AT&T Not only does the dividend look safe, but I wonder if the company will get back to raising its payout this year given how well the business has been doing lately. AT&T stock is up 8% this year but it could go much higher once interest rates come down. But even if that doesn't happen until next year, this is an excellent buy-and-hold stock to simply hang on to for the long haul. Not all investors, however, are thrilled with the Canadian-based company's $14 billion acquisition at a time when interest rat ...