Investing preferences vary greatly. Some people prefer value investing; some prefer flashy high-growth stocks; some prefer stocks that provide income; and some people like stocks that offer a combination of the three. They all have positives and drawbacks; it's just about an individual investor's preference.

One of the reasons people like stocks that pay dividends is that this type of stock offers investors a form of safety net because it pays out regular income regardless of stock price movement. That could make a lot of difference during times of high volatility or market downturns.

Let's take a closer look at three companies that all pay solid dividends and should provide reliable income for quite some time. If you have $1,000 available to invest that isn't needed for an emergency fund, to pay off monthly bills, or to pay down short-term debt, you might want to consider buying one of these stocks.

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Source Fool.com