Some companies don't just pay dividends — they raise them. Every single year. For decades.

Those companies have a name: Dividend Aristocrats.

If you're building an income portfolio or looking for businesses with a proven track record of rewarding shareholders, understanding what a Dividend Aristocrat is — and what it actually signals about a business — is essential.

If you're looking for stocks that pay you to hold them, dividend yield is one of the first numbers you need to understand.

It sounds technical. It isn't. And once you know how it works — and what it actually tells you — you'll be a much sharper investor.

Let's break it down.

When it comes to evaluating stocks, most investors are familiar with traditional metrics like the P/E ratio or even the PEG ratio. But if you’re looking for a more complete picture—especially for dividend-paying growth stocks—the PEGY ratiomight be exactly what you need.