When you hear of an investment opportunity you’re interested in, you might be drawn to something that can be described in a sexy way like “explosive” or “revolutionary.” #-ad_banner-#What you learn after a while, though, is that the most attractive adjective in investing is “consistency.” Stocks like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) don’t often make headlines, but they churn out steady results year after year. Since the beginning of 2012, JNJ is up 43%; with dividends reinvested, it’s up just over 50%. Call JNJ a boring stock if you want. I’ll take those types of returns all day long. But… Read More
When you hear of an investment opportunity you’re interested in, you might be drawn to something that can be described in a sexy way like “explosive” or “revolutionary.” #-ad_banner-#What you learn after a while, though, is that the most attractive adjective in investing is “consistency.” Stocks like Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) don’t often make headlines, but they churn out steady results year after year. Since the beginning of 2012, JNJ is up 43%; with dividends reinvested, it’s up just over 50%. Call JNJ a boring stock if you want. I’ll take those types of returns all day long. But how about the best of both worlds — a consistent dividend-paying growth stock with plenty of upside? This stock has risen 110% since the beginning of 2012, and the company — which has being paying dividends since 1985 — recently increased its dividend by 15.8%. This month, the company beat fourth-quarter earnings estimates, bringing total 2013 earnings per share (EPS) to $5.93, up 14% from the previous year. The stock I’m talking about is Snap-on Inc. (NYSE: SNA), the eponymous maker of Snap-on tools and accessories for consumers ranging from do-it-yourselfers to oil workers in Alaska’s North Slope. Snap-on has… Read More