Dividend Contenders are stocks with consecutive dividend increases of more than 10 years but less than 25 years. One hundred fifty-seven stocks with such a great dividend growth history are available for investors, but not all of them are really safe-haven stocks.

I made a little screen within the investment category and searched stocks with a very low beta ratio (below 0.5) and a dividend yield of more than 4 percent. Nineteen stocks remained of which nine are high yields.

Here are my favorite stocks:

Kinder Morgan Energy (KMP) has a market capitalization of $27.16 billion. The company employs 8,120 people, generates revenues of $8,211.20 million and has a net income of $1,268.40 million. The firm’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2,617.60 million. Because of these figures, the EBITDA margin is 31.88 percent (operating margin 20.34 percent and the net profit margin finally 15.45 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt representing 53.18 percent of the company’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 170.74 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 1.16 percent was realized. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $0.53. Last fiscal year, the company paid $4.61 in form of dividends to shareholders. KMP raised dividend distributions over a period of 16 consecutive years.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 150.54, P/S ratio is 3.36 and P/B ratio is 3.77. Dividend Yield: 5.91 percent. Beta ratio: 0.36.

PPL Corporation (PPL) has a market capitalization of $15.88 billion. The company employs 17,722 people, generates revenues of $12,737.00 million and has a net income of $1,510.00 million. The firm’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $4,309.00 million. Because of these figures, the EBITDA margin is 33.83 percent (operating margin 24.30 percent and the net profit margin finally 11.86 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt representing 43.54 percent of the company’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 171.51 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 15.62 percent was realized. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.82. Last fiscal year, the company paid $1.40 in form of dividends to shareholders. PPL raised dividend distributions over a period of 11 consecutive years.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 9.70, P/S ratio is 1.25 and P/B ratio is 1.47. Dividend Yield: 5.23 percent. Beta ratio: 0.39.

Plains All American Pipeline (PAA) has a market capitalization of $12.95 billion. The company employs 3,800 people, generates revenues of $34,275.00 million and has a net income of $994.00 million. The firm’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,530.00 million. Because of these figures, the EBITDA margin is 4.46 percent (operating margin 3.79 percent and the net profit margin finally 2.90 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt representing 33.80 percent of the company’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 95.39 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 15.47 percent was realized. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.01. Last fiscal year, the company paid $3.91 in form of dividends to shareholders. PAA raised dividend distributions over a period of 12 consecutive years.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.02, P/S ratio is 0.38 and P/B ratio is 2.40. Dividend Yield: 5.16 percent. Beta ratio: 0.49.

The Southern Company (SO) has a market capitalization of $39.48 billion. The company employs 26,377 people, generates revenues of $17,657.00 million and has a net income of $2,268.00 million. The firm’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $5,948.00 million. Because of these figures, the EBITDA margin is 33.69 percent (operating margin 23.96 percent and the net profit margin finally 12.84 percent).

Financial Analysis: The total debt representing 35.81 percent of the company’s assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 113.74 percent. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 13.04 percent was realized. Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.48. Last fiscal year, the company paid $1.87 in form of dividends to shareholders. SO raised dividend distributions over a period of 11 consecutive years.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 18.35, P/S ratio is 2.24 and P/B ratio is 2.24. Dividend Yield: 4.30 percent. Beta ratio: 0.28.

Take a closer look at the full table of the safest and best yielding Dividend Contenders. The average P/E ratio amounts to 19.84 and forward P/E ratio is 15.44. The dividend yield has a value of 5.69 percent. Price to book ratio is 2.22 and price to sales ratio is 2.54. The operating margin amounts to 22.08 percent.

Related stock ticker symbols:
VGR, SPH, BPL, NS, TCP, KMP, PBCT, PPL, PAA, MMP, GAS, CIZN, SXL, NWFL, SO, AROW, ATO, WHG, ARTNA

Selected Articles:
· 14 Dividend Contenders With Gaining Earnings Growth Momentum
· 8 Great Dividend Contenders At New Highs
· The 10 Highest Yielding Dividend Contenders
· The Cheapest Dividend Contenders
· 15 Dividend Contenders With Buy Or Better Rating

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