Though there are countless investing strategies on Wall Street that can make investors meaningfully richer over time, few have been as successful as buying dividend stocks.

Companies that pay a regular dividend to their shareholders are virtual locks to be profitable on a recurring basis. They're usually time-tested, as well, which makes income stocks the perfect place for investors to put their money to work during periods of volatility.

But what makes dividend stocks so special is their continued outperformance over long periods. In 2013, a report from the wealth management division of JPMorgan Chase found that companies initiating and growing their payouts have delivered an annualized return of 9.5% over 40 years (1972-2012). Meanwhile, non-paying public companies trudged their way to a meager 1.6% annualized return over the same four-decade span.

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Source Fool.com