5 Real American Dividend Heroes

These great American companies also are solid payout performers

Jul 31, 2012, 5:45 am EDT | By James Brumley, InvestorPlace Contributor

H.J. Heinz

Another food company? Why not? Consumers might grumble about the rising costs of food, but none of them ever actually stop eating. Besides, H.J. Heinz (NYSE:HNZ) has been put on several media pedestals of late, for reasons above and beyond the sweet cash payout.

For instance, Fitch recently upped Heinz’ credit rating to BBB+, Jim Cramer recommended it, and billionaire Nelson Peltz is holding a huge chunk of it in his portfolio specifically because of the dividend. That’s a lot of tacit endorsement.

Even more compelling is the actual yield. HNZ is paying out 3.7% of its value. The current quarterly payout of 48 cents leaves behind more than a 20-year trail of rising payouts.