When it comes to dividend investing, it's easy to get enamored with a stock offering a high yield. But for many investors, the ability for a company to consistently pay and raise its dividend while supporting that payment with ample earnings and free cash flow will do far more to positively impact a portfolio's value over the long term.

Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX), and Emerson Electric (NYSE: EMR) are three dividend-paying companies that have a track record as safe stocks. Part of that safety comes from each company being a Dividend Aristocrat -- which is an S&P 500 component that has paid and raised its dividend annually for at least 25 consecutive years. Three Motley Fool contributors explain why these companies are excellent buys for investors looking for a reliable source of passive income. 

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