In volatile markets, investors often seek the relative safety of dividend stocks. While stock prices can go up and down, there’s something to be said for owning a stock that pays you to own it. It’s even better when the company has a history of consistently raising its dividend. Over time, the compounding effect of rising dividends combined with rising stock prices increases an investor’s total return. Investors who take a buy-and-hold approach to their stocks may not pay much attention to a stock’s short-t ...