🎯 The One Strategy You’re Probably Underusing Right Now

Let’s cut through the noise.

While the market chases AI stocks and meme tickers, smart, patient capital is quietly compounding wealth the old-fashioned way — with dividends that grow like clockwork.

This isn’t your grandpa’s "bond proxy" play. It’s a high-conviction, low-drama strategy that punches above its weight in volatile markets.

đź’¸ Why Dividend Growth Investing Still Slaps in 2025

  • Built-In Pay Raises: You're not just collecting checks — you're collecting checks that keep getting bigger.

  • Quiet Compounders: These stocks don't trend on X, but they silently outperform over 10+ years.

  • Survivor Bias: If a company’s raised dividends for 25, 40, or 60 years straight… it’s probably doing something right.

🚀 How the Pros Use It

Hedge funds and family offices often pair dividend growers with growth tech to smooth out volatility.

You get the upside of innovation — without the heartburn of a 30% drawdown every other quarter.

They also love:

  • Tax efficiency (qualified dividends get better tax treatment than income)

  • Reinvesting for scale (DRIPs work better with stable payouts)

  • Using dividends to fund riskier bets (free cash flow = flexibility)

đź§  Not Your Average Dividend Stocks

Sure, we all know about Coke and JNJ.

But here’s who’s actually making moves:

  • Texas Instruments (TXN): Not just chips — this is a cash-printing machine with a 3% yield and double-digit dividend hikes.

  • Broadcom (AVGO): 7-year CAGR on the dividend is north of 20%. AI + income = rare combo.

  • Lowe’s (LOW): Home improvement doesn’t go viral, but it builds wealth. 60+ years of raises.

  • Microsoft (MSFT): Yes, it's a growth stock… and a dividend aristocrat-in-the-making.

🔍 Rules for Picking Dividend Growth Winners

Don’t chase yield. Focus on quality and growth consistency:

Metric

Sweet Spot

Dividend Yield

1.5% – 4% (too high = red flag)

Payout Ratio

Under 60%

5-Year Div. Growth

7–12% annually

Free Cash Flow Margin

>15% for most industries

  • Build a core of 10–15 dividend growers across sectors.

  • Pair with 2–3 growth names (think: AI, fintech) for upside.

  • Use volatility to buy more, not bail out.

  • Reinvest those dividends until your portfolio starts writing you checks you don’t need to reinvest.

Dividend growth isn’t boring — it’s underrated.

It’s the portfolio backbone that keeps working while you sleep, travel, or wait out the next macro freakout.

Best,
StocksTrades.AI Newsletter

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Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research or consult a licensed advisor before making investment decisions.