15 Consumer Stocks That Deliver Dividend Growth Like Clockwork

Slow-moving consumer stocks aren't the sexiest investments, but those that can be relied on for regular dividend growth through both good times and bad can be a long-term investor's best friend.

After all, bull markets and economic expansions don't last forever.

"Quality dividend payers can also offer defensive, resilient businesses and current income generation to buffer against potential future (stock market) drawdowns," writes Tony DeSpirito, director of U.S. equity investments at BlackRock.

Whether they make liquor, sell toothpaste or sling hamburgers, some of the nation's best-known consumer companies have proven to be dividend champions. Indeed, more than a dozen of them are members of the illustrious Dividend Aristocrats - companies in the Standard & Poor's 500-stock index that have hiked their payouts every year for at least 25 consecutive years.

And let's not forget: Steady dividend hikes have benefits beyond letting income investors sleep better at night. Not only do annual raises make a dividend stock more alluring to new investors, they also reward existing investors with increasingly higher yields on shares purchased at lower prices in the past.

These 15 quality consumer stocks can be counted on to deliver dividend growth year after year, and they are backed by resilient businesses to boot.