These stocks have all been increasing their dividend payments for more than 45 consecutive years.

If you want to invest in a safe, dividend growth stock you can feel comfortable owning for the long haul, it's important to consider more than just ratios telling you whether the payout is safe and if there's room for dividend increases. It's also important to consider factors such as the strength of the company's brand and its long-term growth prospects.

It can be incredibly difficult to project how a business might do 10-plus years down the road. But you can reduce the overall risk of investing in a dividend growth stock by selecting one that has an incredible business model, and which has plenty of runway to grow bigger and become more valuable in the future.

Three dividend growth stocks

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