When the S 500 is up big on the year, it's easy to miss the value of reliable dividend stocks. After all, what good is a 3% yield if the market is up nearly 20%?

But the value of quality dividend stocks isn't how they perform during a strong market -- it's that they deliver regular quarterly payments no matter what the market is doing. The best dividend-paying companies take it a step further by raising their dividends every year, even during recessions. That way, investors can count on a growing income stream when they need it most.

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), (NYSE: CLX), and Target (NYSE: TGT) have raised their dividends every year for decades. Here's why each stock is worth buying before the end of the year.

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Source Fool.com