10 Healthcare Dividend Growth Stocks Poised For Exceptional Dividend Increases

Article up to date on Could twenty seventh, 2026 by Bob Ciura

The healthcare sector is house to a number of the hottest dividend shares in our funding universe.

The significance of healthcare within the lives of many customers makes this sector one of the crucial secure and recession-resistant in the complete inventory market, and permits well-managed healthcare corporations to lift their dividends yr in and yr out.

Clearly, this sector holds attraction for dividend development traders.

To that finish, we’ve compiled an inventory of over 300 healthcare shares (together with vital investing metrics like price-to-earnings ratios and dividend yields) which you’ll be able to obtain under:

The U.S. healthcare sector is enticing for long-term traders, as a result of the trade is ready to learn from a serious development tailwind—the growing old inhabitants.

The U.S. is an growing old nation with a really massive 65+ inhabitants. This implies demand for healthcare is barely set to develop going ahead, doubtless at a charge above GDP development.

Traders can capitalize on this development by contemplating healthcare dividend development shares.

The next 10 healthcare dividend shares have turn out to be extra enticing resulting from their latest worth declines, and may proceed to lift their dividends over the following a number of years.

Desk of Contents

The desk of contents under permits for simple navigation. The shares are listed by 5-year anticipated returns, in ascending order. The listing excludes worldwide shares.

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #10: Lemaitre Vascular (LMAT)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 14.7%

LeMaitre Vascular develops medical gadgets and implants to deal with peripheral vascular illness. Their choices embrace restore circulation allografts, angioscopes, embolectomy and thrombectomy catheters, occlusion and perfusion catheters, artery graft biologic grafts, carotid shunts, radiopaque tape, valvulotomes, vascular grafts, cardiac patches, and closure methods.

On February twenty fifth, 2026, LeMaitre introduced outcomes for the fourth quarter of 2025, reporting This fall non-GAAP EPS of $0.68 that beat analysts’ estimates by $0.02.

LeMaitre reported This fall gross sales of $64.5 million, up 16% year-over-year, with natural development at 15%. Efficiency was pushed by key product strains, notably grafts, valvulotomes, and carotid shunts, whereas geographically, EMEA and APAC stood out with development of 29% and 20%, respectively.

Gross margin improved to 71.7%, benefiting from increased common promoting costs and manufacturing efficiencies. Working earnings rose sharply by 47% to $18.8 million, as working bills elevated at a extra measured tempo, highlighting robust price self-discipline.

Full-year steering calls for about $280 million in gross sales, representing 12% development, alongside working earnings projected at $77.8 million on the midpoint, implying wholesome enlargement and sustained margin power.

Gross margin is anticipated to carry at 72.1%, whereas working margin is forecast to stay close to 28%. The corporate additionally introduced a 25% enhance in its quarterly dividend and licensed a $100 million share repurchase program.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #9: UnitedHealth Group (UNH)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 15.3%

UnitedHealth provides world healthcare companies to tens of tens of millions of individuals by way of a big selection of merchandise. The corporate has two main reporting segments: UnitedHealth and Optum.

It offers world healthcare advantages to people, employers, and Medicare/Medicaid beneficiaries. The Optum phase is a companies enterprise that seeks to decrease healthcare prices and optimize outcomes for its prospects.

UnitedHealth posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on January twenty seventh, 2026. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $2.11, which met expectations. Income was up greater than 12% year-over-year to $113.22 billion, however that missed expectations by $520 million.

The UnitedHealthcare insurance coverage phase noticed $87.1 billion to the highest line, which was about $400 million forward of estimates.

The phase’s medical care ratio was 92.4%, a lot worse than the 89.1% from a yr in the past. UnitedHealthcare supported 49.8 million prospects throughout the quarter.

The Optum division noticed $70.3 billion in income, which was pushed by pharmacy-benefits division. Optum supported 123 million prospects throughout the quarter. The corporate’s working price ratio was 12.9% on an adjusted foundation, flat year-over-year.

The corporate guided for at the very least $17.75 in adjusted earnings-per-share for 2026, however guided for income that was about $17 billion gentle of consensus.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #8: Cigna Group (CI)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 15.5%

Cigna is a number one supplier of insurance coverage services. The corporate’s merchandise embrace dental, medical, incapacity and life insurance coverage that it offers by way of employer-sponsored, government-sponsored, and particular person protection plans.

Cigna operates 4 enterprise segments, together with Evernorth, which offers pharmacy companies and profit administration, U.S. Medical, which offers business and authorities medical insurance, Worldwide Markets and Group Incapacity.

Evernorth contributes ~87% of annual revenues whereas Cigna Healthcare accounts for a lot of the remaining. Cigna has annual revenues of ~$275 billion.

On February fifth, 2026, Cigna elevated its quarterly dividend by 3.3% to $1.56. That very same day, Cigna reported fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025.

For the quarter, income grew 10.4% to $72.5 billion, which was $3.41 billion higher than anticipated. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $8.08 in contrast favorably to adjusted earnings-per-share of $6.64 within the prior yr and was $0.20 forward of estimates.

For the yr, income elevated 11.2% to $274.9 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $29.84 was up from $27.33 in 2024.

Complete buyer relationships elevated 3% to 188.4 million from the identical interval a yr in the past. Complete pharmacy prospects grew 4% to 123.6 million whereas whole medical prospects decreased 5% to 18.1 million.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #7: Pfizer Inc. (PFE)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 15.8%

Pfizer Inc. is a worldwide pharmaceutical firm specializing in pharmaceuticals and vaccines. Pfizer’s high merchandise are Eliquis, Prevnar household, Paxlovid, Comirnaty, Vyndaqel household, Ibrance, Xtandi, and Pacdev.

Pfizer had income of $62.6B in 2025.

Pfizer reported This fall 2025 outcomes on February third, 2026. Firm-wide income fell 1% and adjusted diluted earnings per share gained 5% to $0.66 versus $0.63 on a year-over-year foundation.

Pfizer is targeted on reorganizing its R&D construction to extend productiveness and simplify processes.

On the similar time, the agency is pursuing price financial savings by realigning applications and optimizing its manufacturing processes. The objective is $7.2B in whole web financial savings over 2024-2027. These actions ought to enhance margins and profitability.

After buying Metsara, Pfizer introduced the VESPER-3 Section 2 information for a month-to-month dosing GLP-1 method. The agency is trying to enter the weight problems market with this product and initiated VESPER-4 Section 3 trials.

Pfizer set income steering at $59.5B – $62.5B and adjusted diluted EPS steering at $2.80 – $3.00 in 2026.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #6: Mckesson Company (MCK)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 15.8%

McKesson has grown right into a powerhouse within the pharmaceutical and medical distribution trade and in the present day, generates greater than $400 billion in annual income.

McKesson posted third quarter earnings on February 4th, 2026, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains. The corporate noticed $9.34 in adjusted earnings-per-share, which beat estimates by seven cents.

Income was up 11.4% year-over-year to $106.2 billion, which was $290 million higher than anticipated. The corporate barely narrowed its steering vary for the yr with one quarter remaining.

Adjusted earnings-per-share is now anticipated to be round $39, and we’ve up to date our estimate accordingly.

Q3 outcomes had been aided by development in North American Pharma, which was resulting from elevated prescription volumes from retail nationwide accounts, and distribution development of oncology and multispecialty merchandise.

Gross revenue was $3.7 billion, up 10% year-over-year. Working bills had been up 7% to $2.1 billion, whereas working revenue was $1.7 billion. That was up 13% year-over-year.

Free money circulation was $1.1 billion for the quarter, and the trailing 4 quarters have seen $9.6 billion in FCF.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #5: Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 16.4%

Abbott Laboratories, based in 1888, is without doubt one of the largest medical home equipment & tools producers on this planet, comprised of 4 segments: Diet, Diagnostics, Established Prescribed drugs and Medical Units.

Abbott Laboratories offers merchandise in over 160 international locations and employs 114,000 individuals. 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 January twenty second, 2026, Abbott Laboratories launched fourth quarter and full yr outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, income grew 4.5% to $11.46 billion, however this missed estimates by $340 million.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.50 in comparison with $1.34 within the prior yr and was $0.01 higher than anticipated. For the yr, income grew 5.7% to $44.3 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $5.15 in comparison with $4.67 in 2024.

For This fall, U.S. gross sales grew 0.9% whereas worldwide was increased by 6.7%. Foreign money alternate was a 1.4% headwind for the interval.

Abbott Laboratories supplied steering for 2026 as nicely, with the corporate anticipating adjusted earnings-per-share in a spread of $5.55 to $5.80 for the yr. On the midpoint, this might characterize development of 10.3% from 2025.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #4: Becton Dickinson & Co. (BDX)

Annual Anticipated 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 workers throughout 190 international locations.

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 resulting from development in Pharmacy Automation and power in Superior Affected person Monitoring.

BioPharma was up 1% to $429 million resulting from double-digit development in Biologics. Interventional climbed 5.1% to $1.33 billion, largely resulting from increased demand for the PureWick franchise and Superior Tissue Regeneration.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #3: Stryker Corp. (SYK)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 17.7%

Stryker is a worldwide chief within the medical system sector. The corporate’s product strains embrace surgical tools, neurovascular merchandise and orthopedic implants.

On December eleventh, 2025, Stryker reported that it was elevating its quarterly dividend 4.8% to $0.88 per share, extending the corporate’s dividend development streak to 32 consecutive years.

On January twenty ninth, 2026, Stryker introduced fourth quarter and full yr outcomes. For the quarter, income grew 11.8% to $7.2 billion, which beat estimates by $80 million.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of $4.47 in contrast favorably to $4.01 within the prior yr and was $0.07 higher than anticipated. For the yr, income elevated 11.2% to $25.1 billion whereas adjusted earnings-per-share of $13.63 in comparison with $12.19 in 2024.

Natural income development stays robust, with the corporate posting development of 11% for the quarter and 10.3% for the yr.

For the quarter, quantity was up 10.9% and better costs added 0.1% to outcomes. MedSurg and Neurotechnology had gross sales of $4.6 billion, which represented 12.6% natural development. Orthopaedics grew 8.4% to $2.6 billion.

Quantity grew 12.5% for MedSurg and Neurotechnology and was up 8.5% for Orthopaedics. Costs had been increased by 0.1% for MedSurg and Neurotechnology and whereas Orthopaedics fell 0.1%.

Stryker supplied steering for 2026 as nicely. The corporate expects natural income development in a spread of 8.0% to 9.5%.

Adjusted earnings-per-share are forecasted to be in a spread of $14.90 to $15.10. On the midpoint, this might characterize development of 10.1% from 2025.

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

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #2: Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 22.4%

Eli Lilly develops, manufactures, and sells prescribed drugs all over the world, 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 had 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 forex alternate 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 under):

Healthcare Dividend Development Inventory #1: Zoetis Inc. (ZTS)

Annual Anticipated Returns: 23.9%

Zoetis focuses on animal well being, together with discovering, growing, manufacturing, and commercializing medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic merchandise.

Biodevices, genetic checks, and precision livestock farming complement the corporate’s choices. The Vaccine phase is the most important income producing phase, with 22% of the full income, whereas the US generates 54% of the income.

Zoetis reported its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 outcomes on February twelfth, 2026, delivering strong full-year efficiency.

For the fourth quarter, income grew 3% year-over-year to $2.39 billion, with 4% natural operational development. Adjusted web earnings elevated 3% to $648 million, whereas adjusted diluted EPS rose 6% to $1.48.

Reported diluted EPS was $1.37, up 6% from the prior yr. For the complete yr, income elevated 2% to $9.47 billion, representing 6% natural operational development.

Adjusted web earnings rose 6% to $2.85 billion, and adjusted diluted EPS climbed 8% to $6.41, up from $5.92 in 2024.

Reported diluted EPS was $6.02, a ten% enhance year-over-year. Efficiency was supported by continued power within the companion animal portfolio.

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