Two things that investors really prize are stability/predictability and happy surprises.
Sure, there’s an inherent contradiction in those two outcomes, but if things are stable and predictable — growth in line with reasonable goals, interest rates that don’t jump around wildly, and business conditions that move along in ways that seem to make sense — and if there’s an occasional dollop of better-than-expected outcomes, most investors are as pleased as they can be.
Dividend investors are like all other investors, only more so. Many dividend investors will gladly pay a price premium for dividend stability and predictability, and nothing makes them happier than regular dividend increases. Special, one-time dividends are icing on the cake. And like the rest of humanity, dividend investors readily become accustomed to good things.
