What to look for — in order of importance:

1. Payout ratio in blue or green — confirms the dividend is safe and has room to grow. A high yield with a red payout ratio is a warning, not an opportunity.
2. Chowder number ≥ 12 (or ≥ 8 for utilities/REITs) — combines yield and dividend growth into one score. This filters out high-yield traps automatically.
3. CAGR 5Y arrow trending up (↑) — the 3-year rate exceeds the 5-year rate, meaning dividend growth is accelerating, not slowing.
4. Moderate yield (2–4%) — a very high yield often signals a falling stock price or an unsustainable dividend, not generosity. The best compounders tend to yield 2–3% and raise it aggressively every year.
5. Price position — buying near the 52-week low is still a useful secondary check, but only after the above criteria are met. A cheap bad stock is still a bad stock.

Target stocks: moderate yield + blue/green payout + Chowder ≥ 12 + rising CAGR arrow. These are the compounders that build wealth quietly over time.