Expect Higher Dividends Before 2017 Ends From These 3 Stocks

Many of the best dividend stocks in the market have impressive track records of growing their payouts over time. A select few have even gotten to the point at which investors can predict exactly when a company is most likely to announce their dividend increase for the year. For Aflac (NYSE: AFL), VF Corp. (NYSE: VFC), and Nike (NYSE: NKE), announcements are expected within the next month or so that should extend their streaks of dividend growth for another year.

Aflac has turned the business of specialty insurance into a highly profitable venture, creating profits on two continents and allowing shareholders to reap the rewards. The insurance company offers a wide variety of different insurance coverage to U.S. workers, mostly as supplemental policies through group health plans that give people the ability to go beyond traditional healthcare coverage to get additional insurance both for specific medical conditions as well as for types of expenses that regular health insurance typically won't cover. Aflac has an even bigger business in Japan, where it gets the majority of its premium revenue and profit.

Aflac has treated shareholders well over the years, with 34 straight years of rising payouts. With a 2.1% dividend yield, investors are hopeful that Aflac can do even better, and last year's 5% boost to its quarter payout came near the end of October. Favorable demographic trends and high demand for its innovative products should give Aflac the confidence it needs to follow through on a dividend increase.

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Source: Fool.com