Revealed on April twenty seventh, 2026 by Bob Ciura
The fantastic thing about purchase and maintain endlessly dividend progress investing is that:
- It takes little or no work to take care of a portfolio.
- Your passive earnings is more likely to improve considerably over time.
Only a few constructive issues in life have the above mixture.
Top quality dividend progress shares are likely to pay rising dividends year-after-year. This implies a increase for buyers yearly.
However buyers must do virtually nothing to get their annual increase. The one ‘work’ required is to carry your dividend progress shares as long as they proceed to develop your earnings.
Annual dividend will increase compound over time. The longer the time horizon, the better your elevated earnings for purchasing and holding.
Subsequently, we advocate buyers buy-and-hold high quality dividend shares such because the Dividend Aristocrats, that are these firms which have raised their dividends for a minimum of 25 consecutive years.
You’ll be able to obtain the complete checklist of Dividend Aristocrats by clicking on the hyperlink under:
Disclaimer: Positive Dividend isn’t affiliated with S&P World in any approach. S&P World owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The data on this article and downloadable spreadsheet is predicated on Positive Dividend’s personal overview, abstract, and evaluation of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) and different sources, and is supposed to assist particular person buyers higher perceive this ETF and the index upon which it’s based mostly. Not one of the data on this article or spreadsheet is official information from S&P World. Seek the advice of S&P World for official data.
With that stated, progress over the following 25 years (and past) received’t be precisely the identical because the final 10 years.
The securities you choose to your purchase and maintain endlessly dividend progress portfolio matter.
Subsequently, this text will talk about the ten finest Dividend Aristocrats for long-term dividend compounding for the following 25 years and past.
Desk of Contents
The desk of contents under permits for simple navigation.
These 10 Dividend Aristocrats have present yields above the S&P 500 common (1.2% proper now) and Dividend Danger Scores of ‘A’ or ‘B’, our highest rankings.
The shares are listed by anticipated annual dividend progress price.
Purchase And Maintain Dividend Aristocrat #10: Eversource Vitality (ES)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 6.0%
Eversource Vitality is a diversified holding firm with subsidiaries that present regulated electrical, gasoline, and water distribution companies within the Northeast U.S.
ES serves greater than 4 million utility clients.
These companies serve practically 250,000 clients in 73 cities and cities. The corporate anticipates that its Aquarion water companies can be divested someday in 2026 (if permitted by PURA).
On February twelfth, ES launched its monetary outcomes for the fourth quarter. Complete working income rose by 13.4% over the year-ago interval to $3.37 billion within the quarter.
Base distribution price will increase (in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Connecticut) and continued system investments fueled this top-line progress throughout the quarter.
ES logged $1.12 in non-GAP EPS for the quarter, which was a ten.9% year-over-year progress price. This exceeded the analyst consensus within the quarter by $0.02.
The corporate’s non-GAAP web revenue margin held regular at 12.5% throughout the quarter.
ES introduced a 4.7% increase to its quarterly dividend per share to $0.7875. That represents its twenty eighth consecutive yr of dividend progress.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ES (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Purchase And Maintain Dividend Aristocrat #9: Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 7.0%
Abbott Laboratories, based in 1888, is among the largest medical home equipment & tools producers on the planet, comprised of 4 segments: Vitamin, Diagnostics, Established Prescribed drugs and Medical Gadgets.
Abbott Laboratories supplies merchandise in over 160 nations and employs 114,000 folks. The corporate generated $44 billion in gross sales in 2025.
On December twelfth, 2025, Abbott Laboratories raised its quarterly dividend 6.8% to $0.63, extending the corporate’s dividend progress streak to 54 years.
On January twenty second, 2026, Abbott Laboratories launched fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, income grew 4.5% to $11.46 billion, however this missed estimates by $340 million.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.50 in comparison with $1.34 within the prior yr and was $0.01 higher than anticipated. For the yr, income grew 5.7% to $44.3 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $5.15 in comparison with $4.67 in 2024.
For This autumn, U.S. gross sales grew 0.9% whereas worldwide was increased by 6.7%. Foreign money alternate was a 1.4% headwind for the interval.
Abbott Laboratories supplied steering for 2026 as effectively, with the corporate anticipating adjusted earnings-per-share in a spread of $5.55 to $5.80 for the yr. On the midpoint, this could characterize progress of 10.3% from 2025.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ABT (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Undervalued Dividend Aristocrat #8: PPG Industries (PPG)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 7.0%
PPG Industries is the world’s largest paints and coatings firm. Its solely opponents of comparable measurement are Sherwin-Williams and Dutch paint firm Akzo Nobel.
On January twenty seventh, 2026, PPG Industries introduced fourth quarter and full yr outcomes. For the quarter, income grew 4.8% to $3.91 billion, which topped estimates by $140 million.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.51 in contrast unfavorably to $1.61 within the prior yr and was $0.07 lower than anticipated.
For the yr, income grew 0.6% to $15.9 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $7.58 was down from $7.87 in 2024. Natural progress was 3% for the quarter and a couple of% for the yr.
For the quarter, income for World Architectural Coatings, which was previously a part of Efficiency Coatings, grew 8% to $951 million.
Development was pushed by increased costs and a profit from international foreign money translation. Quantity was unchanged and divestitures lowered outcomes by 3%.
As soon as once more, Latin America and Asia Pacific carried out effectively throughout the interval as natural progress improved by a excessive single-digit determine.
PPG Industries repurchased ~$100 million price of shares throughout This autumn and retired ~$790 million price of inventory throughout 2025.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on PPG (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Purchase And Maintain Dividend Aristocrat #7: Aflac Inc. (AFL)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 7.0%
Aflac Inc., based in 1955, is the world’s largest underwriter of supplemental most cancers insurance coverage.
The diversified insurance coverage company additionally supplies accident, short-term incapacity, crucial sickness, dental, imaginative and prescient, and life insurance coverage.
Roughly 70% of the corporate’s pretax earnings are from Japan, with 30% coming from the U.S. The corporate generated $4.0 billion in revenue in 2025.
Aflac has elevated its dividend for 44 consecutive years.
On February sixth, 2026, Aflac introduced fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, income decreased 9.3% to $4.9 billion, however this was $510 million above estimates.
For the quarter, web earnings equaled $1.4 billion, or $2.64 per share, in comparison with web earnings of $1.9 billion, or $3.42 per share.
Nonetheless, this contains funding positive factors of $537 million, that are excluded from adjusted earnings. On an adjusted foundation, earnings-per-share equaled $1.57 in comparison with $1.56 in This autumn 2024.
For the yr, income fell 9.3% to $17.2 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $7.49 in comparison with $7.21 in 2024.
The marginally weaker yen/greenback alternate price didn’t impression adjusted earnings-per-share. In U.S. {dollars}, Aflac Japan’s quarterly web earned premiums declined 3.0% to $1.6 billion for the quarter whereas Aflac U.S. web earned premiums grew 4.0% to $1.5 billion. Adjusted e-book worth of $54.06 in comparison with $52.87 within the prior yr.
Aflac is predicted to earn $7.34 per share in 2026.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on AFL (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Purchase And Maintain Dividend Aristocrat #6: Illinois Device Works (ITW)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 7.0%
Illinois Device Works is a diversified multi-industrial producer with seven distinctive working segments: Automotive, Meals Gear, Check & Measurement, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Building Merchandise and Specialty Merchandise.
Final yr the corporate generated $15.9 billion in income. The $72 billion market cap firm is geographically diversified, with greater than half of its income generated exterior of the USA.
Illinois Device Works is a member of the Dividend Aristocrats Index and is a Dividend King.
On February third, 2026, Illinois Device Works reported fourth quarter 2025 outcomes. For the quarter, income got here in at $4.1 billion, rising 4% year-over-year.
Gross sales elevated 5.5% within the Automotive OEM phase, the biggest out of the corporate’s seven segments.
Moreover, its Building Merchandise phase noticed income decline 1.5%. In the meantime, Welding, Meals Gear, Specialty Merchandise, Check & Measurement and Electronics, and Polymers & Fluids had income progress of three.3%, 3.8%, 4.0%, 5.5% and 6.5%, respectively.
Internet earnings equaled $790 million or $2.72 per share in comparison with $750 million or $2.54 per share in This autumn 2024. Within the fourth quarter, ITW repurchased $375 million of its shares.
Illinois Device Works initiated its 2026 steering, anticipating full-year GAAP EPS to be $11.00 to $11.40.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ITW (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Purchase And Maintain Dividend Aristocrat #5: A.O. Smith Corp. (AOS)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 7.0%
A.O. Smith is a number one producer of residential and industrial water heaters, boilers and water therapy merchandise. It generates two-thirds of its gross sales in North America, and a lot of the relaxation in China.
A.O. Smith has raised its dividend for over 30 years in a row, making the corporate a Dividend Aristocrat. The corporate was based in 1874 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.
A.O. Smith generated earnings-per-share of $0.90 throughout the fourth quarter, which was up 6% on a yr over yr foundation.
Flat revenues had been changed into very strong earnings progress because of increased margins and buybacks. A.O. Smith additionally issued its steering for 2026.
The corporate is forecasting earnings-per-share in a spread of $3.85 to $4.15, which displays that administration expects earnings-per-share to be up barely this yr.
On the midpoint of the steering vary, A.O. Smith’s earnings-per-share could be up 4% versus the earnings-per-share A.O. Smith generated final yr.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on AOS (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Purchase And Maintain Dividend Aristocrat #4: Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (LOW)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 8.0%
Lowe’s Corporations is the second-largest residence enchancment retailer within the US (after House Depot). Lowe’s operates or companies greater than 1,700 residence enchancment and {hardware} shops within the U.S.
On October 9, 2025, Lowe’s accomplished its acquisition of Basis Constructing Supplies (FBM), for $8.8 billion.
FBM is a distributor of inside constructing merchandise for big residential and industrial professionals in new building and restore and rework. It generated $6.5 billion in income in 2024.
Lowe’s reported fourth quarter 2025 outcomes on February twenty fifth, 2026. Complete gross sales got here in at $20.6 billion in comparison with $18.6 billion in the identical quarter a yr in the past.
Comparable gross sales elevated by 1.3%. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.98 had been 2.6% increased in comparison with fourth quarter 2024.
Lowe’s launched its fiscal 2026 outlook and expects to earn adjusted EPS of $12.25 to $12.75 on whole gross sales of $92 billion to $94 billion.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on LOW (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Undervalued Dividend Aristocrat #3: Atmos Vitality (ATO)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 8.0%
Atmos Vitality can hint its beginnings all the way in which again to 1906 when it was shaped in Texas.
Since that point, it has grown each organically and thru mergers. The corporate distributes and shops pure gasoline in eight states, serves over 3 million clients, and will generate virtually $5 billion in income this yr.
Atmos has a 42-year historical past of elevating dividends, placing it in uncommon firm amongst dividend shares.
Atmos posted first quarter earnings on February 4th, 2026. Internet earnings was $403 million, whereas earnings-per-share on a diluted foundation was $2.44, which was up 9.4% year-over-year.
The corporate famous it acquired about $100 million in price will increase as a consequence of Texas Home Payments. Capex got here to $1 billion for the quarter, 85% of which was as a consequence of security and reliability spending, with the steadiness going to progress investments.
New clients amounted to 54k prior to now 12 months, and administration famous new pipeline initiatives that added 700k Mcf per day of gasoline provide.
Earnings is predicted to return to $8.15 to $8.35 per share for the yr.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ATO (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Undervalued Dividend Aristocrat #2: Automated Information Processing (ADP)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 9.0%
Automated Information Processing is among the largest enterprise companies outsourcing firms on the planet.
The corporate supplies payroll companies, human assets expertise, and different enterprise operations to greater than 700,000 company clients.
ADP posted second quarter earnings on January twenty eighth, 2026, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces.
Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $2.62, which was a nickel forward of estimates, and was up from $2.49 in Q1, and from $2.35 within the year-ago interval. Income was up 7.2% year-over-year to $5.36 billion, beating estimates by $20 million.
Bills got here to $4.08 billion, which was increased from $3.98 billion in Q1 and $3.88 billion a yr earlier. Adjusted EBIT margin was 26.0% of income, up from 25.5% in Q1 and from 25.2% a yr in the past.
The corporate guided for income progress of 6% for this yr, adjusted EBIT margin of ~60 foundation factors, and adjusted diluted earnings-per-share progress of 9% to 10%.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ADP (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Undervalued Dividend Aristocrat #1: Factset Analysis Programs (FDS)
- Anticipated Annual Dividend Development: 10.5%
FactSet Analysis Programs, a monetary information and analytics agency based in 1978, supplies built-in monetary data and analytical instruments to the funding group within the Americas, Europe, the Center East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
The corporate supplies perception and data by way of analysis, analytics, buying and selling workflow options, content material and expertise options, and wealth administration.
On December 18th, 2025, FactSet Analysis Programs introduced Q1 2026 outcomes, reporting non-GAAP EPS of $4.51 for the interval, beating market consensus by $0.15, and income that grew 6.8% to $607.6 million.
FactSet reported a strong begin to fiscal 2026, with strong outcomes that had been pushed by continued demand from institutional buy-side and dealmakers purchasers.
Natural revenues elevated 6.0%, whereas natural Annual Subscription Worth reached $2.39 billion as of November thirtieth, 2025, representing 5.9% progress from the prior yr.
Profitability metrics softened modestly as FactSet continued to spend money on expertise, content material, and expertise. GAAP working margin declined to 31.6%, down roughly 200 foundation factors yr over yr, whereas adjusted working margin decreased 137 foundation factors to 36.2%.
Regardless of margin stress, money technology remained robust, with working money circulation growing greater than 40% and free money circulation up practically 50% from the prior yr.
Reflecting confidence in its monetary place and long-term outlook, FactSet’s Board of Administrators permitted an enlargement of the corporate’s share repurchase authorization from $400 million to $1 billion.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on FDS (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Further Studying
The next Positive Dividend databases comprise probably the most dependable dividend growers in our funding universe:
- The Dividend Champions: Dividend shares with 25+ years of dividend will increase, together with these that will not qualify as Dividend Aristocrats.
- The Dividend Kings: thought-about to be the final word dividend progress shares, the Dividend Kings checklist is comprised of shares with 50+ years of consecutive dividend will increase.
Thanks for studying this text. Please ship any suggestions, corrections, or inquiries to [email protected].
