Ask a Fool: What Are Dividend Aristocrats, and Should I Invest in Them?

A Dividend Aristocrat is a stock that is a member of the S&P 500 index and has increased its dividend every year for a minimum of 25 consecutive years.

For example, of the 51 current Dividend Aristocrats, McDonald's has increased its dividend for 40 consecutive years, and healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson has increased its payout for 54 years in a row.

Now, just because a stock's dividend has increased consistently for decades doesn't guarantee that it will continue to do so. However, a strong record of dividend increases indicates that a company has grown its profits nicely over time, which is indicative of a durable competitive advantage. In other words, these are strong, income-generating companies that have stood the test of time.

Source: Fool.com