Update: Dividend Stock Picks for the Week of 12/24/12 to 12/28/12

Welcome back to Dividend Stock Investing for the Common Man! Thank you stopping by and supporting the idea of investing in dividend paying stocks for the long term. I hope everyone had a great week!

I wanted to recap last week's picks for you since it is important to review all investments on a weekly, if not daily, basis. It was a 0 for 20 week. None of my picks increased in value. It was a pathetic week to invest in dividend paying stocks for both the NYSE and NASDAQ if you expected stock prices to rise during this holiday season. The market was not very kind to those who invested earlier in the week. The only positive to take from this week's dividend stock selections is that each company's dividend yield increased. If you want some dividend aristocrats on sale, now is the time to pick them up for the long haul. Regardless of this week's performance I am still a long term bull. See below for more details...

DSIFTCM is NOT affiliated with any of these companies. I am not a professional stock picker and am only providing my personal opinions of some of the greatest dividend paying companies!

It is not how many times you win short term, but rather which investments can provide you with a steady income stream over the long term. When investing in dividend paying stocks you are protecting yourself from stock market volatility. If the market goes down one quarter, the dividend payment will help recoup the losses. Let these companies work hard so they can maintain their dividend and increase it year over year. As a shareholder, it is like receiving a raise each year. Reinvest your dividends to maximize your profits!

Keep investing as much as you can on a daily or weekly basis. Perform your due diligence and invest in companies that you feel comfortable with. Do not risk your hard earned dollars by investing in unknown, unreliable companies.

Always remember, YOU are in charge of your financial life. Do not let anyone tell you how to spend your money. We all have the knowledge and smarts inside of us. Make smart investments! Until next time friends, Like Us on Facebook, Follow Us on Twitter and feel free to comment below. What are some of your favorite dividend paying stocks?

Company Name/Stock Ticker

Dividend Yield/Share Price as of 12/23/12
Current Dividend Yield/Share Price as of 12/28/12

The Coca-Cola Company(NYSE:KO)
2.75% $36.89
2.84% $35.07

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.(NYSE:WMT)
2.32% $68.65
2.35% $67.61

Johnson & Johnson(NYSE:JNJ)
3.47% $70.27
3.51% $69.48

Darden Restaurants, Inc.(NYSE:DRI)
4.43% $45.13
4.50% $44.44

McDonald's Corporation(NYSE:MCD)
3.42% $90.18
3.52% $87.59

The Procter & Gamble Company(NYSE:PG)
3.27% $68.72
3.35% $67.15

Waste Management, Inc.(NYSE:WM)
4.19% $33.85
4.24% $33.46

Duke Energy Corp(NYSE:DUK)
4.74% $64.51
4.86% $63.01

Emerson Electric Co.(NYSE:EMR)
3.09% $53.01
3.15% $52.14

Dunkin Brands Group Inc(NASDAQ:DNKN)
1.83% $32.83
1.85% $32.35

Tiffany & Co.(NYSE:TIF)
2.19% $58.40
2.27% $56.44

Coach, Inc.(NYSE:COH)
2.08% $57.57
2.21% $54.30

Plum Creek Timber Co. Inc.(NYSE:PCL)
3.80% $44.25
3.83% $43.86

Verizon Communications Inc.(NYSE:VZ)
4.73% $43.57
4.80% $42.90

The Gap Inc.(NYSE:GPS)
1.59% $31.37
1.64% $30.43

Unilever plc (ADR)(NYSE:UL)
3.16% $38.85
3.20% $38.30

Banco Santander, S.A. (ADR)(NYSE:SAN)
10.31% $8.02
10.44% $7.92

American Capital Agency Corp.(NASDAQ:AGNC)
16.05% $31.15
17.24% $29.00

Realty Income Corp(NYSE:O)
4.47% $40.71
4.54% $40.14

The Walt Disney Company(NYSE:DIS)

1.50% $50.00
1.53% $49.15