In doing research on Ecolab’s dividend growth history for the company summary, I came across this statement on page 6 of its 2013 annual report: “We increased our quarterly cash dividend rate for the 22nd consecutive year, raising it 20 percent in December to an indicated annual payout of $1.10 per common share. This represents Ecolab’s 22nd consecutive annual dividend rate increase.” So why does S&P include them in the list of Dividend Aristocrats, which require 25 years of dividend Read more [...]