7 Great Dividend Stocks

We went hunting for dividend stocks that meet two conditions: first, low risk that the dividend could be cut, and second, reasonable expectations for long-term dividend growth. We found eight names worth considering, depending on your goals and risk tolerance.

Apple - Current dividend rate: $2.08, Increases each year since 2012 г., have lifted the annual rate to $2.08.

CVS Health - Current dividend rate: $1.70, Since 2010, the annualized payout has jumped from 35 cents per share.

ExxonMobil - Current dividend rate: $2.92, Exxon is a member of a small club dubbed the Dividend Aristocrats by Standard & Poor's.

Honeywell International - Current dividend rate: $2.38, Honeywell has made the dividend a priority in recent years. It has nearly doubled the payout since 2010. The most recent boost: 15% in December.

Johnson & Johnson - Current dividend rate: $3.00, Like ExxonMobil, J&J is one of S&P's Dividend Aristocrats.

Verizon Communications - Current dividend rate: $2.26, he good news for investors who want an above-average high yield is that Verizon's payout, currently an annual rate of $2.26 per share, appears safe.

Wal-Mart Stores - Current dividend rate: $2.00, Wal-Mart in February said that it expects to earn $4 to $4.30 per share in the January 2017 fiscal year.