Since at least that long ago, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK), American States Water (NYSE: AWR), and Walmart (NYSE: WMT) have paid and raised their dividends every single year. The need to restructure became apparent after the lockdowns eased, and the global economy was left trying to rebuild supply chains as cost inflation soared. These steady businesses provide management with good insight into future cash flows, helping the company to plan accordingly for capital expenditures, including infrastructure upgrades and dividends.