% of Consolidated Edison assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 103.30%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 8.80% was realized by Consolidated Edison.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.74. Last fiscal year, Consolidated Edison paid $2.52 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.41, the P/S ratio is 1.39 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.43. The dividend yield amounts to 4.24%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Consolidated Edison (ED)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Consolidated Edison (ED)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Consolidated Edison (ED)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Consolidated Edison (ED)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Consolidated Edison (ED)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Consolidated Edison (ED)

Questar Corporation -- Yield: 3.87%

Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR) employs 1,745 people, generates revenue of $1,189.30 million and has a net income of $226.50 million. The current market capitalization stands at $3.82 billion.

Questar Corporation’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $640.60 million. The EBITDA margin is 53.86% (the operating margin is 34.09% and the net profit margin 19.04%).

Financials: The total debt represents 38.37% of Questar Corporation assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 130.85%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 18.53% was realized by Questar Corporation.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.28. Last fiscal year, Questar Corporation paid $0.75 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.85, the P/S ratio is 3.21 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.06. The dividend yield amounts to 3.87%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Questar Corporation (STR)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Questar Corporation (STR)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Questar Corporation (STR)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Questar Corporation (STR)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Questar Corporation (STR)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Questar Corporation (STR)

Sonoco Products -- Yield: 3.36%

Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON) employs 20,800 people, generates revenue of $5,014.53 million and has a net income of $230.20 million. The current market capitalization stands at $4.21 billion.

Sonoco Products’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $590.23 million. The EBITDA margin is 11.77% (the operating margin is 7.81% and the net profit margin 4.59%).

Financials: The total debt represents 29.77% of Sonoco Products assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 83.15%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 14.86% was realized by Sonoco Products.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.67. Last fiscal year, Sonoco Products paid $1.27 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 15.50, the P/S ratio is 0.84 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.78. The dividend yield amounts to 3.36%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Sonoco Products (SON)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Sonoco Products (SON)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Sonoco Products (SON)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Sonoco Products (SON)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Sonoco Products (SON)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Sonoco Products (SON)

Middlesex Water -- Yield: 3.29%

Middlesex Water (NASDAQ:MSEX) employs 282 people, generates revenue of $117.14 million and has a net income of $18.44 million. The current market capitalization stands at $377.40 million.

Middlesex Water’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $46.58 million. The EBITDA margin is 39.77% (the operating margin is 29.36% and the net profit margin 15.75%).

Financials: The total debt represents 27.95% of Middlesex Water assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 80.58%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 9.48% was realized by Middlesex Water.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.15. Last fiscal year, Middlesex Water paid $0.76 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 20.19, the P/S ratio is 3.22 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.91. The dividend yield amounts to 3.29%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Middlesex Water (MSEX)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Middlesex Water (MSEX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Middlesex Water (MSEX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Middlesex Water (MSEX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Middlesex Water (MSEX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Middlesex Water (MSEX)

Johnson & Johnson -- Yield: 3.00%

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) employs 126,500 people, generates revenue of $74,331.00 million and has a net income of $16,323.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $277.50 billion.

Johnson & Johnson’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $26,305.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 35.39% (the operating margin is 27.66% and the net profit margin 21.96%).

Financials: The total debt represents 14.31% of Johnson & Johnson assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 26.90%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 22.70% was realized by Johnson & Johnson.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.68. Last fiscal year, Johnson & Johnson paid $2.76 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 17.68, the P/S ratio is 3.73 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.99. The dividend yield amounts to 3.00%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)