Jim Cramer’s 5 Favorite Dividend Aristocrats

3. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53

Dividend Yield as of December 16: 2.24%

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is another dividend aristocrat that Jim Cramer favors. He observed that there were two recent overhangs on the shares, cost inflation and the strength of the U.S. dollar. However, these overhangs are behind McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) now. Calling it the perfect “bounce-back candidate”, he explained on the August 30 segment of Mad Money:

“I think McDonald’s can resume its long march higher real soon.” 

On October 14, McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) declared a $1.52 per share quarterly dividend, a 10.1% increase from its prior dividend of $1.38. The dividend was paid to shareholders on December 15. McDonald’s has increased its dividend for 46 consecutive years, and it’s well on its way to becoming a dividend king. 

According to Insider Monkey’s Q3 data, 53 hedge funds were long McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), compared to 50 funds in the last quarter. Ray Dalio’s Bridgewater Associates held the leading position in the company, comprising over 2 million shares worth $487.7 million.