Stocks That Have Paid Dividends For Over 100 Years

As dividend investors we are always on the lookout for reliable sources of future income. Of course, the future is never guaranteed (as I recently wrote about dividend stocks in the death care industry) but we can use the past as a guide for potential results. We’ve all heard about the “mile high club,” now I’d like to introduce to you the “century club,” a select group of companies that have continuously paid dividends every single year for over one hundred years. Some of the companies have even managed to raise their dividends for decades within that century span. Think about what that means. These companies have been able to pay out a part of their earnings to shareholders during the depression, two World Wars, natural disasters, terrorist events and other economic downturns. The next time the headlines scream doom, pause, take a breath and never “panic sell.” Often, those who do sell regret their decisions years later. Many companies on the list are very well known while others are not. See how many are in your portfolio:

Coca-Cola Company (KO)
Dividends Paid Since: 1893
Dividend Yield: 3.00%
PE: 22.24

Colgate-Palmolive Co. (CL)

Dividend Paid Since: 1895
Dividend Yield: 2.10%
PE: 29.50

The Procter & Gamble Company (PG)

Dividend Paid Since: 1891
Dividend Yield: 3.20%
PE: 21.31

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI)

Dividend Paid Since: 1887
Dividend Yield: 1.80%
PE: 24.96

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED)

Dividend Paid Since: 1885
Dividend Yield: 4.60%
PE: 13.55

PPG Industries Inc. (PPG)

Dividend Paid Since: 1899
Dividend Yield: 1.30%
PE: 14.06

WGL Holdings Inc. (WGL)

Dividend Paid Since: 1852
Dividend Yield: 4.30%
PE: 121.37

Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM)

Dividend Paid Since: 1882
Dividend Yield: 2.70%
PE: 14.15

Chevron Corporation (CVX)

Dividend Paid Since: 1912
Dividend Yield: 3.40%
PE: 12.86

General Mills, Inc. (GIS)

Dividend Paid Since: 1898
Dividend Yield: 3.00%
PE: 20.03

Norfolk Southern Corporation (NSC)

Dividend Paid Since: 1901
Dividend Yield: 2.10%
PE: 17.97

The York Water Company (YORW)

Dividend Paid Since: 1816
Dividend Yield: 2.80%
PE: 27.96

An interesting point about this prestigious list is the number of names in similar sectors. We basically have stocks in the consumer, industrial, energy and utility sector. I think that says something about the resilience of these sectors in any economic environment.