If you're buying a dividend stock, you need to carefully consider not just the payout ratio but also the company's long-term prospects. Intel suspended its dividend recently, an example of a situation that shouldn't have been all too surprising for a company that was struggling with profitability and growing its foundry business. In a situation like that, it's difficult to expect the company to invest in a costly growth strategy and pay a dividend.

There are many other safe dividend stocks to buy that can be much more suitable for your portfolio and aren't nearly as risky. Three stocks you can count on for long-term dividend income are Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), and AT (NYSE: T).

One of the safest dividend stocks you can own is undoubtedly from healthcare company Abbott Laboratories. Last year, the Dividend King announced it was raising its dividend for a 52nd straight year. And the company has now been paying dividends for 100 years.

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Source Fool.com