Four Key Attributes of a Good Dividend Stock

First, I want to give full respect and honor to all those who died along with their families, loved ones and those who were injured on September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the New York Twin Towers and at the Pentagon. God Bless all of you and the United States of America.

I don't have a buy or sell stock pick this week because I don't see any low-risk high-reward trades or investments this week, unless you want to buy long-term into some dividend paying stocks. So below I have the

. It will help you in determining which may be a good dividend stock to buy and hold.

The appeal of dividends has grown a lot in recent years, but by itself, a fat dividend yield isn't enough. To work for you in the long run, these cash payments need to come from fundamentally attractive businesses. That's why at

I focus on helping you separate the wheat from the chaff.

Once you find those reliable dividend-payers, hold on tight, because the dividends you earn are real cash in your pocket. You can reinvest them to supercharge your portfolio and watch them rise no matter which way the market goes.

Of course, we're not talking about crazy, speculative investments. I look for solid companies with strong competitive advantages. What kind of companies do I look for? Here are four key attributes I look for before putting my hard-earned capital to work:

Some businesses, like homebuilders or auto manufacturers, need a booming economy just to be profitable. Others are in better shape, but still ride the economy's roller coaster--as do their shareholders. My favorite businesses, however, are the ones selling products and services their customers need through all kinds of economic conditions, from packaged foods to petroleum pipelines. I may not have as much to "win" in the boom times, but I continue collecting big dividend checks through the inevitable busts.

One hallmark of a good business is an ability to fend off rivals and keep profits high. Some have strong brands that command premium prices. Others have patents. Still others benefit from inherently low costs relative to their rivals. Whatever the reasons, these advantages support the profits that in turn fund my dividends, so I require evidence of competitive strength for any stock I would consider.

It's a shame so few large companies pay the dividends they're capable of paying. Many and perhaps even most good businesses divert their cash flow into questionable share buybacks or downright dubious acquisitions. I want my companies to grow, of course, and I like to see some reinvestment in the business. But a dividend policy that shares a large proportion of annual earnings with shareholders is a must.

The number-one mistake an investor can make is to pay too much for a stock in relation to the intrinsic value of the underlying business. This can apply to any individual issue, or to the entire market--which goes a long way toward explaining why the past decade has been so disappointing overall. Fortunately, big dividends tend to keep investors rational. I'm not looking at any stocks that can't deliver a yield of at least 2%, and preferably 3%, 5%, or better. And I won't pay more than the business is worth, no matter what the yield may be.