Printed on June thirtieth, 2025 by Bob Ciura
Buyers searching for the very best shares for the long term ought to contemplate dividend progress shares.
Extra particularly, we consider shares that may increase their dividends annually, whatever the broader financial local weather, are the very best dividend shares to purchase and maintain.
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 complete downloadable spreadsheet of all 55 Dividend Kings (together with necessary monetary metrics reminiscent of dividend yields, payout ratios, and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking on the hyperlink beneath:
The record consists of 10 Dividend Kings with our highest Dividend Threat Rating of ‘A’ within the Positive Evaluation Analysis Database, that even have the best dividend progress charges.
The shares are sorted by dividend progress price, in ascending order.
Desk of Contents
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: RPM Worldwide (RPM)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 7.0%
RPM Worldwide manufactures, markets and distributes chemical merchandise to industrial, retail and specialty clients. The vast majority of gross sales are made to industrial clients.
On April eighth, 2025, RPM introduced earnings outcomes for the third quarter of fiscal yr 2025 for the interval ending February twenty eighth, 2025. For the quarter, income declined 2.6% to $1.48 billion, which was $30 million lower than anticipated.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of $0.35 in contrast unfavorably to $0.52 within the prior yr and was $0.15 beneath estimates. RPM’s outcomes had been negatively impacted by climate in addition to tough comparability in the identical interval of fiscal yr 2024.
Natural progress for the corporate declined 1.8% for the interval and forex translation decreased outcomes by 1.7%. This was partially offset by a 0.5% contribution from acquisitions.
Natural income for the Development Merchandise Group was down 1.7%, which follows a excessive single-digit enchancment within the prior yr. This phase was impacted by unfavorable climate circumstances that restricted building and restoration exercise.
Efficiency Coatings Group decreased 0.3% as good points in fiberglass and strengthened plastic constructions was offset by modest declines as a consequence of difficult comparisons.
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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Abbott Laboratories (ABT)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 7.0%
Abbott Laboratories, based in 1888, is likely one of the largest medical home equipment & tools producers on this planet, comprised of 4 segments: Diet, Diagnostics, Established Prescribed drugs and Medical Gadgets.
Abbott Laboratories offers merchandise in over 160 nations and employs 114,000 folks. 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% exterior 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 yr and was $0.02 forward of estimates.
U.S. gross sales grew 8.4% whereas worldwide was increased by 1.2%. Forex change 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.
Diet grew 6.8% organically in the course of the quarter as the corporate continues to see a restoration in market share of its toddler system enterprise following a stoppage of manufacturing in 2022. U.S. gross sales had been increased by 8.8% consequently.
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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Illinois Device Works (ITW)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 7.0%
Illinois Device Works is a diversified multi-industrial producer with seven distinctive working segments: Automotive, Meals Gear, Take a look at & Measurement, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Development Merchandise and Specialty Merchandise.
Final yr the corporate generated $15.9 billion in income. The corporate is geographically diversified, with greater than half of its income generated exterior of the USA.
On April thirtieth, 2025, Illinois Device Works reported first quarter 2025 outcomes for the interval ending March thirty first, 2025. For the quarter, income got here in at $3.8 billion, shrinking 3.4% year-over-year. Gross sales declined 3.7% within the Automotive OEM phase, the biggest out of the corporate’s seven segments.
In reality, each single considered one of ITW’s segments skilled income declines year-over-year. Meals Gear, Take a look at & Measurement and Electronics, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Development Merchandise and Specialty Merchandise all noticed income decline -0.7%, -6.3%, -0.9%, -0.8%, -9.2%, and -1.0% respectively.
Internet revenue equaled $700 million or $2.38 per share in comparison with $819 million or $2.73 per share in Q1 2024. Within the first quarter, ITW repurchased $375 million of its shares. Illinois Device Works reaffirmed its 2025 steering, nonetheless anticipating full-year GAAP EPS to be $10.15 to $10.55.
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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: S&P World (SPGI)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 8.0%
S&P World is a worldwide supplier of monetary companies and enterprise info and income of over $13 billion.
By means of its numerous segments, it offers credit score scores, benchmarks and indices, analytics, and different knowledge to commodity market individuals, capital markets, and automotive markets.
S&P World has paid dividends repeatedly since 1937 and has elevated its payout for 51 consecutive years.
S&P posted first quarter earnings on April twenty ninth, 2025, and outcomes had been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $4.37, which was 16 cents forward of estimates. Income was up 8.3% year-over-year to $3.78 billion, beating estimates by $70 million.
Rankings income was up 8% year-over-year, as transactions income rose 7% and non-transactions income rose 10%. Structured finance and financial institution loans had been key contributors to progress.
Market Intelligence was up 5% year-on-year as knowledge analytics and insights merchandise had been up 7%. Commodity Insights income was up 9%, supported by robust demand for vitality transition and sustainability merchandise. Indices income was up 15%, as asset-linked charges rose 18%.
Mobility income was up 9%, supported by CARFAX and Automotive Mastermind choices, partially offset by currency-related headwinds.
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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Computerized Information Processing (ADP)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 8.0%
Computerized Information Processing is likely one of the largest enterprise companies outsourcing firms on this planet. The corporate offers payroll companies, human sources expertise, and different enterprise operations to greater than 700,000 company clients. Computerized Information 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 yr in the past.
Income was up virtually 6% year-over-year to $5.6 billion, beating expectations by $110 million. Employer Companies income was $3.77 billion, up 5% year-over-year. Section 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 Companies income was $1.79 billion, up 7% year-over-year, with phase earnings up 7% to $253 million on pretax margin of 14.2% of income. That was unchanged from a yr 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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Lowe’s Corporations (LOW)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 8.1%
Lowe’s Corporations is the second-largest house enchancment retailer within the US (after Dwelling Depot). The corporate was based in 1946 and is headquartered in Mooresville, NC.
Lowe’s operates or companies greater than 1,700 house enchancment and {hardware} shops within the U.S.
On April 14, 2025, Lowe’s introduced it is going to 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. Complete gross sales got here in at $20.9 billion in comparison with $21.4 billion in the identical quarter a yr 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 complete 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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Middlesex Water Co. (MSEX)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 8.9%
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 yr.
Working income rose to $44.3 million, up $3.8 million year-over-year, because of price will increase, increased 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 clients.
Infrastructure funding reached $19 million within the quarter, with a full-year plan of $93 million, whereas a regulatory Distribution System Enchancment Cost (DSIC) utility is predicted 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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Nordson Corp. (NDSN)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 10.0%
Nordson was based in 1954. At the moment the corporate has operations in over 35 nations and engineers, manufactures, and markets merchandise used for shelling out 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 yr.
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% increased 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 enhance 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% enhance in comparison with the identical prior yr 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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: 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 yr’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):
Dividend King For The Lengthy Run: Nucor Corp. (NUE)
- Dividend Progress Fee: 12.7%
Nucor is the biggest 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 exceptional.
On April 28, 2025, Nucor Company reported its monetary outcomes for the primary quarter of 2025. The corporate posted web earnings attributable to stockholders of $156 million, or $0.67 per diluted share, a major lower from $845 million, or $3.46 per share, in the identical quarter of the earlier yr.
Adjusted web earnings, excluding one-time prices associated to facility closures and repurposing, had been $179 million, or $0.77 per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.64 per share.
Internet gross sales for the quarter had been $7.83 billion, down 4% year-over-year however up 11% sequentially, pushed by a ten% enhance in complete shipments to six.83 million tons, regardless of a 12% decline in common gross sales value per ton in comparison with the primary quarter of 2024.
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):
Remaining Ideas & Further Studying
Screening to search out the very best Dividend Kings just isn’t the one approach to discover high-quality dividend progress shares to carry without end.
Positive Dividend maintains comparable databases on the next helpful universes of shares:
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