3 Great Dividend Stocks for Long-Term Investors

Whether you just opened your first brokerage account or have been investing for years, you must own at least one dividend-paying stock, because they far outperform non-dividend-paying stocks over the long term. With this in mind, let’s take a look at three stocks with yields of 3-4% that you could buy today.

1. Great-West Lifeco Inc.

Great-West Lifeco Inc. (TSX: GWO) is one of the world’s leading providers of financial products and services, including life and health insurance. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.346 per share, or $1.384 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 4% at today’s levels.

Investors should also note that Great-West Lifeco raised its annual dividend payment by 6% in 2015, and its 6.1% hike in February has it on pace for 2016 to mark the second consecutive year with an increase.

2. Finning International Inc.

Finning International Inc. (TSX: FTT) is the world’s largest dealer of Caterpillar equipment with operations North America, South America, and Europe. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.1825 per share, or $0.73 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 3.8% at today’s levels.

Investors must also note that Finning has raised its annual dividend payment for 14 consecutive years, and its 2.8% hike in May 2015 has it on pace for 2016 to mark the 15th consecutive year with an increase.

3. Transcontinental Inc.

Transcontinental Inc. (TSX: TCL.A) is Canada’s largest printer with operations in print, flexible packaging, publishing, and digital media, and it is one of the leading providers of proximity media solutions. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share, or $0.68 per share annually, which gives its stock a yield of about 3.4% at today’s levels.

It is also very important for investors to note that Transcontinental has raised its annual dividend payment for 14 consecutive years, and its 6.3% hike in March 2015 has it on pace for 2016 to mark the 15th consecutive year with an increase.

Is now the time for you to buy a dividend stock?

Great-West Lifeco, Finning International, and Transcontinental are three of the best dividend-paying investment options in their respective industries. Take a closer look and strongly consider initiating positions in one or more of them today.