The dividend landscape was turned upside down during the financial crisis. During the fourth quarter of 2008 alone, 288 companies cut payouts. Not to be outdone, according to Standard & Poor's, 804 more dividend payments were cut by public companies in 2009 -- costing investors an additional $58 billion. Fortunately, those dark days are behind us, and companies have generally been raising their payouts

According to recent S&P data, fully 444 companies raised their dividend in the second quarter, up from 335 in the second quarter of 2010. Still, dividend cuts remain a clear and present danger as 21 companies cut their payouts in the second quarter. Here are five companies that currently score an "A-" or better according to the Dividend Report Card: Lowe's (LOW), ExxonMobil (XOM), Microsoft (MSFT), United Technologies (UTX) and Walgreen (WAG).

Source: Motley Fool

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