Printed on April 14th, 2026 by Bob Ciura
The S&P 500 Index is the world’s best-known and most widely known inventory market index.
The index contains 500 firms and covers roughly 80% of obtainable market capitalization.
As international trade leaders, the businesses that comprise the S&P 500 broadly get pleasure from sturdy aggressive benefits, together with extensive financial moats.
In flip, their energy and stability permits lots of the S&P 500 firms to boost their dividends every year.
With this in thoughts, we created an inventory of shares which have elevated their dividends for over 10 consecutive years. We collectively refer to those dividend development shares as blue chips.
You may obtain your free copy of the blue chip shares checklist by clicking beneath:
There are presently greater than 500 securities in our blue chip shares checklist.
Maintain studying to see our checklist of the ten finest S&P 500 shares for anticipated whole returns over the subsequent 5 years.
Desk of Contents
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #10: S&P International (SPGI)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 19.9%
S&P International is a worldwide supplier of monetary providers and enterprise info with income of over $15 billion.
Via its varied segments, it offers credit score rankings, benchmarks and indices, analytics, and different information 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 celebrated Dividend Kings.
S&P posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on February tenth, 2026, and outcomes have been combined. The corporate beat income estimates barely, with the highest line rising 9.2% year-over-year to $3.92 billion, $10 million higher than anticipated.
Earnings, nonetheless, got here to $4.30 per share on an adjusted foundation, lacking estimates by 4 cents. Administration famous prime line development was sturdy in all divisions, as income from subscription merchandise rose 8% year-over-year. Earnings have been off from $4.73 per share in Q3, however larger year-over-year from $3.77 in final yr’s This fall.
Bills have been $2.51 billion, a lot larger from Q3 and the year-ago interval, which have been $2.22 billion and $2.33 billion, respectively. Nonetheless, that was ok for working margin to increase to 47.3% of income from 43.6% a yr earlier.
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):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #9: Residents Monetary (CFG)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 20.2%
Residents Monetary Group is a financial institution holding firm for Residents Financial institution, a regional financial institution that’s based mostly in Windfall, Rhode Island.
Residents operates in two segments: Shopper Banking and Business Banking. The patron phase affords conventional banking services and products.
The business phase affords a full suite of monetary services and products to companies, together with treasury administration, money administration, foreign exchange and rate of interest threat options, M&A advisory providers, and extra.
Residents traces its roots again to 1828 and operates about 1,000 branches in 11 states within the U.S. Residents ought to generate roughly $9 billion in income this yr.
Residents posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on January twenty first, 2026, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains, if solely barely.
Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.13, which was two cents forward of estimates. Earnings rose from $1.05 within the third quarter, and from 83 cents a yr earlier.
Income was up 9.1% year-over-year to $2.16 billion, which beat estimates narrowly. Internet curiosity revenue was $1.54 billion, up from $1.49 billion 1 / 4 in the past, and $1.41 billion a yr earlier.
We begin 2026 with an estimate of $5.10 in adjusted earnings-per-share.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on CFG (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #8: Brown & Brown, Inc. (BRO)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 20.4%
Brown & Brown Inc. is a number one insurance coverage brokerage agency that gives threat administration options to each people and companies, with a deal with property & casualty insurance coverage.
Brown & Brown posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on January twenty seventh, 2026, and outcomes have 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 truly down 3%, with development in income coming fully 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 circulation from operations was $1.45 billion for the yr, up 24% from 2024. Adjusted EBITDAC was $529 million.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on BRO (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #7: Paychex, Inc. (PAYX)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 20.6%
Paychex offers payroll accounting, advantages and human useful resource providers to companies that make use of between 10 and 200 workers.
It offers providers to greater than 700,000 small and medium-sized companies, primarily within the U.S.
The corporate operates two segments: Administration Options, which offers employers with payroll and retirement sources, and PEO & Insurance coverage, which affords outsourced human useful resource providers and insurance coverage.
Paychex has elevated its dividend for 14 consecutive years.
On March twenty fifth, 2026, Paychex introduced earnings outcomes for the third quarter of fiscal yr 2026. For the quarter, income grew 19.9% to $1.81 billion, which was $30 million forward of estimates.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.71 in comparison with $1.49 within the prior yr and was $0.04 higher than anticipated.
For the quarter, income for Administration Options improved 23% to $14 billion. Of this development, 19% was from the addition of Paycor.
The corporate noticed a rise within the variety of shoppers served in Human Assets Options and development in income per consumer.
PEO & Insurance coverage Options elevated 9% to $397.5 million. This phase noticed development in variety of common workers per worksite and positive factors in insurance coverage income. Curiosity on funds held for shoppers was up 33% to $56.8 million.
Paychex reaffirmed prior steerage for fiscal yr 2026. Income continues to be projected to develop 16.5% to 18.5% year-over-year for the fiscal yr. Adjusted earnings-per-share is predicted to be up 10% to 11% for the yr.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on PAYX (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #6: Meta Platforms (META)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 20.8%
Meta Platforms is a know-how conglomerate recognized for its social media platforms, together with Fb, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
It has additionally been investing in rising applied sciences equivalent to augmented actuality (AR) and digital actuality (VR) by its Oculus subsidiary.
With practically 4 billion folks logging into no less than one in every of Meta’ platforms each month, the corporate attracts practically 20% of all international promoting income, second solely to Alphabet (GOOGL), which instructions a considerable 40% market share.
Meta Platforms generates $201 billion in annual income, and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
On January twenty eighth, 2026, Meta Platforms launched its This fall and full-year outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025.
Income got here in at $59.9 billion, up 24% year-over-year. This development was largely pushed by document vacation promoting demand and vital efficiency positive factors from AI-powered advert concentrating on and advice instruments.
Particularly, Meta’s Household day by day lively folks (DAP) reached 3.58 billion in December, a 7% enhance year-over-year. Advert impressions delivered throughout the Household of Apps rose 18%, whereas the typical worth per advert elevated 6%.
Regardless of these heavy investments, the corporate maintained a wholesome 41% working margin. EPS reached $8.88, up 11% in comparison with final yr. For the total yr, EPS got here in at $23.49.
For FY2026, we count on EPS of $30.00, excluding any one-off objects.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Meta (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #5: Automated Knowledge Processing (ADP)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 21.5%
Automated Knowledge Processing is without doubt one of the largest enterprise providers outsourcing firms on the earth.
The corporate offers payroll providers, human sources know-how, and different enterprise operations to greater than 700,000 company prospects.
ADP posted second quarter earnings on January twenty eighth, 2026, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains.
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 larger 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, the corporate guided for income development of 6% for this yr, adjusted EBIT margin of ~60 foundation factors, and adjusted diluted earnings-per-share development of 9% to 10%.
ADP has elevated its dividend for over 50 consecutive years, qualifying it as a Dividend King.
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):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #4: Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AJG)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 23.0%
A.J. Gallagher was based in 1927 as a business insurance coverage dealer targeted on threat administration. It affords insurance coverage and threat administration applications.
The brokerage phase makes up greater than 80% of whole insurance coverage income, whereas the chance administration enterprise is the stability. It generates over $14 billion in annual income.
Gallagher posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on January twenty ninth, 2026, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains.
The corporate noticed adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.38, which was three cents forward of estimates. Income was up nearly 34% year-on-year to $3.63 billion because of vital acquisition exercise prior to now yr, and beat estimates by $70 million.
For the total yr, income was up 21%, natural income grew 6%, and adjusted EBITDAC was up 26%. Administration famous that the property enterprise was down 5%, whereas casualty strains have been up 5%.
The dividend was raised by 7.7% to a brand new annualized payout of $2.80. This was the sixteenth consecutive yr of dividend will increase for Gallagher.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on AJG (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #3: Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 24.5%
Eli Lilly develops, manufactures, and sells prescribed drugs around the globe, and has about 47,000 workers globally. Eli Lilly has annual income of $59 billion.
On December eighth, 2025, Eli Lilly elevated its quarterly dividend 15.3% to $1.73, extending the corporate’s dividend development streak to 12 years.
On February 4th, 2026, Eli Lilly launched fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025.
For the quarter, income improved 42.6%% to $19.3 billion, which was $1.35 billion above estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $7.54 in contrast very favorably to adjusted earnings-per-share of $5.32 within the prior yr and was $0.61 higher than anticipated.
For the yr, income was up 45% to $65.2 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $24.21 in comparison with $12.99 in 2024.
Volumes have been up 46% for the quarter, however this was partially offset by a 5% decline in realized costs. U.S. income grew 43% to $12.9 billion, as quantity was up 50% and pricing was decrease by 7%.
Worldwide revenues improved 43% to $6.4 billion as volumes grew 38% whereas favorable foreign money trade added 4% to outcomes..
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on LLY (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #2: Intuit Inc. (INTU)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 27.0%
Intuit is a cloud-based accounting and tax preparation software program large, headquartered in Mountain View, California.
Its merchandise present monetary administration, compliance, and providers for customers, small companies, self-employed
staff, and accounting professionals worldwide.
Its hottest platforms embrace QuickBooks, TurboTax, Mint, and TSheets. Cumulatively they serve greater than 100 million prospects.
The corporate recorded $18.8 billion in income final yr and is headquartered in Mountain View, California.
On February twenty sixth, 2026, Intuit posted its fiscal Q2 outcomes for the interval ending January thirty first, 2026. This was one other sturdy quarter, with International Enterprise Options revenues up 18% year-over-year to $3.2 billion.
Particularly, QuickBooks On-line Accounting revenues grew 24% year-over-year, pushed by larger efficient costs, buyer development, and mix-shift.
On-line Ecosystem income elevated 21% to $2.5 billion, whereas On-line Providers revenues grew 18%, pushed by development in cash and payroll choices. Whole worldwide on-line income grew 9% on a constant-currency foundation.
Adjusted EPS grew by 25% year-over-year, to $4.15.
Administration reiterated its outlook for FY2026. Income is predicted to be in a variety of $20.997 billion to $21.186 billion, implying a development price of about 12% to 13% from final yr.
For 2026, adjusted EPS is predicted to be between $22.98 and $23.18, implying a year-over-year development of about 14% to fifteen%.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on INTU (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Finest S&P 500 Inventory #1: Factset Analysis Techniques (FDS)
- Anticipated Annual Returns: 27.8%
FactSet Analysis Techniques, a monetary information and analytics agency based in 1978, offers built-in monetary info and analytical instruments to the funding neighborhood within the Americas, Europe, the Center East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
The corporate offers perception and data 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 have been pushed by continued demand from institutional buy-side and dealmakers shoppers.
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 stress, money technology remained sturdy, 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 authorized 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 beneath):
Further Studying
In case you are curious about discovering high-quality dividend development shares and/or different high-yield securities and revenue securities, the next Positive Dividend sources can be helpful:
Different Positive Dividend Assets
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