Investors are starting to feel optimistic again. The S&P 500 index just had its best week of the year after a market swoon in October. When investors -- and consumers -- are feeling good, many stocks can do well. But one that will also pay you back handsomely for your investment is Home Depot (NYSE: HD).

Home Depot shares are still down for the year, compared to a gain of about 13.5% for the S&P 500. And while the benchmark index pays a dividend of about 1.5%, Home Depot shares yield about 2.8%. What might matter even more for investors is that company's history of raising its payout to shareholders.

It's not just the juicy dividend yield compared to the index that should have investors salivating. Home Depot has grown its dividend at a very impressive rate over the last decade. As it has grown sales from both its residential and professional customers, Home Depot has more than quintupled what it has given back to shareholders in the form of dividends over the 10-year period.

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Source Fool.com