Between them, Procter Gamble (NYSE: PG) and (NYSE: WMT) have nearly 120 years of consistent annual dividend increases under their belts. Those streaks (50 for Walmart and 67 for P) underscore the unique competitive advantages that these industry leaders enjoy. Walmart is the dominant force in the retailing world, while P is the market-share leader in consumer brand categories ranging from paper towels to diapers.

Those assets mean that both companies are likely to extend their dividend growth streaks in the coming years. But which one is a better fit for your income portfolio? Let's contrast two of the most popular dividend stocks on the market.

Strong sales growth is the foundation of a healthy dividend investment. While both companies are beating peers in this regard, Walmart stands out as having higher-quality demand trends. The retailer posted a 4% sales uptick in the most recent quarter that was mainly driven by rising customer traffic. Shoppers are responding well to its price-leadership selling approach as they look to cut costs. Rival Target, in contrast, has been posting declining customer traffic for more than a year.

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Source Fool.com