In a dividend report released by Factset this past Friday, it is noted the number of dividend paying companies in the S&P 500 Index has reached a 12-year high. The report notes, "The number of dividend-paying companies was 393 at the end of Q4 2011 (January 2012), which marks a 12-year high. Aggregate quarterly dividend payments amounted to $260.8 billion over the trailing twelve months.

I believe that whether the bottom has been hit or not astute dividend investors should seize the opportunity that the current bear market offers. I ran a screen on the S&P Dividend Aristocrats index to identify attractively valued stocks using the following criteria:

By purchasing international stocks one essentially receives income in a different currency, which is a decent hedge against a possible devaluation of the US dollar. Another benefit of shopping for quality dividend stocks abroad is the huge potential for economic growth and development that both established and emerging economies posses.

The bear market has brought many stocks to multi-year lows, pushing their current dividend yields to levels not seen for years. Some dividends got cut in the process, triggering further selloffs in stock prices, which somehow miraculously lead to almost the same current dividend yields.