A little-known secret to making lots of money in the stock market is to invest in dividend-paying stocks. They pack a powerful punch. Over the last 50 years, dividend payers have significantly outperformed non-payers, producing 9.6% average annual total returns compared to the non-payers' 4.8%, according to data from Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds. Meanwhile, dividend growers and initiators have done even better for their investors, with average annual total returns of 10.7%.

While past successes are no guarantee of future results, dividend stocks should continue to make their investors lots of money in the future. Three dividend growth stocks that stand out for their ability to reward shareholders are Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK), NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE: NEP), and Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE: BIPC)(NYSE: BIP). Here's why some Fool.com contributors believe investors won't regret adding them to their portfolios. 

Reuben Gregg Brewer (Stanley Black & Decker): There's no use trying to sugarcoat the troubles that Stanley Black & Decker faces today. The situation is bad. Its full-year adjusted 2022 earnings of $4.62 per share were down dramatically from the $10.48 the company earned the year before. Next year is going to be even worse, with management guidance calling for adjusted earnings of zero to $2.00 per share.

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Source Fool.com