Dividend stocks are great because they offer you payments no matter how they perform -- and no matter how the market performs. So, even when market times are tough, you can count on these stocks to keep your portfolio afloat. And in better times, it's always nice to collect the extra income, or even reinvest the payment to increase your holding of a particular stock.

But how can you be sure a company will stick with dividend payments? Of course, there's no way to be 100% certain, but some elements should make us pretty confident.

One is the company's financial situation. High levels of free cash flow, paired with a reasonable cash dividend payout ratio, suggest the company can afford to make these payouts and even lift its dividend. Second is the dividend track record. If the company raises its dividend nonstop for a number of years, rewarding shareholders is clearly a priority. These sorts of players could pay you a lifetime of passive income -- and here are two to buy now and hold forever.

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Source Fool.com