Printed on August 18th, 2025 by Bob Ciura
Purchase and maintain investing is all about buying shares which might be constructed to final. To ensure that an organization to take care of its aggressive benefits over a protracted time period, it should have a powerful enterprise mannequin.
In flip, the strongest companies pays dividends, and proceed to boost their dividends every year, even throughout recessions.
For that reason, we steer dividend progress traders towards high-quality shares such because the Dividend Kings.
The Dividend Kings are the best-of-the-best in dividend longevity.
What’s a Dividend King? A inventory with 50 or extra consecutive years of dividend will increase.
You may see the total downloadable spreadsheet of all 55 Dividend Kings (together with vital monetary metrics corresponding to dividend yields, payout ratios, and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking on the hyperlink beneath:
This text will rank 10 Dividend Kings with the best dividend progress charges. The next listing of shares have all raised their dividends for over 50 consecutive years, and have exhibited glorious dividend progress.
Because of this, they’re more likely to proceed elevating their dividends at a excessive price for a few years to come back.
Desk of Contents
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #10: RPM Worldwide (RPM)
RPM Worldwide manufactures, markets and distributes chemical merchandise to industrial, retail and specialty prospects. Nearly all of gross sales are made to industrial prospects.
On July twenty fourth, 2025, RPM reported earnings outcomes for the fourth quarter and financial 12 months 2025 for the interval ending Might thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, income grew 4% to $2.08 billion, which was $60 million forward of estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.72 in contrast favorably to $1.56 within the prior 12 months and was $0.12 higher than anticipated.
For the 12 months, income grew 0.5% to a brand new document $7.37 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $5.30 in comparison with $4.94. RPM’s outcomes had been particularly robust contemplating the prior 12 months noticed information in most points of the enterprise.
For the quarter, the corporate had natural progress of two% and acquisitions web of divestitures added 2.0% to outcomes, which was partially offset by a 0.3% headwind from forex translation.
Natural income for the Development Merchandise Group was up 6.7% as demand was excessive for techniques and roofing options.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on RPM (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #9: Illinois Instrument Works (ITW)
Illinois Instrument Works is a diversified multi-industrial producer with seven distinctive working segments: Automotive, Meals Gear, Check & Measurement, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Development Merchandise and Specialty Merchandise.
Final 12 months the corporate generated $15.9 billion in income.
On August 1st, 2025, Illinois Instrument Works reported second quarter 2025 outcomes. For the quarter, income got here in at $4.1 billion, rising 1% year-over-year. Gross sales elevated 3.8% within the Automotive OEM section, the most important out of the corporate’s seven segments.
Moreover, its Polymers & Fluids, and Development Merchandise segments noticed income decline 3.4% and 6.1%, respectively.
In the meantime, Specialty Merchandise, Check & Measurement and Electronics, Meals Gear, and Welding had income progress of 1.1%, 1.2%, 2.1%, and a pair of.9%, respectively. Web revenue equaled $755 million or $2.58 per share in comparison with $759 million or $2.54 per share in Q2 2024.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ITW (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #8: Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
Abbott Laboratories, based in 1888, is likely one of the largest medical home equipment & gear producers on this planet, comprised of 4 segments: Vitamin, Diagnostics, Established Prescription drugs and Medical Units.
Abbott Laboratories offers merchandise in over 160 international locations and employs 114,000 individuals. The corporate generated $42 billion in gross sales in 2024.
On April sixteenth, 2025, Abbott Laboratories reported first quarter outcomes for the interval ending March thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, the corporate produced $10.4 billion in gross sales (60% outdoors of the U.S.), which represented progress of 4% in comparison with the primary quarter of 2024, however this was $60 million lower than anticipated.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.09 in comparison with $0.98 within the prior 12 months and was $0.02 forward of estimates.
U.S. gross sales grew 8.4% whereas worldwide was larger by 1.2%. Foreign money alternate was a 2.8% headwind for the interval. Firm-wide natural gross sales improved 6.9%. Nonetheless, excluding Covid-19 testing merchandise, natural progress was 8.3% for the interval.
Vitamin grew 6.8% organically through the quarter as the corporate continues to see a restoration in market share of its toddler formulation enterprise following a stoppage of manufacturing in 2022. U.S. gross sales had been larger by 8.8% because of this.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ABT (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #7: S&P World Inc. (SPGI)
S&P World is a worldwide supplier of economic providers and enterprise data with income of over $15 billion. By way of its varied segments, it offers credit score rankings, benchmarks and indices, analytics, and different information to commodity market individuals, capital markets, and automotive markets.
S&P World has paid dividends repeatedly since 1937 and has elevated its payout for 52 consecutive years.
S&P posted second quarter earnings on July thirty first, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $4.43, which beat expectations by 21 cents. Income was up 6% year-over-year to $3.76 billion, beating estimates by $80 million.
Steering was boosted to $17.00 to $17.25 in adjusted earnings-per-share, up barely from prior. Income can also be anticipated to rise about 6% this 12 months, up from 5% prior.
Money from working actions much less capex must be about $5.5 billion this 12 months, which is unchanged. Bills had been $2.22 billion, up fractionally from Q1 and up from $2.11 billion a 12 months in the past.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on SPGI (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #6: Automated Knowledge Processing (ADP)
Automated Knowledge Processing is likely one of the largest enterprise providers outsourcing corporations on this planet. The corporate offers payroll providers, human sources know-how, and different enterprise operations to greater than 700,000 company prospects. Automated Knowledge Processing produces annual income of about $20 billion.
Supply: Investor Presentation
ADP posted third quarter earnings on April thirtieth, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $3.06, which was 9 cents forward of estimates. Earnings had been up from $2.35 in Q2, and from $2.88 a 12 months in the past.
Income was up virtually 6% year-over-year to $5.6 billion, beating expectations by $110 million. Employer Providers income was $3.77 billion, up 5% year-over-year. Phase earnings had been $1.5 billion, up 6% year-over-year, on pretax margin of 39.8% of income. The latter was up 20 foundation factors year-over-year.
PEO Providers income was $1.79 billion, up 7% year-over-year, with section earnings up 7% to $253 million on pretax margin of 14.2% of income. That was unchanged from a 12 months in the past.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ADP (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #5: Lowe’s Cos. Inc. (LOW)
Lowe’s Firms is the second-largest residence enchancment retailer within the US (after House Depot). The corporate was based in 1946 and is headquartered in Mooresville, NC.
Lowe’s operates or providers greater than 1,700 residence enchancment and {hardware} shops within the U.S.
On April 14, 2025, Lowe’s introduced it should purchase Artisan Design Group (ADG) for $1.325 billion. ADG designs, distributes, and installs inside floor finishes for flooring, cupboards, and counter tops.
In FY 2024, ADG generated $1.8 billion of income. The acquisition expands Lowe’s Professional providing into a brand new distribution channel in a $50 billion market. Lowe’s pays money for the enterprise, and the transaction is anticipated to shut in Q2 2025.
Lowe’s reported first quarter 2025 outcomes on Might twenty first, 2025. Whole gross sales got here in at $20.9 billion in comparison with $21.4 billion in the identical quarter a 12 months in the past. Comparable gross sales decreased by 1.7%, whereas web earnings-per-share of $2.92 in comparison with $3.06 in first quarter 2024.
Lowe’s was negatively impacted from unfavorable climate, partly offset by mid-single-digit Professional and on-line comparable gross sales progress.
The corporate repurchased $112 million of frequent inventory within the quarter. Moreover, it paid out $645 million in dividends.
Lowe’s reiterated its fiscal 2025 outlook and nonetheless expects to earn diluted EPS of $12.15 to $12.40 on whole gross sales of $83.5 to $84.5 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 beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #4: Middlesex Water Co. (MSEX)
Middlesex Water Firm was shaped in 1897. The corporate is a water and wastewater utility in New Jersey and Delaware. Middlesex has paid consecutive dividends since 1912.
First-quarter 2025 outcomes confirmed diluted earnings per share of $0.53 on web revenue of $9.5 million, in comparison with $0.59 and $10.7 million in Q1 2024—a decline pushed largely by a one-time restoration benefiting the prior 12 months.
Working income rose to $44.3 million, up $3.8 million year-over-year, because of price will increase, larger consumption, and buyer progress in its New Jersey and Delaware service areas.
The corporate accomplished the $4.6 million acquisition of Ocean View utility belongings in Delaware, including roughly 900 prospects.
Infrastructure funding reached $19 million within the quarter, with a full-year plan of $93 million, whereas a regulatory Distribution System Enchancment Cost (DSIC) software is anticipated to yield an extra $1.9 million in annual income.
The board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.34, persevering with a 52-year streak of annual dividend will increase.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on MSEX (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #3: Nordson Corp. (NDSN)
Nordson was based in 1954. Right now the corporate has operations in over 35 international locations and engineers, manufactures, and markets merchandise used for allotting adhesives, coatings, sealants, biomaterials, plastics, and different supplies, with functions starting from diapers and straws to cell telephones and aerospace.
The corporate generated $2.7 billion in gross sales final fiscal 12 months.
On Might twenty eighth, 2025, Nordson reported second quarter outcomes for the interval ending April 30, 2025. For the quarter, the corporate reported gross sales of $683 million, 5% larger in comparison with $651 million in Q2 2024, pushed by an 8% constructive acquisition influence, partly offset by 2% natural gross sales lower.
The Medical and Fluid Options, and Superior Know-how Options segments noticed gross sales improve by 20% and 18%, respectively, whereas Industrial Precision Options gross sales fell 8%. The corporate generated adjusted earnings per share of $2.42, a 3% improve in comparison with the identical prior 12 months interval.
The corporate’s backlog rose 5% sequentially.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on NDSN (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #2: Parker-Hannifin Corp. (PH)
Parker-Hannifin is a diversified industrial producer specializing in movement and management applied sciences. The corporate generates annual revenues of $20 billion.
Parker-Hannifin has elevated the dividend for 69 consecutive years.
Supply: Investor Presentation
In early Might, Parker-Hannifin reported (5/1/25) outcomes for the third quarter of 2025. Natural gross sales grew 1% over the prior 12 months’s quarter, as 12% progress in aerospace was virtually offset by declines in North American Enterprise and Worldwide Enterprise.
Adjusted earnings-per-share grew 7%, from $6.49 to $6.94, because of robust gross sales and a wider revenue margin in all segments.
Parker-Hannifin exceeded the analysts’ consensus by $0.22. Notably, Parker-Hannifin has exceeded the analysts’ EPS estimates for 39 consecutive quarters.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Parker-Hannifin (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Purchase and Maintain Dividend King #1: Nucor Corp. (NUE)
Nucor is the most important publicly traded US-based metal company based mostly on its market capitalization. The metal trade is notoriously cyclical, which makes Nucor’s streak of 52 consecutive years of dividend will increase much more outstanding.
On July 28, 2025, Nucor Company reported its monetary outcomes for the second quarter of 2025. The corporate achieved web earnings attributable to Nucor stockholders of $2.60 per diluted share, with web gross sales reaching $8.46 billion, up 8% from the second quarter of 2024. EBITDA was $1.30 billion, reflecting operational power.
All three reporting segments—metal mills, metal merchandise, and uncooked supplies—confirmed sequential earnings progress, pushed by larger common promoting costs in sheet and plate mills, steady pricing with elevated volumes, and improved scrap processing operations, respectively.
Whole tons shipped to outdoors prospects elevated 8% year-over-year to roughly 6,820,000, with metal mill shipments up 10%. Working charges at metal mills rose to 85%, in comparison with 80% within the prior quarter and 75% in the identical quarter final 12 months.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on NUE (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Further Studying
If you’re eager about discovering high-quality dividend progress shares and/or different high-yield securities and revenue securities, the next Positive Dividend sources will probably be helpful:
Different Positive Dividend Sources
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