Dividends and Growth

The Outlook

Dividends can be a primary wealth-buildingfactor in stock investing and areal force in price appreciation. In additionto providing a steady source ofinvestable funds, dividends support astock's price; they're a barometer of acompany's profitability. According toStandard & Poor's (800-852-1641), the following companies areexpected to continue to boost their dividendsin the coming year: Allstate, Bankof America, Johnson & Johnson, Procter& Gamble, Nestle, MBNA, Anheuser-Busch, Colgate-Palmolive, Citicorp, andAbbott Labs. When investing, check astock's dividend history and don't try tomake a quick killing. If you're investingfor value and future growth, the dividendcan be your best friend. Above all, don'tforget to reinvest.