Wall Street's Greatest Dividend Stock -- a Small-Cap Company 99% of Investors Have Never Heard of -- Is the Cheapest It's Been in Over a Decade

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the long-term success of investing in high-quality dividend stocks, highlighting their historical outperformance compared to non-payers [2][3] - It discusses the rarity of elite dividend stocks, noting that only a small percentage of companies have consistently paid and increased dividends over extended periods [5][8] Dividend Stock Performance - Research from Hartford Funds and Ned Davis Research indicates that dividend-paying stocks have achieved an average annual return of 9.17%, more than double the 4.27% return of non-payers from 1973 to 2023, while also being less volatile than the S&P 500 [3] Notable Dividend Stocks - Johnson & Johnson has increased its annual dividend for 62 consecutive years and holds a AAA credit rating, making it a safe investment [6] - Procter & Gamble has an even longer streak of 68 years of increasing its annual payout, supported by a diverse portfolio of household brands [7] - Companies like ExxonMobil and Stanley Black & Decker have paid continuous dividends since 1882 and 1876, respectively [8] York Water Company - York Water, a small-cap water utility, has paid dividends since its founding in 1816, boasting a 208-year streak, which is significantly longer than many well-known companies [10][12] - The company services over 300,000 people and operates in a regulated environment, ensuring predictable cash flow due to the necessity of water services [11][13][15] - York Water has increased its annual payout for the last 28 years and is currently valued at 20 times consensus earnings per share for 2025, with a yield of 2.8% [17][18]