How difficult is it to find a safe high dividend stock in 2009?

The Wall St. Journal recently reported that, in 2009, S&P 500 companies' dividend reductions and suspensions are nearly equal to dividend increases, (60 increases vs. 51 reductions/suspensions).

Compare this to 2007, when there were 129 dividend increases vs. only 2 dividend cuts/suspensions, and you can see why income investors in 2009 face big challenges finding safe dividends, let alone high yield dividends.

Indeed, 8 of the Dow 30 blue chip stocks have cut their dividends in the past year, and even the revered S&P "Dividend Aristocrats" group has seen an unprecedented rise in dividend cuts, and an historic lack of increases. The 2009 Dividend Aristocrats group has had 5 cuts and 32 unchanged dividend payouts, vs. no decreases from 2003-2008. In 2006-2007, all 52 stocks in this group increased their dividends, and in 2008 their were 41 dividend increases and 11 unchanged.

So, where can you go to find a dependable dividend yield? Many value investors start their search with the Dividend Aristocrats, which features companies with 25 consecutive years of increased dividend payouts.

Intuitively, it's logical to assume that companies that can increase their dividends for 25 years or more must have strong business models, with steady cash flow, in order for them to keep paying shareholders in this fashion.

However, as noted above, circumstances can change dramatically, so, investors hunting for safe high yields should look closely at the most recent performance of stocks in this group.