Dividend Stocks for the Week

BALTIMORE (TheStreet) -- Don't dismiss dividends right now.

While stocks may have made significant strides in the rally that's taken hold of the market since March, there's still a lot to be said for companies that are consistently paying out cash to shareholders. And the companies that actually increase their dividends during a tough economy send an even stronger signal to investors.

With cash hard to part with when business is slow, management's decision to let shareholders have a bigger cut tells Wall Street that a company is in good enough financial shape to weather the storm.

Income investors aren't the only people who should focus on companies that hike their dividends. Historically, companies that pay dividends materially outperform those that don't, and when the market turns bearish, dividends could be the only semblance of return that investors see for a while.

That's why every week Stockpickr reviews recent dividend declarations and compiles a portfolio of dividend-increasers. These stocks represent some of the most enticing investments on the market right now.