Rattled by the threat of trade restrictions and a slowing economy, some investors are turning to a classic defensive play: dividend stocks. The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats—an index of companies that have raised dividends in each of the past 25 years—has returned about 3.5% this year, counting price changes and dividend payments as of Thursday’s market close. As President Trump’s tariff threats helped drag the S&P 500 on Friday to its worst week since September, some money managers said such time-tested stocks, and their regular cash payments, could shine even brighter in the months ahead.