There's no perfect time to invest, because people tend to let emotions push them in the wrong direction at the worst moment. So I have long ignored the market and focused instead on buying companies I think are well-run and when they have historically generous dividend yields. Then I sit back and collect my checks while making sure management stays the course.

That approach got me into Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), W.P. Carey (NYSE: WPC), and Southern Company (NYSE: SO) when they were much cheaper than they are today. Now, I'm planning to hang on through thick and thin.

When I bought Procter & Gamble it was in the middle of a massive corporate overhaul following a long period of weak growth. The yield was historically high despite the fact that the company was a Dividend King, which is what grabbed my attention. I bought it thinking that management would, eventually, figure out how to right this ship at this iconic consumer staples giant. I was correct.

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Source Fool.com