As the Federal Reserve uses anything and everything in its arsenal to keep record low interest rates as low as possible, investors are hard pressed to find any meaningful rate of return to stay ahead of inflation. High-quality dividend paying companies have historically been the best option; especially now as two year treasury bonds yield right near nothing while an average S&P 500 stock yields approximately 2.0%. Below are a few well-run dividend paying companies that investors may want to put on their radar to protect their investment capital and possibly keep them ahead of inflation. Again, these are just investment ideas and should only be looked as a start in your extensive investment research.

Consumer products giant Kimberly Clark Corp (NYSE:KMB) is an established company that has been in existence since 1872 and generates over $20 billion in sales annually. With many well-known brands, such as Huggies diapers and Kleenex soft tissues, the company benefits from great brand awareness and the ability to build off those brands to generate new sources of revenue. With the company beating consensus analyst estimates the past three quarters and conservatively predicted to grow revenues 9% per annum over the next five years, expect the stock to continue to be a solid performer. Add in its juicy and consistently growing 3.4% dividend yield and that makes the wait all the better as the great value in the company eventually gets recognized by Wall Street. If one is looking to diversify this position with another fantastic and well-known company, look no further than The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG). This Dow Industrials component has been around amazingly since 1837 and since that time has grown into a company generating well over $80 billion in sales annually. With a plethora of household names such as Head & Shoulders shampoo, Tide detergent, Crest toothpaste, and Gillette razor blades, PG benefits from many of the same attributes as Kimberly-Clark described above. Moreover, with an equally great and consistently growing 3.3% dividend yield, Procter makes for a great core holding as I myself have it in my portfolio.

Diversified energy giant Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) has been around since 1879 and has grown into an absolute giant with over $220 billion in annual revenues and a market capitalization matching that amount. With operations world-wide and the necessary capital needed to explore and find new energy deposits Chevron looks poised to continue delivering great returns to long-term shareholders. Add in its consistently growing 3.1% dividend yield, which at only a 28% payout ratio, investors can confidently expect that to continue being increased in the upcoming future. If one is looking to diversify this position, then look no further than fellow behemoth Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM). This fellow Dow component was established in 1882 and since then has grown to over $420 billion in annual sales and like Chevron, a market capitalization matching that massive amount. Management has been superb delivering over 28% returns on equity the past twelve months and with a consistently growing 2.5% dividend yield (which like Chevron has an equally low 22% payout ratio), expect the growing dividends to continue.