Many investors have dividend stocks all wrong. They see them solely as a passive income stream. While they produce passive income, that's only a portion of their total return. Many also can deliver healthy stock-price appreciation.

The second factor's biggest driver is growth (earnings and dividend payments). Companies that can consistently grow their dividends and, by necessity, their earnings and free cash flow have delivered higher total returns than companies unable to grow their dividends. Over the last 50 years, dividend growers have generated a 10.7% annualized total return, compared to 7.1% from those without any change in their dividend policy and 4.8% for non-payers, according to data by Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds. 

American Tower (NYSE: AMT) and VICI Properties (NYSE: VICI) are two companies with excellent track records of growing their dividends. With more dividend growth ahead, they're great dividend stocks to buy this March for those seeking high total-return potential.

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Source Fool.com