Yahoo Finance 'Oh my God': This secretary in Illinois built a $7M fortune starting with $180. The one powerful technique that made Grace Groner rich — and can change your life too
Grace Groner worked as a secretary for medical device giant Abbott Laboratories for 43 years. She lived in a tiny one-bedroom cottage, didn’t own a car and bought her clothes at rummage sales.
So when she passed away in 2010 at the age of 100 and left her estate to her alma mater, Lake Forest College in Illinois, the story made headlines. "Oh, my God," the school’s president said after finding out the amount, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Don't miss
Rich young Americans have lost confidence in the stock market — and are betting on these 3 assets instead. Get in now for strong long-term tailwinds
36% of millionaires say it’ll ‘take a miracle’ to retire amid rising costs and a shaky market — here are the best shock-proof assets to grow your nest egg
Want to invest your spare change but don't know where to start? There's an app for that
Groner built her wealth using a very simple strategy. While she was working at Abbott in 1935, she decided to purchase three shares of the company. At the time, they were trading at around $60 each, for a total investment of $180 — a fair amount of money back then, but far from an extravagant investment.
She held on to those shares. When the stock split, she didn’t sell them. When the company paid dividends, she used the cash to buy more shares of Abbott.
Fast forward decades later and that small $180 investment had grown to more than $7 million.
The strategy for people who want to earn passive income from stocks is simple, but powerful: Find stocks that pay strong dividends, let them sit and reinvest the regular payouts.
Of course, not all dividend stocks are the same. Here’s a look at three companies with long track records of paying reliable — and increasing — dividends.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola (KO) is a classic example of a recession-resistant business. Whether the economy is booming or struggling, a can of Coke is affordable for most people.
The company’s entrenched market position, massive scale, and portfolio of iconic brands — including names like Sprite, Fresca, Dasani and Smartwater — give it plenty of pricing power.
Add solid geographic diversification — its products are sold in more than 200 countries and territories around the globe — and it’s clear that Coca-Cola can thrive through thick and thin. After all, the company went public more than 100 years ago.
More impressively, Coca-Cola has increased its dividend for 60 consecutive years. The stock currently yields 2.89%.
Johnson & Johnson
With deeply entrenched positions in consumer health, pharmaceuticals and medical devices markets, healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has delivered consistent returns to investors throughout economic cycles.
Many of the company’s consumer health brands — such as Tylenol, Band-Aid, and Listerine — are household names. In total, JNJ has 29 products each capable of generating over $1 billion in annual sales.
Read more: This janitor in Vermont built an $8M fortune without anyone around him knowing. Here are the 2 simple techniques that made Ronald Read rich — and can do the same for you
Not only does Johnson & Johnson post recurring annual profits, but it also grows them consistently: Over the past 20 years, Johnson & Johnson’s adjusted earnings have increased at an average annual rate of 8%.
The stock has been trending up for decades, all while returning an increasing amount of cash to shareholders. JNJ announced its 60th consecutive annual dividend increase last April and now yields 2.88%.
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble (PG) has an even longer dividend growth track record than Coca-Cola and Johnson & Johnson: the company has raised its payout to shareholders for 66 consecutive years.
That streak is a testament to its entrenched position in the consumer staples market. P&G has a portfolio of trusted brands like Bounty paper towels, Crest toothpaste, Gillette razor blades and Tide detergent.
These are products that households buy on a regular basis, regardless of what the economy is doing. As a result, the company can deliver reliable dividends even in tough times.
The latest dividend hike was announced in April 2022, when the board of directors approved a 5% increase to the quarterly payout to 91.33 cents per share. The stock currently yields 2.41%.
What to read next
Here are 7 amazing 1-week vacations you can do for around $1,000
Commercial real estate has outperformed the S&P 500 over 25 years. Here's how to diversify your portfolio without the headache of being a landlord
Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate — without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
