10 Dividend Stocks To Build Retirement Income

Printed on December fifteenth, 2025 by Bob Ciura

Low rates of interest and excessive valuations have made it tough to seek out high quality high-yield investments for retirement earnings.

Troublesome, however not unimaginable.

That’s the place the Dividend Kings could be helpful.

Positive Dividend helps traders reside a extra comfy and stress-free retirement (or early retirement) by discovering high quality, high-yield investments.

We consider the Dividend Kings are among the many finest shares to purchase and maintain for the long term.

The Dividend Kings are a gaggle of simply 56 shares which have all elevated their dividends for a minimum of 50 consecutive years.

You possibly can obtain the total checklist, together with necessary monetary metrics akin to dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios, by clicking on the hyperlink beneath:

This text will talk about 10 prime Dividend Kings that match the next standards:

Present yields of a minimum of 2.5% (double the typical yield of the S&P 500)
Dividend Danger Scores of A or B
Buying and selling beneath honest worth

Learn on to find 10 prime dividend shares to construct retirement earnings.

Desk of Contents

The desk of contents beneath permits for simple navigation. The shares are listed by anticipated whole returns over the subsequent 5 years, in ascending order.

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #10: Consolidated Edison (ED)

Anticipated annual returns: 9.6%

Consolidated Edison is a holding firm that delivers electrical energy, pure gasoline, and steam to its prospects in New York Metropolis and Westchester County. The corporate has annual revenues of greater than $16 billion.

On November sixth, 2025, Consolidated Edison reported third quarter outcomes for the interval ending September thirtieth, 2025. For the quarter, income elevated 10.7% to $4.5 billion, which was $310 million forward of estimates.

Adjusted earnings of $686 million, or $1.90 per share, in comparison with adjusted earnings of $583 million, or $1.68 per share, within the earlier 12 months. Adjusted earnings-per-share had been additionally $0.15 higher than anticipated.

Common price base balances are nonetheless projected to develop by 8.2% yearly by means of 2029 primarily based off 2025 ranges. That is up from the corporate’s prior forecast of 6.4%. The corporate will replace its forecast by means of 2030 in February of subsequent 12 months.

Consolidated Edison nonetheless expects capital investments of $38 billion for the 2025 to 2029 interval, which was up from $28 billion beforehand. The corporate additionally expects capital investments of ~$72 billion over the subsequent decade.

Consolidated Edison supplied up to date steering for 2025 as properly, with the corporate now anticipating earnings-per-share in a variety of $5.60 to $5.70 for the 12 months, up from $5.50 to $5.70 beforehand.

The corporate expects 5% to 7% earnings progress from 2025 ranges by means of 2029.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #9: Goal Company (TGT)

Anticipated annual returns: 9.8%

Goal is a serious retailer with operations solely within the U.S. market. Its enterprise consists of about 1,850 massive field shops, which provide basic merchandise and meals, in addition to serving as distribution factors for the corporate’s burgeoning e-commerce enterprise.

Goal ought to produce greater than $100 billion in whole income this 12 months. The corporate additionally sports activities a particularly spectacular dividend enhance streak of 57 years.

Goal posted third quarter earnings on November nineteenth, 2025, and outcomes had been barely higher than anticipated. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.78, which was seven cents forward of estimates.

Income was $25.3 billion, assembly expectations, however declining simply over 1% year-over-year. Gross sales had been off 1.5% year-over-year, reflecting merchandise gross sales declines of 1.9%, partially offset by a 17.7% enhance in non-merchandise gross sales.

Comparable gross sales had been off 2.7%, lacking estimates for a 2.1% decline. Bodily retailer gross sales fell 3.8% on a comparable foundation, partially offset by digital comparable gross sales progress of two.4%.

Working earnings was $1.1 billion on an adjusted foundation, with gross margin off 10 foundation factors to twenty-eight.2% of income. This mirrored merchandising strain from elevated markdowns.

Share repurchases had been $152 million in the course of the quarter at a mean value of $91.59. The corporate has about $8.3 billion in remaining repurchase capability beneath the 2021 authorization that’s nonetheless incomplete.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #8: Nationwide Gasoline Fuel (NFG)

Anticipated annual returns: 10.7%

Nationwide Gasoline Fuel Co. is a diversified power firm that operates in 4 enterprise segments: Upstream & Gathering, Pipeline & Storage, Utility, and Power Advertising.

The most important section of the corporate is Exploration & Manufacturing. With 55 years of consecutive dividend will increase, Nationwide Gasoline Fuel qualifies to be a Dividend King.

In early November, Nationwide Gasoline Fuel reported (11/5/25) monetary outcomes for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. The corporate grew its manufacturing 21% over the prior 12 months’s quarter, primarily due to sturdy efficiency in new pads.

As well as, the typical realized value of pure gasoline grew 9%, from $2.40 to $2.61. Consequently, earnings-per-share surged 58%, from $0.77 to $1.22, and exceeded the analysts’ consensus by $0.11.

The corporate has crushed the analysts’ estimates in 22 of the final 26 quarters. Nationwide Gasoline Fuel supplied sturdy steering for fiscal 2026, anticipating earnings-per-share of $7.60-$8.10.

Accordingly, we count on earnings-per-share of $7.90. If this proves appropriate, it would mark 14% progress of earnings-per-share over the earlier 12 months.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #7: Hormel Meals (HRL)

Anticipated annual returns: 12.2%

Hormel was based again in 1891 in Minnesota. Since that point, the corporate has grown right into a juggernaut within the meals merchandise trade with practically $10 billion in annual income.

Hormel has stored with its core competency as a processor of meat merchandise for properly over 100 years, however has additionally grown into different enterprise strains by means of acquisitions.

Hormel has a big portfolio of category-leading manufacturers. Just some of its prime manufacturers embrace embrace Skippy, SPAM, Applegate, Justin’s, and greater than 30 others.

Hormel posted third quarter earnings on August twenty eighth, 2025, and outcomes had been very weak, together with disappointing steering for the fourth quarter.

Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to 35 cents, which was six cents mild of estimates. Income was up 4.5% year-over-year to $3.03 billion, beating estimates by $50 million. Natural web gross sales had been up 6% year-over-year on quantity features of 4%, with value and blend comprising the opposite 2%.

The corporate additionally famous its value financial savings program is working and serving to save about $125 million yearly. Gross revenue was flat year-on-year, with inflationary headwinds offset by prime line features. The corporate famous 400 foundation factors of uncooked materials value inflation, an enormous headwind to margins.

Money circulation from operations had been $157 million, whereas capex was $72 million, and dividends paid had been $159 million. Steering for This autumn was for web gross sales of ~$3.2 billion, about $50 million mild of consensus. Earnings are anticipated at ~39 cents.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #6: Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB)

Anticipated annual returns: 12.4%

The Kimberly-Clark Company is a worldwide client merchandise firm that operates in 175 international locations and sells disposable client items, together with paper towels, diapers, and tissues.

It operates by means of two segments that every home many widespread manufacturers: Private Care Phase (Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Rely, Poise) and the Shopper Tissue section (Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, and Viva), producing about $20 billion in annual income.

Kimberly-Clark posted third quarter earnings on October thirtieth, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains.

Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.82, which was seven cents forward of estimates. Income was flat year-over-year at $4.15 billion, however did finest estimates by $50 million.

Gross sales included destructive impacts of about 2.2% from the exit of the non-public label diaper enterprise within the US. Natural gross sales had been up 2.5%, which was pushed by a 2.4% achieve in quantity, whereas portfolio combine and value had been flat.

Gross margin was 36.8% of income on an adjusted foundation, off 170 foundation factors year-over-year. This mirrored sturdy productiveness features that had been greater than offset by unfavorable pricing web of value inflation.

Working revenue was $683 million on an adjusted foundation, pushed by decrease advertising and R&D prices, in addition to effectivity efforts. Internet curiosity expense was $59 million, up from $49 million a 12 months in the past.

We now see $7.50 in adjusted earnings-per-share for this 12 months, which might be the very best since 2020, if achieved. Individually, Kimberly-Clark introduced its intention to purchase Kenvue (KVUE) for $48.7 billion in a money and inventory deal.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #5: Sysco Corp. (SYY)

Anticipated annual returns: 12.9%

Sysco Company is the biggest wholesale meals distributor in the US and is increasing internationally. The corporate serves 600,000 areas with meals supply, together with eating places, hospitals, colleges, resorts, and different amenities.

In line with estimates, the corporate has a 16% market share of whole meals supply inside the US. The corporate has roughly 67,000 staff.

On October twenty eighth, 2025, Sysco reported first-quarter outcomes for Fiscal 12 months 2026. The corporate reported regular first-quarter fiscal 2026 outcomes, with gross sales rising 3.2% to $21.1 billion and gross revenue rising 3.9% as a consequence of efficient margin administration and strategic sourcing.

Regardless of the top-line progress, working earnings declined 1% to $800 million as working bills rose from capability and headcount investments. On an adjusted foundation, nonetheless, working earnings climbed 2.9% to $898 million, and adjusted EPS grew 5.5% to $1.15, outperforming expectations.

Sysco reaffirmed its full-year steering for 3–5% gross sales progress and 1–3% adjusted EPS progress, noting that outcomes stay on observe regardless of a year-over-year headwind from decrease prior-year incentive compensation.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #4: Computerized Knowledge Processing (ADP)

Anticipated annual returns: 14.0%

Computerized Knowledge Processing is without doubt one of the largest enterprise providers outsourcing firms on the planet. The corporate gives payroll providers, human assets expertise, and different enterprise operations to greater than 700,000 company prospects.

ADP posted first quarter earnings on October twenty ninth, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside strains. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $2.49, which was a nickel forward of estimates.

Income was up 7.2% year-over-year to $5.18 billion, beating estimates by $50 million. Bills had been $3.98 billion, down from $4.03 billion in This autumn, however increased from $3.70 billion a 12 months earlier.

Adjusted EBIT margin was 25.5% of income, up from 23.7% in This autumn and flat to 25.5% a 12 months in the past. Employer Companies income was $3.49 billion, up 7% year-over-year. Phase earnings had been $1.23 billion, up 6%, whereas pretax margin was down from 35.7% of income to 35.2%.

PEO Companies income was $1.69 billion, up 7% year-over-year, whereas section earnings fell to $219 million. Pretax margin was 13% of income, off from 14.3% a 12 months in the past.

The corporate raised its dividend to $1.70 per share quarterly, which was up 10.4% from the prior payout. That’s the 51st consecutive 12 months of dividend enhance.

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):

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #3: PepsiCo Inc. (PEP)

Anticipated annual returns: 14.5%

PepsiCo is a worldwide meals and beverage firm that generates $89 billion in annual gross sales. The corporate’s merchandise embrace Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Frito-Lay chips, Gatorade, Tropicana orange juice and Quaker meals.

The corporate has greater than 20 $1 billion manufacturers in its portfolio. On February 4th, 2025, PepsiCo elevated its annualized dividend by 5.0% to $5.69 beginning with the cost that was made in June 2025, extending the corporate’s dividend progress streak to 53 consecutive years.

On October ninth, 2025, PepsiCo reported third quarter earnings outcomes for the interval ending September thirtieth, 2025. For the quarter, income grew 2.7% to $23.9 billion, which beat estimates by $90 million. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.29 in contrast unfavorably to $2.31 the prior 12 months, however this was $0.03 higher than anticipated.

Natural gross sales grew 1.3% for the third quarter. For the interval, volumes for each drinks and meals had been down 1%. PepsiCo Drinks North America’s natural income grew 2% for the interval whilst quantity declined by 3%.

Income for PepsiCo Meals North America decreased 3%, largely as a consequence of divestitures. Meals quantity decreased 4%. The Worldwide Drinks section fell 1%, primarily as a consequence of decrease quantity. Revenues in Europe/Center East/Africa had been up 5.5%. Meals quantity declined 1%, however this was offset by a 1.5% achieve in drinks.

PepsiCo reaffirmed prior steering for 2025, with the corporate nonetheless anticipating natural gross sales within the low single-digit vary.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #2: PPG Industries (PPG)

Anticipated annual returns: 16.4%

PPG Industries is the world’s largest paints and coatings firm. Its solely opponents of comparable measurement are Sherwin-Williams and Dutch paint firm Akzo Nobel.

PPG Industries was based in 1883 as a producer and distributor of glass (its identify stands for Pittsburgh Plate Glass) and right now has roughly 3,500 technical staff situated in additional than 70 international locations at 100 areas.

On July seventeenth, 2025, PPG Industries raised its quarterly dividend 4.4% to $0.71, extending the corporate’s dividend progress streak to 54 consecutive years.

On October twenty eighth, 2025, PPG Industries reported third quarter outcomes for the interval ending September thirtieth, 2025. For the quarter, income declined 10.7% to $4.1 billion, however this was $50 million above estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.13 matched the prior 12 months’s end result, however this was $0.05 higher than anticipated.

Natural progress was 2% for the quarter as a consequence of increased costs and improved product quantity. Income for World Architectural Coatings, which was previously a part of Efficiency Coatings, grew 1% to $1.01 billion as increased costs and a profit from international foreign money translation was offset by weaker quantity and divestitures.

Latin America and Asia Pacific carried out properly in the course of the interval. Efficiency Coatings grew 3% to $1.41 billion as a consequence of increased costs that had been offset by weaker quantity. Aerospace, protecting and marine coatings, and site visitors options all had been increased for the quarter.

Income for Industrial Coatings was unchanged at $1.66 billion. Quantity grew 4%, however was offset by barely weaker pricing and divestitures. Automotive OEMs returned to progress in the course of the quarter, with quantity progress seen in all areas. This enterprise outpaced the worldwide automotive trade by ~300 foundation factors.

PPG Industries repurchased ~$150 million value of shares throughout Q3 and has retired ~$690 million value of shares year-to-date.

For 2025, the corporate now expects adjusted earnings-per-share in a variety of $7.60 to $7.70.

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

Dividend King To Construct Retirement Earnings #1: H2O America (HTO)

Anticipated annual returns: 20.3%

H2O America, previously often known as SJW Group, is a water utility firm that produces, purchases, shops, purifies and distributes water to customers and companies within the Silicon Valley space of California, the realm north of San Antonio, Texas, Connecticut, and Maine.

It additionally has a small actual property division that owns and develops properties for residential and warehouse prospects in California and Tennessee. The corporate generates about $670 million in annual revenues.

On July eighth, 2025, H2O America introduced that it bought Quadvest for $540 million. This buy provides to the corporate’s place within the Houston space.

Quadvest has 50,500 energetic connections, nearly 91,000 connections beneath contract and pending growth, 50 water remedy vegetation, 27 wastewater remedy vegetation, and 89 raise stations and underground belongings.

On October twenty eighth, 2025, H2O America reported third quarter outcomes for the interval ending September thirtieth, 2025. For the quarter, income improved 6.9% to $240.6 million, which beat estimates by $2.1 million.

Earnings-per-share of $1.27 in contrast favorably to earnings-per-share of $1.18 within the prior 12 months and was $0.09 higher than anticipated.

For the quarter, increased water charges general added $21.2 million to outcomes and better buyer utilization added $700K. Working manufacturing bills totaled $175.9 million, which was a 6% enhance from the prior 12 months.

The will increase had been as a consequence of increased pensions prices, salaries and wages, and inflationary will increase.

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