Revealed on April twenty fifth, 2023 by Bob Ciura

The U.S. economic system is experiencing excessive inflation. The Federal Reserve has hiked rates of interest a number of instances in response, however inflation stays elevated.

Inflation erodes traders’ buying energy. To guard a portfolio towards inflation, traders ought to concentrate on shares that may elevate their dividends above the speed of inflation.

An excellent place to start out is blue-chip shares, which we classify as these with no less than 10 consecutive years of dividend will increase.

With all this in thoughts, we created a listing of 350+ blue-chip shares, which you’ll be able to obtain by clicking under:

 

Along with the Excel spreadsheet above, this text covers our high 12 blue-chip dividend shares to beat inflation, with the next standards:

1. Present dividend yield above 2%, in an effort to be sufficiently above the S&P common (1.7%)
2. Dividend progress charge above U.S. inflation (6%)
3. At the very least 10 consecutive years of dividend will increase
4. Dividend Danger Scores of ‘C’ or higher

Dividend progress and Dividend Danger Scores had been derived utilizing knowledge from the Positive Evaluation Analysis Database.

The shares are ranked by dividend progress charge, from lowest to highest. The desk of contents under permits for straightforward navigation.

Desk of Contents

Blue-Chip Inventory #12: Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)

• Dividend Historical past: 29 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.1%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 8.0%

Caterpillar is the worldwide chief in heavy equipment. It has a robust model with a dominant business place. Caterpillar manufactures and markets heavy equipment, largely for the development and mining sectors.

The company operates in three major segments: Building Industries, Useful resource Industries and Vitality & Transportation, together with ancillary financing and associated companies by way of its Monetary Merchandise section.

Supply: Investor Presentation

On January thirty first, 2023, Caterpillar reported its This fall 2022 and full-year outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2022. For the quarter, the corporate generated revenues of $16.6 billion, a 20% enhance in comparison with the $13.8 billion posted within the fourth quarter of 2021. Building Industries, Useful resource Industries, and Vitality & Transportation posted progress of 19%, 26%, and 19%, respectively.

The rise was as a consequence of favorable value realization and better gross sales quantity, partially offset by unfavorable forex impacts primarily associated to the euro, Japanese yen, and Australian greenback. The rise in gross sales quantity was pushed by adjustments in seller inventories and better tools gross sales to finish customers. Sellers elevated inventories by $700 million in the course of the quarter, in comparison with remaining about flat in the course of the prior-year interval.

Caterpillar’s adjusted working revenue margin was 17%, in comparison with 11.4% final yr. Margin enlargement mixed with income progress resulted in adjusted earnings-per-share touchdown at $3.86 towards $2.69 within the comparable interval final yr, closing the yr with nice momentum in earnings-per-share progress.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Caterpillar (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #11: Dwelling Depot Inc. (HD)

• Dividend Historical past: 14 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.8%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 8.0%

Dwelling Depot was based in 1978, and since that point has grown into the main house enchancment retailer with virtually 2,300 shops within the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. In all, Dwelling Depot generates annual income of roughly $130 billion.

Dwelling Depot reported third quarter 2022 outcomes on November fifteenth. The corporate reported third quarter gross sales of $38.9 billion, a 5.6% year-over-year enhance. Comparable gross sales within the quarter rose 4.3%, and 4.5% within the U.S. particularly. Internet earnings equated to $4.3 billion, or $4.24 per share, in comparison with $4.1 billion, or $3.92 per share in Q3 2021.

The corporate spent over $5.1 billion in widespread inventory repurchases in the course of the first 9 months of 2022, lower than the $10.4 billion spent within the first 9 months of 2021. Common ticket rose 8.8% in comparison with final yr, from $82.38 to $89.67. Moreover, there was a 5.3% enhance in gross sales per retail sq. foot, from $587.28 to $618.50.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on HD (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #10: Snap-On Inc. (SNA)

• Dividend Historical past: 13 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.5%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 8.0%

Snap-On Inc. was based within the early 1920’s and since that point, has grown from a fledgling direct gross sales distributor of sockets to a full-service, international distributor of a wide selection of widespread and specialty instruments, diagnostics tools, restore data and system options devices.

Snap-On additionally operates a monetary companies enterprise that funds its prospects’ purchases in-house. The corporate’s market capitalization is $13.8 billion, and it ought to generate round $4.6 billion in income this yr.

Snap-On reported fourth quarter and full-year earnings on February 2nd, 2023, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains. Earnings-per-share for the fourth quarter was $4.42, 18 cents higher than anticipated. Income was $1.16 billion, up 4.5% year-over-year, and fractionally higher than estimates. Natural gross sales had been 8% increased year-over-year, partially offset by unfavorable foreign exchange translation.

Working earnings earlier than monetary companies had been $248 million, up from $232 million a yr in the past. As a proportion of gross sales, working earnings had been 21.5%, up 50bps year-over-year. Monetary companies income was $88 million, up fractionally year-over-year. Consolidated working earnings had been $312 million, up from simply $87 million a year-ago.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Snap-On (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #9: American Monetary Group (AFG)

• Dividend Historical past: 17 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.2%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 8.0%

American Monetary Group is an insurance coverage holding firm that’s engaged in property and casualty insurance coverage, specializing in specialised business merchandise for companies. In 2021, the corporate accomplished the sale of its Annuity enterprise for $3.57 billion in money.

Supply: Investor Presentation

AFG reported This fall 2022 and full yr earnings on February 1st, 2023. For the quarter, earnings-per-share equalled $3.24, under the $4.18 per share that the corporate reported for a similar interval in 2021. For the total yr, earnings had been $10.53 per share, versus the $23.30 per share for 2021.

The corporate declared a daily quarterly dividend of $0.63 per share, in addition to a $4 particular dividend with an ex dividend date of the 14th of February. The administration crew has outlined a 2023 full yr core working earnings steerage in a spread between $11.00-$12.00 per share.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on AFG (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #8: Atmos Vitality (ATO)

• Dividend Historical past: 39 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.5%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 8.0%

Atmos Vitality distributes and shops pure gasoline in eight states, serves over 3 million prospects, and will generate about $4.3 billion in income this yr.

The corporate reported first quarter earnings on February seventh, 2023, and outcomes had been considerably combined. Earnings-per-share got here to $1.91, which was 4 cents lower than anticipated. Nonetheless, income was up 47% to $1.48 billion, beating
estimates by $340 million.

Consolidated working revenue was up $45 million to $321 million for the quarter. This was primarily as a consequence of charge outcomes in each of the corporate’s segments, in addition to buyer progress within the distribution section.

Supply: Investor Presentation

This was partially offset by elevated operation and upkeep prices, in addition to increased depreciation and property tax bills, as a consequence of increased capital investments.

Distribution working revenue was up $41 million to $232 million, which was as a consequence of a $58 million achieve from charges, a $6 million decline from refunds of extra deferred taxes, and buyer progress of $2 million. This was partially offset by increased working and upkeep expense.

Pipeline and storage working revenue rose $4 million to $89 million. This was as a consequence of increased charges, which had been considerably offset by increased working and upkeep prices.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Atmos (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #7: Automated Information Processing (ADP)

• Dividend Historical past: 48 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.3%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 8.0%

ADP is a enterprise outsourcing companies firm. It was based in 1949 and commenced with a single shopper. Within the 74 years since ADP has grown into the main payroll and human useful resource outsourcing firm. It has over 1 million shoppers in additional than 140 nations worldwide.

ADP gives companies to corporations of all sizes, together with payroll, advantages administration, and human sources administration. ADP enjoys excessive demand for these companies, as corporations would favor to outsource these features in an effort to higher concentrate on their core enterprise actions.

Supply: Investor Presentation

ADP reported fiscal second-quarter outcomes on January twenty fifth, 2023. Income rose simply over 9% year-over-year to $4.39 billion, which met expectations. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.96, which was two cents forward of estimates.

Employer Providers income elevated 10% on an natural fixed forex foundation, whereas PEO Providers income rose 11%. Together with quarterly outcomes, ADP maintained its steerage of 8% to 9% income progress and ~16% adjusted diluted earnings-per-share progress for the total yr.

It additionally expects adjusted EBIT margin enlargement of 125 to 150 foundation factors, resulting in anticipated adjusted EPS progress of 15% to 17% for fiscal 2023.

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):

Blue-Chip Inventory #6: Texas Devices (TXN)

• Dividend Historical past: 19 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.8%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 9.0%

Texas Devices is a semiconductor firm that operates two enterprise models: Analog and Embedded Processing. Its merchandise embrace semiconductors that measure sound, temperature and different bodily knowledge and convert them to digital alerts, in addition to semiconductors which are designed to deal with particular duties and functions.

The corporate generates sturdy free money circulation, which it makes use of to return money to shareholders.

Supply: Investor Presentation

Texas Devices reported its fourth quarter earnings outcomes on January 24. Through the quarter Texas Devices generated revenues of $4.7 billion, which represents a decline of three% versus the earlier yr’s quarter. This beat analyst estimates by $40 million, because the analyst neighborhood had forecast a weaker gross sales efficiency. Texas Devices managed to maintain its gross revenue margin at a sexy stage of 66%, whereas the corporate’s working revenue margin of 47% remained sturdy as nicely.

Texas Devices generated earnings-per-share of $2.13 in the course of the fourth quarter, which was higher than the consensus estimate, coming in $0.15 forward of the analyst neighborhood’s forecast. Texas Devices continued to generate sturdy money flows over the past yr. Because of its sturdy money era, Texas Devices was capable of finance shareholder returns of $2.0 billion over the past quarter.

Spending on buybacks got here in at $850 million within the quarter, which was in keeping with the common spending over the earlier three quarters. Texas Devices guides for revenues of $4.4 billion and for earnings-per-share of round $1.77 for the primary quarter of 2023.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Texas Devices (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #5: Amgen Inc. (AMGN)

• Dividend Historical past: 12 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 3.5%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 9.0%

Amgen is the most important impartial biotech firm on the planet. Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and sells medicines that deal with severe sicknesses. The corporate focuses on six therapeutic areas: heart problems, oncology, bone well being, neuroscience, nephrology, and irritation. Amgen generates about $26 billion in annual revenues.

On January thirty first, 2023, Amgen introduced fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2023. Income declined 0.6% to $6.8 billion, although this was $30 million above estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $4.09 in contrast unfavorably to $4.40 within the prior yr, however was in-line with estimates.

Supply: Investor Presentation

For the yr, income grew 1% to $26.3 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $17.69 was up considerably from $13.92 in 2021. Product income elevated 4% whereas volumes had been increased by 10%. Forex change lowered outcomes. Gross sales for Enbrel, which treats rheumatoid arthritis and stays Amgen’s high grossing product, declined 1% in the course of the quarter, extending the year-over-year declines to eleven consecutive quarters. This was down from a 14% decline within the previous quarter.

Neulasta dropped 37% as a consequence of weak point in each pricing and volumes. Amgen expects this stress to stay within the coming quarters as a consequence of biosimilar competitors. Prolia, which treats osteoporosis and will develop into the highest grossing product throughout the subsequent yr or so, grew 14%, pushed by an 11% enhance in quantity. Repatha, which is used to manage ldl cholesterol, elevated 22%. Volumes had been increased by 31% in the course of the quarter, serving to to offset decrease promoting costs.

Amgen supplied steerage for 2023 as nicely. The corporate expects adjusted earnings-per-share in a spread of $17.40 to $18.60. On the midpoint, this may be a 1.8% enchancment from the prior yr.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Amgen (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #4: Honeywell Worldwide (HON)

• Dividend Historical past: 13 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.1%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 9.0%

Honeywell Worldwide is a diversified industrial firm. The corporate has 4 divisions: Aerospace, Honeywell Constructing Applied sciences, Efficiency Supplies & Applied sciences and Security & Productiveness Options. Honeywell Worldwide has greater than 99,000 staff around the globe and greater than 40% of gross sales come from worldwide
markets. The corporate generates about $36 billion in annual revenues.

Supply: Investor Presentation

On February 2nd, 2023, Honeywell Worldwide introduced fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2022. For the quarter, income grew 6.1% to $9.19 billion, which was $70 million lower than anticipated. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.52 in contrast favorably to $2.09 within the prior yr and was $0.01 above estimates.

For the yr, income grew 3% to $35.5 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $8.76 in comparison with $8.06 in 2021. For the quarter, natural gross sales grew 10% when excluding misplaced Russian gross sales. Section margin expanded 70 foundation factors to 21.7% as pricing offset inflation. The backlog improved 7% to a report $29.6 billion. Aerospace grew 11% organically as a consequence of 23% progress in business aftermarket that was offset by decrease protection volumes.

Honeywell Worldwide supplied an outlook for 2023 as nicely. The corporate expects income in a spread of $36 billion to $37 billion and adjusted earnings-per-share in a spread of $8.80 to $9.20. On the midpoint, this may characterize progress of two.8% and a pair of.7%, respectively, from 2022. Natural progress is projected to be 2% to five% for the yr.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Honeywell (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #3: Goal Company (TGT)

• Dividend Historical past: 54 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.6%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 9.0%

Goal is a big retailer consisting of about 2,000 huge field shops providing basic merchandise and meals and serving as distribution factors for its burgeoning e-commerce enterprise. Goal’s market capitalization of $74.7 billion ought to produce about $110 billion in whole income this yr.

Goal reported fourth-quarter and full-year earnings on February twenty eighth, 2023, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains and by broad margins.

Supply: Investor Infographic

Adjusted earnings-per-share reached $1.89 in This fall, which was 49 cents higher than anticipated. Income was up 1.3% yr over-year to $31.4 billion, which was almost $700 million forward of estimates.

Comparable gross sales had been up 0.7%, and the corporate famous this was on high of a achieve of 8.9% within the year-ago interval. Administration famous visitor visitors within the shops stays sturdy. Comparable gross sales had been 2.4% higher than estimated.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Goal Company (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #2: L3Harris Applied sciences (LHX)

• Dividend Historical past: 22 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.3%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 9.3%

L3Harris Applied sciences is the results of a merger between L3 Applied sciences and Harris Company accomplished on June 29, 2019, forming the sixth largest protection contractor. Shareholders of L3 Applied sciences acquired 1.30 shares of Harris Company for every of their very own shares excellent.

The corporate now experiences three enterprise segments: Built-in Mission Techniques (~42% of income), Communication Techniques (~23% of income), and Area and Airborne Techniques (~35% of income). The vast majority of L3Harris’ gross sales are to the US Authorities or to different protection contractors. The corporate had income of about $17.1B in 2022.

L3Harris reported This fall 2022 outcomes and full yr on January twenty sixth, 2023. For the quarter, companywide income rose 5% to $4,578M from $4,350M and diluted non-GAAP EPS decreased (-12%) to $2.17 from $2.46 on year-over-year foundation on decrease margins and provide chain disruptions. Diluted GAAP earnings fell (-1%) to $3.27 from $3.20 in comparable intervals.

Progress got here from Area, Intel & Cyber, and F-35 however offset by declines in legacy packages. Communications programs income elevated 17% to $1,193M from $1,018M as a consequence of increased volumes in Tactical Communications, Public Security, offset by a lower in Built-in Imaginative and prescient Options.

For the yr, income fell (-4%) to $17,062M from $17,814M and adjusted EPS declined to $12.90 from $12.95. The funded book-to-bill ratio was 1.08X.

The agency closed on the $2B acquisition Viasat’s TDL product line, Hyperlink 16. L3Harris is buying Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.7 billion, topic to regulatory and shareholder approvals. The corporate guided for ~$17.4B – $17.8B in income and $12.00 – $12.50 for EPS in 2023.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on L3Harris (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Blue-Chip Inventory #1: Broadridge Monetary (BR)

• Dividend Historical past: 16 years of consecutive will increase
• Dividend Yield: 2.0%
• 5-year Annualized Dividend Progress: 10.0%

Broadridge Monetary Options, Inc. gives investor communications companies and technology-related options to the monetary companies business. Broadridge was spun off from Automated Information Processingin 2007, the place it had been the brokerage service division of ADP since 1962.

Broadridge processes hundreds of thousands of trades a day involving trillions of {dollars}, gives investor communications which attain 75% of North American households, and in addition handle shareholder voting in ~120 nations.

Broadridge has additionally expanded into blockchain options and has secured a blockchain patent for proxy processing and repurchase agreements. The corporate serves shoppers throughout the globe, however the majority of shoppers are within the U.S., Canada, and the U.Okay.

Supply: Investor Presentation

On August twelfth, 2022, Broadridge elevated the dividend by 13% to $2.90 per share yearly, marking 16 years of consecutive will increase.

Broadridge Monetary Options reported second quarter 2023 outcomes on February 2nd, 2023. Complete revenues for the quarter grew 38% to $1.29 billion. Recurring income grew 6% year-over-year to $840 million from $793 million. Recurring income made up 65% of whole revenues within the second quarter. Adjusted EPS elevated by 11% YoY to $0.91 per share.

Management reiterated FY 2023 steerage and estimates roughly 7.5% in recurring income progress, a 50 bps enhance to adjusted working revenue margin, and for adjusted EPS progress of between 7% to 11%.

Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Broadridge (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):

Further Assets

In case you are concerned about discovering extra high-quality dividend progress shares appropriate for long-term funding, the next Positive Dividend databases shall be helpful: