Printed on March 4th, 2025 by Bob Ciura
Spreadsheet information up to date each day
We suggest long-term buyers give attention to high-quality dividend shares. To that finish, we view the Dividend Aristocrats as among the many greatest dividend shares to buy-and-hold for the long term.
The Dividend Aristocrats have a protracted historical past of outperforming the market in relation to risk-adjusted returns. There are at present 69 Dividend Aristocrats.
You possibly can obtain an Excel spreadsheet of all 69 Dividend Aristocrats (with metrics that matter corresponding to dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking the hyperlink beneath:
Disclaimer: Certain Dividend just isn’t affiliated with S&P World in any approach. S&P World owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The data on this article and downloadable spreadsheet is predicated on Certain Dividend’s personal evaluation, 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 based mostly. Not one of the info on this article or spreadsheet is official information from S&P World. Seek the advice of S&P World for official info.
This text begins with an outline of the Dividend Aristocrats listing. Then, we listing our high 10 excessive development Dividend Aristocrats.
The listing beneath is comprised of 10 Dividend Aristocrats, all of which have raised their dividends for over 25 years in a row, and are included within the S&P 500 Index.
This text will listing the ten Dividend Aristocrats with the best returns anticipated to return from earnings development. This doesn’t analyze anticipated complete returns, however relatively how a lot future earnings development will issue into the anticipated complete returns.
These 10 Dividend Aristocrats shouldn’t have excessive dividend yields as we speak. However with their outsized dividend development potential, these 10 Dividend Aristocrats are optimum dividend shares to purchase and maintain for the long term.
Desk of Contents
Dividend Aristocrats Overview
The necessities to be a Dividend Aristocrat are:
- Be within the S&P 500
- Have 25+ consecutive years of dividend will increase
- Meet sure minimal dimension & liquidity necessities
All Dividend Aristocrats are high-quality companies based mostly on their lengthy dividend histories. An organization can not pay rising dividends for 25+ years with out having a powerful and sturdy aggressive benefit.
However not all Dividend Aristocrats make equally good investments as we speak. That’s the place the spreadsheet on this article comes into play. You should use the Dividend Aristocrats spreadsheet to rapidly discover high quality dividend funding concepts.
The listing of all 69 Dividend Aristocrats is effective as a result of it offers you a concise listing of all S&P 500 shares with 25+ consecutive years of dividend will increase (that additionally meet sure minimal dimension and liquidity necessities).
A sector breakdown of the Dividend Aristocrats Index is proven beneath:
The highest 2 sectors by weight within the Dividend Aristocrats are Industrials and Client Staples. The Dividend Aristocrats Index is tilted towards Client Staples and Industrials relative to the S&P 500.
These 2 sectors make up over 40% of the Dividend Aristocrats Index, however lower than 20% of the S&P 500.
The Dividend Aristocrats Index can also be considerably underweight the Data Know-how sector, with a ~3.5% allocation in contrast with over 20% allocation throughout the S&P 500.
The next 10 Dividend Aristocrats have sturdy enterprise fashions, sturdy aggressive benefits, and long-term dividend development potential.
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #10: Lowe’s Firms (LOW)
Lowe’s Firms is the second-largest dwelling enchancment retailer within the US (after Dwelling Depot). It operates or providers greater than 1,700 dwelling enchancment and {hardware} shops within the U.S.
Lowe’s reported fourth quarter 2024 outcomes on February twenty sixth, 2025. Whole gross sales got here in at $18.60 billion in comparison with $18.55 billion in the identical quarter a yr in the past.
Comparable gross sales elevated by 0.2%, whereas internet earnings-per-share of $1.99 in comparison with $1.77 in fourth quarter 2023.
Adjusted EPS was decrease at $1.93. Lowe’s continues to be negatively impacted from a discount in DIY discretionary spending.
The corporate repurchased 5.5 million shares within the quarter for $1.4 billion. Moreover, it paid out $650 million in dividends.
Lowe’s initiated its fiscal 2025 outlook and 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 Certain Evaluation report on LOW (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #9: Emerson Electrical Co. (EMR)
Emerson Electrical is a diversified international chief in know-how and engineering. Its international buyer base and numerous product and repair choices afford it greater than $17 billion in annual income.
Emerson posted first quarter earnings on February fifth, 2025, and outcomes had been blended. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.38, which was a dime forward of estimates. Income was up 1.5% year-over-year to $4.18 billion, however missed estimates by $40 million.
Underlying gross sales rose 2%, and adjusted phase EBITDA margin was 28% of income, a 340-basis level enchancment from the year-ago interval. Gross revenue reached a document degree of 53.5% of income, supported by operational efficiencies, value controls, and acquisition synergies.
Free money circulate was $694 million, up 89% year-over-year, with working capital enhancements being the first driver. Emerson’s backlog rose to $7.3 billion, excluding foreign exchange translation impacts.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on EMR (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #8: Real Elements Co. (GPC)
Real Elements has the world’s largest international auto components community, with greater than 10,800 areas worldwide. As a significant distributor of automotive and industrial components, Real Elements generates annual income of practically $23 billion.
It operates two segments, that are automotive (consists of the NAPA model) and the economic components group which sells industrial alternative components to MRO (upkeep, restore, and operations) and OEM (unique gear producer) clients.
Prospects are derived from a variety of segments, together with meals and beverage, metals and mining, oil and fuel, and well being care.
Supply: Investor Presentation
The corporate reported its third-quarter 2024 outcomes, with gross sales reaching $6.0 billion, a 2.5% enhance from the earlier yr.
Web revenue fell to $227 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, down from $351 million in Q3 2023. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) additionally decreased to $1.88 in comparison with $2.49 final yr.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on GPC (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #7: Ecolab, Inc. (ECL)
Ecolab Inc. is the worldwide chief in water, hygiene, and power applied sciences and providers, with a presence in additional than 170 nations.
The corporate operates in 4 main enterprise segments: World Industrial, World Institutional, World Healthcare and World Pest Elimination.
Supply: Investor Presentation
In mid-February, Ecolab reported (2/11/25) monetary outcomes for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Natural gross sales grew 4% over the prior yr’s quarter, primarily because of accelerated development within the Industrial and Healthcare segments.
Due to greater volumes, materials worth hikes and decrease provide chain prices, adjusted earnings-per-share grew 17%, from $1.55 to $1.81, and exceeded the analysts’ consensus by $0.01.
Furthermore, because of sturdy pricing and new enterprise wins, administration offered sturdy steering for 2025. It expects earnings-per-share of $7.42-$7.62, implying 13% development over the prior yr on the mid-point.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on ECL (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #6: Roper Applied sciences Inc. (ROP)
Roper Applied sciences is a specialised industrial firm that manufactures merchandise corresponding to medical and scientific imaging gear, pumps, and materials evaluation gear.
Roper Applied sciences additionally develops software program options for the healthcare, transportation, meals, power, and water industries. The corporate was based in 1981, generates round $5.4 billion in annual revenues, and is predicated in Sarasota, Florida.
On January thirtieth, 2025, Roper posted its This autumn and full-year outcomes for the interval ending December thirty first, 2024. Quarterly revenues and adjusted EPS had been $1.88 billion and $4.81, indicating up 16% and 10% year-over-year, respectively.
Supply: Investor Presentation
The corporate’s momentum throughout the quarter remained sturdy, with natural development coming in at 7% and acquisitions pushed development coming in at 9%.
Natural development was as soon as once more pushed by broad-based power throughout its portfolio of area of interest main companies. For the yr, adjusted EPS grew by virtually 10% to $18.31.
Backed by Roper’s development momentum, steadiness sheet power, and a big pipeline of high quality acquisition alternatives, administration believes Roper is effectively positioned for continued double-digit money circulate development.
Additional, Roper launched its adjusted EPS steering for FY2025, anticipating it to land between $19.75 and $20.00.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on ROP (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #5: W.W. Grainger (GWW)
W.W. Grainger, headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, is among the world’s largest business-to-business distributors of upkeep, restore, and operations (“MRO”) provides.
Grainger has greater than 4.5 million energetic clients, with greater than 30 million merchandise supplied globally.
On January thirty first, 2025, W.W. Grainger posted its This autumn and full-year outcomes. For the quarter, revenues had been $4.23 billion, up 5.9% on a reported foundation and up 4.7% on a each day, fixed forex foundation in comparison with final yr.
Outcomes had been pushed by strong efficiency throughout the board. The Excessive-Contact Options phase achieved gross sales development of 4.0% because of quantity development in all geographies.
Supply: Investor Presentation
Within the Countless Assortment phase, gross sales had been up 15.1%. Income development for the phase was pushed by core B2B clients throughout the phase in addition to enterprise buyer development at MonotaRO.
Web revenue equaled $475 million, up 20.2% in comparison with This autumn-2023. Web revenue was boosted by a 110 foundation level growth within the working margin to fifteen.0%.
Earnings-per-share got here in at $9.74, 22.8% greater year-over-year, and had been additional aided by inventory buybacks. For the yr, EPS reached a document $38.71.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on GWW (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #4: Nordson Corp. (NDSN)
Nordson was based in 1954 in Amherst, Ohio by brothers Eric and Evan Nord, however the firm can hint its roots again to 1909 with the U.S. Automated Firm.
Right this moment the corporate has operations in over 35 nations and engineers, manufactures, and markets merchandise used for meting out adhesives, coatings, sealants, biomaterials, plastics, and different supplies, with functions starting from diapers and straws to cell telephones and aerospace.
Supply: Investor Presentation
On December eleventh, 2024, Nordson reported fourth quarter outcomes for the interval ending October thirty first, 2024. For the quarter, the corporate reported gross sales of $744 million, 4% greater in comparison with $719 million in This autumn 2023, which was pushed by a optimistic acquisition affect, and offset by natural lower of three%.
Industrial Precision noticed gross sales lower by 3%, whereas the Medical and Fluid Options and Superior Know-how Options segments had gross sales will increase of 19% and 5%, respectively.
The corporate generated adjusted earnings per share of $2.78, a 3% enhance in comparison with the identical prior yr interval.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on NDSN (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #3: Walmart Inc. (WMT)
Walmart traces its roots again to 1945 when Sam Walton opened his first low cost retailer. The corporate has since grown into one of many largest retailers on the planet, serving over 230 million clients every week.
Income will doubtless be round $600 billion this yr.
Walmart posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on February twentieth, 2025, and outcomes for This autumn had been sturdy. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to 66 cents, which was a penny forward of estimates for This autumn.
Income was up 4.2% year-over-year to $180.6 billion, which beat estimates by $1.6 billion. World ecommerce gross sales had been up 16%, led by store-fulfilled pickup and supply, in addition to US market.
The timing of Flipkart’s Huge Billion Days gross sales occasion negatively impacted gross sales. The worldwide promoting enterprise grew 29%, with the US phase rising 24%.
Comparable gross sales excluding gasoline had been up 4.6% year-over-year, with transactions rising 2.8%, and common ticket rising 1.8%.
On-line gross sales rose 20%, which contributed 2.9% of the general 4.6% achieve. Sam’s Membership noticed comparable gross sales rise 5.7%, and up 7.1% excluding gasoline gross sales.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on Walmart (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #2: S&P World Inc. (SPGI)
S&P World is a worldwide supplier of monetary providers and enterprise info and income of over $13 billion.
By means of its varied segments, it gives credit score scores, benchmarks and indices, analytics, and different information to commodity market contributors, capital markets, and automotive markets.
S&P World has paid dividends constantly since 1937 and has elevated its payout for 51 consecutive years.
S&P posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on February eleventh, 2025, and outcomes had been significantly better than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces.
Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $3.77, which was a staggering 30 cents forward of estimates. Earnings rose from $3.13 a yr in the past.
Income was up 14% year-over-year to $3.59 billion, beating estimates by $90 million. The corporate posted income development in all of its working segments, along with sturdy working margin growth.
Working bills rose barely from $2.26 billion to $2.33 billion year-over-year. That led to working revenue of $1.68 billion, sharply greater from $1.39 billion a yr in the past.
With dividend development above 10%, SPGI is among the rock strong dividend shares.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on SPGI (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Excessive Progress Dividend Aristocrat #1: Nucor Corp. (NUE)
Nucor is the biggest publicly traded US-based metal company based mostly on its market capitalization. The metal business is notoriously cyclical, which makes Nucor’s streak of 52 consecutive years of dividend will increase much more outstanding.
Nucor Company reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings on January 28, 2025, highlighting sturdy operational efficiency regardless of ongoing challenges within the metal business.
The corporate posted internet earnings of $287 million, or $1.22 per share, and $8.46 per share for the complete yr. EBITDA reached $751 million for the quarter and practically $4.4 billion for the yr.
Supply: Investor Presentation
Nucor ended 2024 with $4.1 billion in money, reflecting its sturdy monetary place.
As a commodity producer, Nucor is susceptible to fluctuations within the worth of metal. Metal demand is tied to building and the general economic system.
Traders ought to concentrate on the numerous draw back danger of Nucor as it’s prone to carry out poorly in a protracted recession.
That stated, Nucor has raised its base dividend for 52 straight years. This means the power of its enterprise mannequin and administration crew.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Certain Evaluation report on NUE (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Further Studying
The Dividend Aristocrats are among the many greatest dividend development shares to purchase and maintain for the long term. However the Dividend Aristocrats listing just isn’t the one technique to rapidly display screen for shares that commonly pay rising dividends.
We have now compiled a studying listing for extra dividend development inventory investing concepts:
Thanks for studying this text. Please ship any suggestions, corrections, or inquiries to [email protected].
