Dividend aristocrats—S&P 500 companies raising payouts 25+ consecutive years—include Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson. Reinvesting dividends historically compounds at 10% annually, per Ned Davis Research. ETFs like NOBL bundle 67 such stocks for instant diversification.
Screens filter payout ratios under 60% for sustainability. DRIP programs auto-buy fractional shares commission-free. Tax-advantaged accounts amplify growth. Quarterly checks fund lifestyle or snowball principal. Risks include sector concentration—consumer staples dominate. Balance with growth stocks. Apps like Seeking Alpha alert dividend dates. Retirees draw 4% safely via aristocrat yields averaging 2.5%. Long-term holders weather recessions as payouts signal financial health. Aristocrats transform patience into passive income streams that outlast market noise.