20 Dividend Growth Stocks To Buy Today For Your Retirement Portfolios: Part 1
Introduction
After an exhaustive search of the dividend growth stock universe I identified 20 dividend growth stocks that I felt were currently worthy of consideration for retirement portfolios based on valuation. In part 1 of this 2-part series found here I discussed the current level of the S&P 500, and offered some important principles about valuation. Additionally, I offered the first group of 10 of what I consider the highest quality members of the 20 screened research candidates I uncovered. In this part 2, I will present the final 10 of 20 attractively-valued dividend growth stocks that I felt were currently worthy of consideration based on attractive or fair valuation relative to the overall market.
My search criteria were rather simple and straightforward. My primary objective was to identify a group of attractive or soundly-valued dividend growth stocks from which a portfolio could possibly be constructed. Since my focus was on retirement portfolios, my additional objective was to put together a portfolio that in the aggregate would offer a current dividend yield greater than 3%. I also screened for investment grade quality and a consistent record of both paying and increasing dividends. In addition to above-average dividend yield and dividend growth, I was also looking for a conservative group of companies that as a group might produce a reasonable level of future capital appreciation.
Clarifications on the Importance of Valuation
Before I present the second group of 10 research candidates, I would like to offer some clarifications on the importance of valuation. Part 1 of this 2-part series generated a lively comment thread of more than 280 comments at last count. Although I appreciate everyone's contributions, there were 2 comments in particular that I felt missed the primary thesis of this series. Consequently, I decided to share those comments in this article and take the opportunity they provided to offer some important insights on the significance of valuation.
The first comment came from Buyandhold 2012 who regularly contributes comments to my articles and many others. His position is that since we are in the seventh year of a strong bull market, no stock should be bought. My retort to that position is one that I often make: “it is a market of stocks, not a stock market.” In other words, I believe in building portfolios one company at a time with a primary focus and discipline on fair valuation.
Regardless of the market level, I am primarily interested in the valuation level of the individual company I am interested in investing in. Even if the market was extremely low, I would not invest in any company if I did not consider it fairly valued based on fundamentals at the time. I consider this especially true for retired investors in need of current income to live on.
To these investors, I believe that time in the market is significantly more important and relevant than attempting to time the market. My point is that every dividend that you forgo is one that you will never get back. Stock prices will constantly fall and rise, but eventually move into alignment with fair valuation. However, they tend to fall less from fair valuation than they would when the company is overvalued. I will illustrate that more fully next, but first here is the full comment from Buyandhold 2012:
“Buyandhold 2012
Chuck, I agree with you that we are in the seventh year of a strong bull market. That is the reason that I will not by buying any of the 20 dividend growth stocks on your list of stocks to buy today.
It seems to me that I am stating the obvious when I point out that the seventh year of a strong bull market is not the best time to buy any stocks.
The difference between buying a stock at the right time versus the wrong time can add up to thousands and even millions of dollars over the long term.
Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it. Look back at the history of the stock market and you will see that the seventh year of a strong bull market was never the best time to buy any stocks.”
The second comment that I wanted to clarify came from an anonymous commenter that calculated the price drops of the 10 research candidates I presented in part 1. Although I believe his calculations were correct, they were not accurate if they were made based on how far those same stocks dropped from fair valuation. Therefore, utilizing the calculating function of theF.A.S.T. Graphs™ research tool I ran the same calculations on the 10 research candidates based on how far they fell when their stock prices were at fair value. Here is his comment, followed by my calculations based on fair value:
266697213
I am wondering how many people who say that it is only income that matters not value when it comes to DG stocks, went though the Great Recession holding DG style stocks.
Here is how much each of the 10 stocks discussed in the article dropped during the Great Recession:
JNJ -30% –
WMT -22%
CSCO -55%
IBM -37%
PG -37%
RY -55%
CMI -70%
QCOM -40%
ADM -55%
AFL -75%
That's an average of -53%
Imagine if you had a 1M portfolio and it then went down 500k. Add to it the possibility that in these kind of conditions some of the companies are probably going to cut their dividend as did PFE despite its long history of increasing dividends. How sure would you feel about your strategy at that point. To simply say, “Well it bounced back so alls well that ends well.” is to ignore the psychic pain involved in this kind of drop which can cause people to make poor decisions. It also smacks of a false bravado borne out of a raging bull market.”
Price Drop from Fair Value Dividend Cut: Yes or No
The calculations of how much the 10 stocks presented in part 1 dropped during the Great Recession were not made from fair value. They were made from highs coming into the recession which coincided with overvaluation for most of the 10 companies. I made those same calculations from when the stocks were, in fact, at fair value and the short-term price damage was much lower as follows:
