Didn't Get a Raise This Year? Here Are 3 Stocks That Will Pay Their Investors More in 2018

This past year has been a good one for income investors. Overall, 310 companies in the S&5 500 have increased their dividends while only 10 have cut them. However, that does leave nearly 200 companies in that index alone that either don't pay investors anything or didn't give them an income boost this year. This distinction is worth noting, since companies that increased their dividends have delivered a 10.1% average annual return since 1972 compared to just a 7.6% average annual return for those they kept things status quo, according to a study by Ned Davis Research. Meanwhile, those that don't pay their investors anything only averaged a 2.6% average annual return.

For those investors who owned stingy stocks this year, it might be time to consider an upgrade. Three that should be high on that list are pipeline giants Enbridge (NYSE: ENB), TransCanada (NYSE: TRP) and Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) since each has already promised to increase their dividends again in 2018.

These pipeline stocks have a history of handing cash to their investors. Image source: Getty Images.

Source: Fool.com