Dividend-growth stocks have historically proven to be market-beating investments, particularly when companies sustain distribution increases over extended periods. According to academic studies, companies that consistently boost their payouts while maintaining reasonable valuations and payout ratios below 75% tend to outperform the S&P 500, especially when their five-year dividend growth rates exceed 6%.Walmart (WMT -0.68%) stands out in this category, with its 51-year streak of dividend increases and conse ...