The data on dividends is undeniable. Companies that pay dividends have outperformed non-payers by more than two-to-one over the last 50 years (9.2% average annual total return versus 4.3%), according to data from Ned Davis Research and Hartford Funds. Meanwhile, the highest returns have come from dividend growers (10.2%). Some companies do a better job of growing their dividends than others. ConocoPhillips (COP -0.13%), Diamondback Energy (FANG 1.42%), and EOG Resources (EOG 0.63%) have delivered high-octan ...