Printed on Might twenty seventh, 2026 by Bob Ciura
Dividend development investing supplies each long-term compounding and present earnings. This is a perfect combine for each retirement preparation and precise retirement.
However not simply any inventory that might be able to quickly enhance its dividends will do. Consider every particular person dividend development inventory through which you make investments as a “guardian” of your wealth.
“Good guardians” will compound over time. Poor investments do the alternative. That’s why the high quality of the companies through which you make investments is of crucial significance.
That’s the place the Dividend Champions are available in.
The Dividend Champions have elevated their dividends for over 25 consecutive years. With this in thoughts, we created a downloadable record of over 130 Dividend Champions.
You possibly can obtain your free copy of the Dividend Champions record, together with related monetary metrics like price-to-earnings ratios, dividend yields, and payout ratios, by clicking on the hyperlink beneath:
We suggest high-quality dividend development shares meant to be purchased and held for the long term.
This text will rank 10 Dividend Champions with Dividend Threat Scores of ‘A’, our highest score, that presently have purchase rankings from Certain Dividend.
Desk of Contents
You possibly can immediately soar to any particular part of the article by clicking on the hyperlinks beneath:
Wealth Guardian #10: Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 16.4%
Abbott Laboratories, based in 1888, is without doubt one of the largest medical home equipment & gear producers on the planet, comprised of 4 segments: Vitamin, Diagnostics, Established Prescription 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 development streak to 54 years.
On April sixteenth, 2026, Abbott Laboratories reported first quarter outcomes for the interval ending March thirty first, 2026. For the quarter, income improved 7.8% to $11.2 billion, which was $160 million above expectations. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.15 in comparison with $1.09 within the prior yr and was in-line with estimates.
For Q1, U.S. gross sales grew 2.5% whereas worldwide was up 11.3%. Forex change was a 4.0% headwind for the interval.
Comparable gross sales improved 3.7%. Comparable gross sales for Vitamin declined 7.7% as demand weakened following increased costs.
Abbott Laboratories supplied steering for 2026 as nicely, with the corporate now anticipating adjusted earnings-per-share in a spread of $5.38 to $5.58 for the yr, down from $5.55 to $5.80 earlier.
On the new midpoint, this is able to symbolize development of 6.4% from 2025.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on ABT (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #9: The Marzetti Firm (MZTI)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 17.2%
The Marzetti Firm has been making meals merchandise since 1969. Marzetti makes numerous meal equipment like croutons and bread merchandise in frozen and non-frozen classes.
Marzetti additionally has among the finest dividend enhance streaks in the whole market, with greater than six many years of consecutive will increase.
Marzetti posted second quarter earnings on February third, 2026, and outcomes had been worse than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. The corporate noticed earnings-per-share come to $2.15, which missed estimates by eight cents.
Income was up 1.7% year-over-year to $518 million, lacking expectations by $2.37 million. The corporate additionally famous $8.2 million of income was attributed to a brief provide settlement that’s anticipated to conclude on March thirty first.
Gross revenue was $137.3 million, whereas gross margin was up 80 foundation factors on an adjusted foundation. SG&A prices had been up by $3.3 million, primarily pushed by increased advertising and marketing spending and the expanded launch of Texas Roadhouse rolls.
Capex for the quarter was $17.7 million, whereas the corporate paid a $28 million dividend and repurchased $20 million in inventory. Marzetti nonetheless has no debt and $201 million in money readily available.
Administration is shopping for Bachan’s, the maker of Japanese-American barbeque sauces – for $400 million. They famous the acquisition is anticipated to be accretive instantly.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on MZTI (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #8: Becton Dickinson & Co. (BDX)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 17.3%
Becton, Dickinson & Co. is a worldwide chief within the medical provide trade. The corporate was based in 1897 and has 75,000 staff throughout 190 nations.
The corporate generates about $20 billion in annual income, with roughly 43% of revenues coming from outdoors of the U.S.
On November sixth, 2025, BD elevated its quarterly dividend 1.0% to $1.05, extending the corporate’s dividend development streak to 54 consecutive years.
BD additionally introduced outcomes for the primary quarter of fiscal yr 2026, which ended December thirty first, 2026. For the quarter, income improved 1.5% to $5.25 billion, which topped estimates by $100 million.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.91 in contrast unfavorably to $3.43 within the prior yr, however this was $0.10 greater than anticipated.
For the quarter, Medical Necessities was down 0.6% on a forex impartial foundation to $1.6 billion as good points in U.S. Vascular Entry Administration and the BD Vacutainer portfolio had been greater than offset by order timing in China.
Related Care grew 4.7% to $1.13 billion on account of development in Pharmacy Automation and power in Superior Affected person Monitoring.
BioPharma was up 1% to $429 million on account of double-digit development in Biologics. Interventional climbed 5.1% to $1.33 billion, largely on account of increased demand for the PureWick franchise and Superior Tissue Regeneration.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on BDX (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #7: H2O America (HTO)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 17.6%
H2O America, previously generally known as SJW Group, is a water utility firm that distributes water to customers and companies in California, Texas, Connecticut, and Maine.
It additionally has a small actual property division that owns and develops properties for residential and warehouse clients in California and Tennessee. The corporate generates about $670 million in annual income.
On January twenty sixth, 2026, H2O America raised its quarterly dividend 4.8% to $0.44, extending the corporate’s dividend development streak to 58 consecutive years.
On February twenty fifth, 2026, H2O America launched fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, income declined 1.9% to $194.1 million, which missed estimates by $23.3 million.
Earnings-per-share of $0.45 in contrast unfavorably to earnings-per-share of $0.74 within the prior yr and was $0.07 beneath expectations.
For the yr, income grew 7% to $800.6 million whereas earnings-per-share of $2.92 in comparison with $2.87 in 2024.
Progress for the yr was pushed by a $67.4 million enhance in charges and $1.5 million from new clients offset by an $8 million headwind from regulatory mechanisms and decrease by $7.2 million from decrease utilization.
H2O America supplied an outlook for 2026 as nicely, with the corporate anticipating earnings-per-share in a spread of $3.08 to $3.18. On the midpoint, this is able to be a 7.2% enhance from the prior yr.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on HTO (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #6: Automated Information Processing (ADP)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 17.9%
Automated Information Processing is without doubt one of the largest enterprise providers outsourcing firms on the planet. The corporate supplies payroll providers, human sources know-how, 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.
For 2026, ADP guided for income development of 6%, adjusted EBIT margin of ~60 foundation factors, and adjusted diluted earnings-per-share development of 9% to 10%.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on ADP (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #5: Stepan Co. (SCL)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 22.8%
Stepan manufactures fundamental and intermediate chemical substances, together with surfactants, specialty merchandise, and way more for the meals, complement, and pharmaceutical markets.
It’s organized into three distinct enterprise traces: surfactants, polymers, and specialty merchandise. The surfactants enterprise is Stepan’s largest by income, accounting for ~68% of whole gross sales in the latest quarter.
Stepan posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on February twenty third, 2026. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to a lack of two cents.
Income was up 5.4% year-over-year to $554 million, lacking estimates by $16.7 million. International gross sales quantity was down 3% year-over-year as quantity globally was flat.
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $33.8 million for the quarter, down from $35 million a yr earlier, which was on account of decrease working earnings in Surfactants.
Stepan boosted its dividend for the 59th consecutive yr.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on SCL (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #4: Brown & Brown (BRO)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 23.4%
Brown & Brown Inc. is a number one insurance coverage brokerage agency that gives danger administration options to each people and companies, with a concentrate on property & casualty insurance coverage.
Brown & Brown posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on January twenty seventh, 2026, and outcomes had been combined. Earnings-per-share got here to 93 cents, which was 29 cents forward of estimates.
Income was $1.6 billion, up 36% year-over-year however lacking estimates by $50 million. Natural income was really down 3%, with development in income coming totally from acquisitions.
Administration famous flood claims processing income that was acknowledged within the year-ago interval as negatively impacting income this time.
EBITDAC margin on an adjusted foundation was 32.9% of income, flat to a yr earlier. Adjusted earnings-per-share rose 8%.
Money movement from operations was $1.45 billion for the yr, up 24% from 2024. Adjusted EBITDAC was $529 million.
For 2026, we anticipate EPS of $4.50.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on BRO (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #3: Badger Meter Inc. (BMI)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 24.1%
Badger Meter manufactures and markets meters and valves which are used to measure and management the movement of liquids, akin to water, oil and numerous chemical substances.
The corporate’s merchandise are additionally used to regulate the movement of air and different gases. Badger Meter generates ~$917 million in annual revenues.
On April seventeenth, 2026, Badger Meter reported first quarter earnings outcomes for the interval ending March thirty first, 2026. For the quarter, income decreased 9.0% to $202.3 million, which was $29 million lower than anticipated.
Earnings-per-share of $0.93 in contrast unfavorably to earnings-per-share of $1.30 within the prior yr and was $0.26 beneath estimates.
The utility water enterprise was down 10% for the quarter because of mission timing and softer short-cycle municipal buyer ordering.
Offsetting these weaker outcomes had been power in SaaS, SmartCover, water high quality and community monitoring.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on BMI (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #2: Thomson-Reuters (TRI)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 24.5%
Thomson Reuters Company is a worldwide monetary info and knowledge options supplier for companies and professionals within the fields of finance, accounting, tax, and media.
In January 2025, Thomson acquired cPaperless, LLC (SafeSend) for $600 million money, for its tax automation capabilities.
In February 2026, Thomson Reuters introduced a ten% enhance to the dividend to $2.62 per share, which marked the thirty third consecutive annual dividend enhance.
Thomson Reuters reported fourth quarter 2025 outcomes on February fifth, 2026. For the quarter, whole firm income grew 5% year-over-year to $2.01 billion, of which the bulk (84%) was recurring revenues.
Thomson Reuters produced adjusted EPS of $1.07 per share in comparison with adjusted EPS of $1.01 in This autumn 2024.
For 2026, Thomson Reuters forecasts whole income development of seven.5% to eight.0%, adjusted EBITDA margin development of 100 foundation factors, and free money movement of $2.1 billion.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on TRI (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Wealth Guardian #1: Factset Analysis Techniques (FDS)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 27.4%
FactSet Analysis Techniques, a monetary knowledge and analytics agency based in 1978, supplies built-in monetary info and analytical instruments to the funding neighborhood within the Americas, Europe, the Center East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
The corporate supplies perception and knowledge by analysis, analytics, buying and selling workflow options, content material and know-how options, and wealth administration.
On December 18th, 2025, FactSet Analysis Techniques 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% development from the prior yr.
Profitability metrics softened modestly as FactSet continued to put money into know-how, 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 strain, money technology remained sturdy, with working money movement growing greater than 40% and free money movement up almost 50% from the prior yr.
Reflecting confidence in its monetary place and long-term outlook, FactSet’s Board of Administrators authorized an growth of the corporate’s share repurchase authorization from $400 million to $1 billion.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on FDS (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Extra Studying
The Dividend Champions record shouldn’t be the one strategy to rapidly display for shares that commonly pay rising dividends.
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