Profit pillars: 5 Dividend aristocrats for reliable income

Key PointsTop dividend aristocrats, including 3M, IBM, Realty Income, Target, and Southern Company, offer consistent shareholder payouts.These companies have a history of increasing dividends for 25 years or more, making them reliable choices for income-oriented investors.Dividends have historically contributed nearly a third of total equity return.5 stocks we like better than Dollar General3M NYSE: MMM, International Business Machines NYSE: IBM, Realty Income Inc. NYSE: O, Target Corp. NYSE: TGT and the So ...