5 Stocks That Could Hike Their Dividends 20%

With valuations stretched and earnings sagging — a forecast 7.9% drop for S&P 500 companies in the first quarter — it’s getting tougher to find reliable dividend growers at bargain prices. But you should take that news with a huge grain of salt, because one sector — energy — carries most of the blame. In Q4, year-over-year DPS growth plunged to 2.4% among S&P 500 energy stocks, from 11.6% in Q3.

My advice? Skip energy and zero in on sectors that are still pumping up dividends at rapid clips, like financials, technology and healthcare. Here are five companies from those sectors (and others) that are gearing up to deliver big dividend hikes. They’re also attractively priced, making now a great time to buy: Apple Inc. (AAPL), FedEx Corporation (FDX), Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD), Marriott International Inc (MAR), MasterCard Inc (MA).

Source: InvestorPlace

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