NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - The recovery continues, but everyone has worries. Some say current growth rates aren't high enough to generate new jobs and sustain consumer spending.

Others worry that growth is already too fast -- and that the Federal Reserve will soon begin raising interest rates to prevent inflation.

In fact, the current growth rate is favorable for stock investors: Slow but continuous gains in employment and output are essential to keep economic expansion going. But the less pressure there is for higher inflation and interest rates, the longer the good times are likely to last.

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What's beneficial in the long run, however, doesn't necessarily guarantee consistent short-term performance.

Many analysts expect that the stock market will suffer a small correction of 10 percent or so sometime within the next few months.

That possibility shouldn't make any difference to your long-term investing choices. But you should evaluate your portfolio to make sure that you are well diversified and that you include stocks that can hold up well during temporary market dips.

The share of large, well-established companies with very long histories of dividend increases typically show that kind of resilience.

Bill Staton, whom I've known for more than 20 years, tracks such stocks in his annual guide to America's Finest Companies (he's got a Web site at www.billstaton.com).

Of the 304 companies listed in Staton's guide, I focused on those that also made my list of 70 stocks (click here for full list).

Here are three that have raised their dividend for more than 25 years in a row, get top marks for financial strength and earn superior ratings from many analysts.

In addition, all three offer above-average total return potential over the next five years and trade at P/Es below 20, based on projected earnings for the next 12 months.

One of the largest and most actively traded stocks, GE (GE: Research, Estimates) is a diversified conglomerate made up of first-rate businesses. Fourth-quarter results were generally strong. Operating earnings rose more than 10 percent at the majority of its divisions and overall orders increased 19 percent.

Full-year 2003 results were up only 3 percent, and the company expects a similarly small gain for 2004.

But analysts say CEO Jeffrey Immelt has done a good job positioning GE for growth since he took over from renowned chairman Jack Welch three years ago.

Over the long term, the stock follows the broad economy, and today's price is a buying opportunity for such a fine collection of assets.

Some forecasters are worried that a rise in interest rates could discourage U.S corporations from making capital investments.

That would hurt most producers of capital equipment, including toolmakers such as Illinois Tool Works (ITW: Research, Estimates), which makes a wide variety of highly engineered industrial components and systems.

Nonetheless, the company's earnings growth has been strong -- 26 percent in the most recent quarter -- and seems likely to remain on track. The company expects earnings for 2004 to be in line with analyst projections of a 13 percent gain for the full year.

Widely recognized as the best-diversified of the health-care giants, J&J (JNJ: Research, Estimates) posted a spectacular 33 percent earnings increase in the fourth quarter.

Some of that came from exceptional gains. Excluding those special factors, earnings were up about 14 percent, in line with J&J's historical core growth rate.

Analysts note that the company faces significant competition in several product lines. But J&J is responding by ratcheting up research and development spending.

In 2003, R&D spending rose 18 percent compared with the previous year. In the long run, a company that invests confidently in itself should continue to offer superior returns.

Michael Sivy is an editor-at-large for MONEY magazine. Sign up for free e-mail delivery every Tuesday and Thursday of Sivy on Stocks.