The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) provides consumer packaged goods in the United States and internationally. This
dividend aristocrat has paid uninterrupted dividends on its common stock since 1891 and increased payments to common shareholders every for 55 consecutive years. There are
only eleven companies in the world which have managed to boost distributions over half a century. One of the largest shareholders is no other but Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B).
The company's last dividend increase was in April 2011 when the Board of Directors approved
an 8.90% increase to 52.50 cents/share. Procter & Gamble's largest competitors include
Kimberly-Clark (KMB), Colgate-Palmolive (CL) and
Clorox (CLX).
Over the past decade this
dividend growth stock has delivered an annualized total return of 7.60% to its shareholders.
The company has managed to deliver an 11% annual increase in EPS since 2002. Analysts expect Procter & Gamble to earn $4.23 per share in 2012 and $4.57 per share in 2013. In comparison Procter & Gamble earned $3.93 /share in 2011.
Procter & Gamble is a globally diversified consumer products company. It offers a broad scope of products for every consumer at different price points, and has a sizeable distribution network, which enables it to have a global geographic reach. The company invests in innovation, has a broad portfolio of products and strengths in emerging markets. Procter & Gamble also owns strong brand names, which allow it to maintain pricing power, in order to be able to pass price increases to consumers.