Printed on December fifteenth, 2025 by Bob Ciura
The purpose of rational buyers is to maximize complete return below a given set of constraints. Dividends contribute a good portion of a inventory’s complete return.
As well as, shares that increase their dividends every year, even throughout recessions, can present excessive returns to shareholders over the long term.
This is the reason we imagine that buyers ought to give attention to proudly owning high-quality dividend-paying shares such because the Dividend Aristocrats, that are these corporations which have raised their dividends for at the very least 25 consecutive years.
Membership on this group is so unique that simply 69 corporations qualify as Dividend Aristocrat. We’ve got compiled an inventory of all Dividend Aristocrats and related monetary metrics like dividend yield and P/E ratios.
You’ll be able to obtain the complete listing of Dividend Aristocrats by clicking on the hyperlink under:
Disclaimer: Certain Dividend will not be affiliated with S&P International in any manner. S&P International owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The data on this article and downloadable spreadsheet relies on Certain 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 primarily based. Not one of the data on this article or spreadsheet is official knowledge from S&P International. Seek the advice of S&P International for official data.
Whereas previous efficiency will not be a assure of future outcomes, it may be helpful to look again to see which Dividend Aristocrats carried out the most effective.
Due to this fact, this text will talk about the ten best-performing Dividend Aristocrats over the previous 10 years.
Desk of Contents
The desk of contents under permits for simple navigation. The shares are listed by annualized complete returns over the previous 10 years, in ascending order.
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #10: Linde plc (LIN)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 16.8%
Linde plc, which was created by means of the merger of Germany-based industrial gases firm Linde AG and US-based industrial gases firm Praxair, is the world’s largest industrial fuel company.
The corporate produces, sells, and distributes atmospheric, course of, and specialty gases, together with high-performance floor coatings. It’s headquartered in Guildford, United Kingdom.
Linde plc launched its third quarter earnings ends in November. The corporate introduced that its revenues totaled $8.6 billion through the quarter, which was up 2% versus the prior 12 months’s quarter.
Linde was in a position to develop its margins over the past 12 months, as its adjusted working margin expanded by 10 foundation factors year-over-year.
Earnings-per-share through the third quarter totaled $4.21, which signifies that the corporate’s earnings-per-share progress got here in at 7% versus the earlier 12 months’s quarter.
Administration has a optimistic view concerning the foreseeable future, forecasting earnings-per-share in a variety of $16.35 to $16.45 for fiscal 2025, which represents a stable progress fee of round 6% in comparison with 2024.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on LIN (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #9: Dover Corp. (DOV)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 15.4%
Dover Company is a diversified international industrial producer with annual income approaching $8 billion. Dover consists of 5 reporting segments: Engineered Techniques, Clear Power & Fueling, Pumps & Course of Options, Imaging & Identification, and Local weather & Sustainability Applied sciences.
On August eighth, 2025, Dover introduced that it was elevating its dividend 2% for the September fifteenth, 2025 cost, marking 70 consecutive years of dividend progress. That is the second-longest dividend progress streak amongst U.S. corporations.
On October twenty third, 2025, Dover reported third quarter outcomes the interval ending September thirtieth, 2025. For the quarter, income grew 5.1% to $2.08 billion, however this was $30 million under estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.62 in contrast favorably to $2.27 within the prior 12 months and was $0.11 greater than anticipated.
For the quarter, natural income grew 1% whereas bookings had been up 8%. Natural gross sales had been down 7% for the Engineered Merchandise section as power in aerospace and protection had been offset by as soon as once more by decrease volumes in automobile companies.
Clear Power & Fueling grew 5% as a consequence of continued sturdy demand for clear vitality parts, fluid transportation, and retail fueling in North America. Imaging & Identification was larger by 3% as a consequence of progress in core marking and coding gear and serialization software program.
Local weather & Sustainability Applied sciences declined 7% as progress in CO2 programs, international warmth exchangers, and beverage can-making had been offset by continued weak point in meals retail door instances and companies.
Dover offered up to date steering for 2025 as properly, with the corporate now anticipating adjusted earnings-per-share in a variety of $9.50 to $9.60. On the midpoint, this could symbolize 15.2% progress from 2024.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on DOV (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #8: Nucor Corp. (NUE)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 16.8%
Nucor is the biggest publicly traded US-based metal company primarily based 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 exceptional. Nucor is a member of the Dividend Kings as a consequence of its dividend historical past.
On October 27, 2025, Nucor Company (NUE) offered outcomes for Q3 2025, reporting earnings considerably above expectations with internet earnings per diluted share of $2.63 and complete income of roughly $8.52 billion, reflecting a 14% year-over-year enhance pushed by stronger shipments and better common realized pricing.
The corporate famous metal mill shipments rose about 12% 12 months over 12 months to roughly 6.4 million tons, and exterior common gross sales value per ton elevated by roughly 5%.
Regardless of guiding earlier for weaker quarter-on-quarter outcomes — with EPS anticipated between $2.05 to $2.15 — Nucor’s efficiency benefited from favorable market dynamics together with decreased import competitors and resilient home demand.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on NUE (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #7: Brown & Brown (BRO)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 18.2%
Brown & Brown Inc. is a number one insurance coverage brokerage agency that gives threat administration options to each people and companies, with a give attention to property & casualty insurance coverage. Brown & Brown has a notably excessive stage of insider possession.
Brown & Brown posted third quarter earnings on October twenty seventh, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.05, which was 12 cents forward of estimates. Income soared 35% year-over-year because of acquisitions, beating estimates by $70 million at $1.61 billion.
Commissions and charges rose 34% year-over-year, whereas natural income (which excludes acquisitions) rose 3.5%. Revenue earlier than taxes was $311 million, which was off 2% year-over-year, with margin declining from 26.7% of income to 19.4%.
For the 9 months, income was up 19% year-over-year to $4.3 billion, with commissions and charges up 18%. Natural income progress was 4.6%. Revenue earlier than taxes was $1 billion, up 2%, on margin that fell from 28.4% to 24.4% of income. EBITDAC was $1.6 billion on EBITDAC margin that rose from 35.9% to 37.1% of income.
We’ve got barely boosted our estimate of earnings-per-share for this 12 months to $4.20. The corporate additionally boosted its dividend for the thirty second consecutive 12 months, elevating it by 10% to a brand new payout of 66 cents per share yearly.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on BRO (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #6: S&P International (SPGI)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 19.5%
S&P International is a worldwide supplier of monetary companies and enterprise data with income of over $15 billion. By its numerous segments, it offers credit score rankings, benchmarks and indices, analytics, and different knowledge to commodity market contributors, capital markets, and automotive markets.
S&P International has paid dividends repeatedly since 1937 and has elevated its payout for 52 consecutive years, and it is without doubt one of the latest members of the distinguished Dividend Kings.
S&P posted third quarter earnings on October thirtieth, 2025. The corporate noticed adjusted earnings-per-share of $4.73, which was 32 cents forward of estimates.
Earnings had been up sharply from $3.89 a 12 months in the past. Income was up nearly 9% year-on-year to $3.89 billion, beating estimates by $60 million.
Bills had been $2.22 billion, flat to the prior quarter, and up from $2.17 billion a 12 months in the past. Adjusted working margin expanded as soon as once more to 52.1% of income.
The corporate entered into an settlement to purchase non-public agency With Intelligence for $1.8 billion. The transaction is predicted to shut late this 12 months or early subsequent 12 months, and ought to be barely dilutive to EPS in 2026, adopted by accretion within the years after.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on SPGI (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #5: AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 20.1%
AbbVie is a biotechnology firm centered on creating and commercializing medication for immunology, oncology and virology. It was spun off by Abbott Laboratories in 2013 and has grow to be one of many largest gamers within the biotechnology trade.
AbbVie reported its third quarter earnings outcomes on October 31. The corporate was in a position to generate revenues of $15.8 billion through the quarter, which was 9% year-over-year progress.
Income was positively impacted by compelling progress from a few of its main medication, together with Skyrizi and Rinvoq, whereas Humira gross sales declined by 55% as a consequence of competitors from biosimilars and market share losses.
AbbVie earned $1.86 per share through the third quarter, which was 38% lower than the corporate’s earnings-per-share through the earlier 12 months’s quarter.
Earnings-per-share beat the consensus analyst estimate by $0.08. Steerage for 2025 adjusted earnings-per-share is $10.61 – $10.65.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on ABBV (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #4: W.W. Grainger (GWW)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 20.2%
W.W. Grainger, headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, is without doubt one of the largest business-to-business distributors of upkeep, restore, and operations (“MRO”) provides on the earth. The corporate was based in 1927 and generated gross sales of $17.2 billion in 2024.
On August 1st, 2025, W.W. Grainger posted its Q2 outcomes for the interval ending June thirtieth, 2025. For the quarter, revenues had been $4.55 billion, up 5.6% on a reported foundation and up 5.1% on a day by day, fixed forex foundation in comparison with final 12 months.
The Excessive-Contact Options section noticed gross sales develop by 2.5% on a reported foundation, and a pair of.8% on a day by day, fixed forex foundation as a consequence of broad-based progress throughout all geographies.
Within the Limitless Assortment section, gross sales had been up 19.7%. Income progress for the section was pushed by sturdy efficiency at each MonotaRO and Zoro.
Web earnings equaled $482 million, up 2.6% in comparison with Q2-2024. Web earnings was supported by sturdy expense leverage in Limitless Assortment, whilst gross margin declined 80 foundation factors to 38.5%, and working margin fell 20 foundation factors to 14.9%.
Margin strain in Excessive-Contact from tariff-related inflation was partially offset by enhancements at Zoro. Earnings-per-share got here in at $9.97, 4.8% larger year-over-year, and had been aided by a decrease share depend.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on GWW (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #3: Walmart Inc. (WMT)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 21.6%
Walmart traces its roots again to 1945 when Sam Walton opened his first low cost retailer.
The corporate has since grown into the biggest retailer on the earth, serving greater than 230 million prospects every week. Income ought to be round $700 billion this 12 months.
Walmart posted third-quarter earnings on November twentieth, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Earnings got here to 62 cents per share, which beat estimates by two cents.
Income was up 5.8% year-over-year to $179.5 billion, beating estimates by $4.33 billion. International e-commerce income was up 27%, which every section seeing progress of at the very least 20%.
Comparable gross sales within the US had been up 4.5% on broad-based power. Transactions had been up 1.8%, whereas the common ticket dimension rose 2.7%. Sam’s Membership comparable gross sales had been 3.8% larger, with membership earnings rising 7.1%.
Worldwide gross sales had been up 11% year-over-year to $33.5 billion. The promoting enterprise noticed 53% year-over-year progress through the quarter.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on WMT (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #2: Cintas Corp. (CTAS)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 24.9%
Cintas Company is the U.S. trade chief in uniform design, manufacturing & rental. The corporate additionally presents first support provides, security companies, and different business-related companies.
Cintas was based in 1968 and has grown to generate annual revenues of greater than $10 billion. It qualifies to be a member of the Dividend Aristocrats Index with 43 years of consecutive dividend will increase.
Cintas posted first quarter earnings on September twenty fourth, 2025, and outcomes had been largely in keeping with expectations, together with steering, so the inventory was little modified. Earnings-per-share got here to $1.20, which met expectations.
Income was up 8.8% year-over-year to $2.72 billion, and beat estimates barely. Natural income was up 7.8% in Q1, which excludes the impacts of acquisitions and foreign exchange translation.
Cintas posted internet earnings of $491 million, up 8.7% year-over-year, whereas internet earnings on a per-share foundation was up 9.1% because of share repurchases. Working earnings was up 10% year-on-year to $618 million, as working margin rose 30 foundation factors to 22.7% of income.
Cintas repurchased $347 million in inventory through the quarter, and paid $182 million in dividends.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on Cintas (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Finest Performing Dividend Aristocrat #1: Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
- 10-year annualized complete returns: 27.9%
Caterpillar is essentially the most outstanding producer of development and mining gear on the earth, diesel and pure fuel engines, industrial fuel generators and diesel-electric locomotives.
It operates in three major segments: Building Industries, Useful resource Industries and Power & Transportation, together with ancillary financing and associated companies by means of its Monetary Merchandise section.
On October twenty ninth, 2025, Caterpillar reported its Q3 outcomes for the interval ending September thirtieth, 2025. Income was $17.6 billion, a ten% enhance in comparison with final 12 months.
The Building Industries section posted a 7% year-over-year gross sales enhance, primarily pushed by larger gross sales quantity of $568 million and favorable forex impacts of $69 million, partially offset by unfavorable value realization of $262
million.
The Useful resource Industries section noticed a modest 2% enhance in gross sales, primarily as a consequence of larger gross sales quantity of $138 million, offset by unfavorable value realization of $61 million.
The Power & Transportation division delivered sturdy progress, with gross sales rising 17% to $8.4 billion, pushed by strong demand in oil & fuel and energy era.
Revenue on this section elevated 17% to $1.68 billion, benefiting from larger volumes and favorable pricing, partly offset by tariff-related manufacturing prices.
Caterpillar’s adjusted working revenue margin was 17.5%, down from 20.0% final 12 months. The compression in margins, alongside larger tariffs and prices, led to an adjusted earnings-per-share of $4.95, in comparison with $5.17 final 12 months.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on CAT (preview of web page 1 of three proven under):
Extra Studying
The next Certain Dividend databases include essentially the most dependable dividend growers in our funding universe:
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