Printed on January ninth, 2025 by Bob Ciura
Dividends are a welcome signal for dividend buyers.
And dividend progress is much more appreciated.
When a inventory’s dividend per share is elevated, shareholders get a lift to their passive earnings – with out lifting a finger.
Dividend progress is measured in:
Years of consecutive will increase
Proportion or compound improve over plenty of years.
All different issues being equal, longer streaks and higher share will increase are most popular.
Longer streaks are most popular as a result of they present an organization can improve dividends over a variety of financial and aggressive environments. They present proof of a sturdy aggressive benefit. It’s no small feat to spice up a dividend year-after-year for many years at a time, via recessions, wars, and epidemics.
Better share dividend will increase are most popular as a result of they present that the corporate is keen and capable of pay extra to shareholders. It is a signal administration expects money movement progress and stability on a per share foundation.
With all this in thoughts, we created an inventory of all 66 Dividend Aristocrats, a bunch of shares within the S&P 500 Index, with 25+ years of dividend will increase.
There are at the moment 66 Dividend Aristocrats. You’ll be able to obtain an Excel spreadsheet of all 66 Dividend Aristocrats (with metrics that matter akin to dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking the hyperlink beneath:
Disclaimer: Positive Dividend is just not affiliated with S&P World in any approach. S&P World owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The knowledge on this article and downloadable spreadsheet relies on Positive Dividend’s personal evaluate, 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 data on this article or spreadsheet is official knowledge from S&P World. Seek the advice of S&P World for official data.
And since dividends are paid with precise money, they will’t be faked. An organization can’t pay dividends out of fictional earnings.
An organization can’t pay dividends for any significant size of time with out producing money flows to assist the dividend.
Dividend progress is a strong sign of an organization’s monetary well being, administration’s confidence, and dedication to long-term worth creation.
The next checklist is comprised of the ten greatest dividend shares utilizing the dividend progress sign.
These 10 Dividend Aristocrats have been chosen based mostly on their projected future 5-year annual earnings-per-share progress within the Positive Evaluation Analysis Database.
The shares are ranked by 5-year anticipated EPS progress charges, from lowest to highest.
Desk of Contents
You’ll be able to immediately soar to any particular part of the article by clicking on the hyperlinks beneath:
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: West Pharmaceutical Providers (WST)
West Pharmaceutical Providers manufactures packaging and parts concerned within the distribution and software of prescription drugs. The corporate’s merchandise embrace Zenith Crystal, a medical glass different, and SmartDose, an automated treatment supply system.
West Pharmaceutical Providers reported its second quarter earnings outcomes on July 25. The corporate reported that its revenues totaled $702 million, which represents a income decline of seven% in comparison with the prior 12 months’s quarter.
West Pharmaceutical Providers’ revenues have been decrease than what the analyst neighborhood had anticipated, in contrast to in the course of the earlier quarter, when it beat the consensus estimate. Revenues weren’t positively impacted by foreign money charge modifications in the course of the interval, in contrast to in the course of the earlier 12 months.
West Pharmaceutical Providers generated adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.52 in the course of the second quarter, which represents a decline of 28% in comparison with the prior 12 months’s quarter.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on WST (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: Cintas Company (CTAS)
Cintas Company is the U.S. trade chief in uniform design, manufacturing & rental. The corporate additionally gives first assist provides, security providers, and different business-related providers.
Cintas reported second quarter earnings on December nineteenth, 2024, and outcomes have been largely in keeping with expectations. Natural income was 7.1% within the quarter, which excludes foreign exchange translation and the impacts of acquisitions.
Income was up 7.6% year-on-year to $2.56 billion, assembly expectations. Earnings got here to $1.09 per share, which was seven cents forward of estimates.
Gross margin was $1.28 billion, up from $1.14 billion a 12 months in the past. As a share of income, gross margin was 49.8%, up 180 foundation factors from a 12 months in the past. Vitality bills have been 20 foundation factors decrease, contributing to among the margin achieve.
Working earnings was 18.4% larger, and was up 210 foundation factors as a share of income at 23.1%. On a greenback foundation, earnings got here to $449 million, up from $375 million a 12 months in the past, up 20%. On a per-share foundation, earnings have been $1.09, up from 90 cents.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on CTAS (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO)
Brown & Brown Inc. is a number one insurance coverage brokerage agency that gives threat administration options to each people and companies, with a concentrate on property & casualty insurance coverage. Brown & Brown has a notably excessive stage of insider possession.
Brown & Brown posted third quarter earnings on October twenty eighth, 2024, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to 91 cents, which was three cents forward of expectations.
Income was up over 10% year-over-year to $1.18 billion, and beat estimates by $10 million. Commissions and costs income rose 10.1%, whereas natural income rose 9.5%. Revenue earlier than taxes was $317 million, hovering 31% year-over-year. As a share of income, it rose from 22.7% to 26.7%.
Internet earnings was $234 million, up $58 million year-over-year. On a per-share foundation, internet earnings was up from 81 cents a 12 months in the past to 91 cents. Brown & Brown boosted its dividend by 15.4% to a brand new payout of 60 cents per share yearly. That is additionally the corporate’s thirty first 12 months of consecutive dividend will increase.
Its aggressive benefit comes from its willingness to execute small and frequent acquisitions. This growth-by-acquisition technique provides the corporate a permanent alternative to proceed rising its enterprise for the foreseeable future.
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):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: Emerson Electrical Co. (EMR)
Emerson Electrical is a diversified international chief in expertise and engineering. Its international buyer base and numerous product and repair choices afford it greater than $17 billion in annual income.
Emerson posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on November fifth, 2024, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $1.48 for the quarter, which was a penny forward of estimates.
Income was up 13% year-over-year to $4.62 billion, which was $60 million forward of expectations. Natural gross sales have been up 4%, with the steadiness accruing from internet acquisitions and divestitures.
Adjusted revenue margin was up 70 foundation factors year-over-year within the fourth quarter, rising to 26.2% of income. Working money movement was up 8% year-over-year to $1.073 billion, whereas free money movement was up 10% to $905 million.
Emerson additionally boosted its dividend for the 68th consecutive 12 months.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on EMR (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: Computerized Knowledge Processing, Inc. (ADP)
Computerized Knowledge Processing is likely one of the largest enterprise providers outsourcing firms on the planet. The corporate gives payroll providers, human sources expertise, and different enterprise operations to greater than 700,000 company prospects.
ADP posted first quarter earnings on October thirtieth, 2024, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $2.33, which was 12 cents forward of estimates.
Earnings have been up from $2.08 within the year-ago interval. Income was up 6.7% year-over-year to $4.8 billion, beating expectations by $30 million.
Administration famous income and margin efficiency exceeded expectations as the corporate benefited from new enterprise bookings, robust income retention and better shopper funds curiosity income.
Employer Providers income was $3.26 billion, up 7% year-over-year whereas section earnings grew 15% to $1.16 billion. That was ok from pretax margin to rise from 33.1% of income to 35.7%.
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):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: Roper Applied sciences (ROP)
Roper Applied sciences is a specialised industrial firm that manufactures merchandise akin to medical and scientific imaging gear, pumps, and materials evaluation gear.
Roper Applied sciences additionally develops software program options for the healthcare, transportation, meals, vitality, and water industries. The corporate was based in 1981, generates round $5.4 billion in annual revenues, and relies in Sarasota, Florida.
On October twenty third, 2024, Roper posted its Q3 outcomes for the interval ending September thirtieth, 2024. Quarterly revenues and adjusted EPS have been $1.76 billion and $4.62, indicating a year-over-year improve of 13% and seven%, respectively.
The corporate’s momentum in the course of the quarter remained robust, with natural progress coming in at 4% and acquisitions additional boosting top-line progress.
Natural progress was as soon as once more pushed by broad-based energy throughout its portfolio of niche-leading companies.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ROP (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: 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. Computerized Firm.
Right this moment the corporate has operations in over 35 nations and engineers, manufactures, and markets merchandise used for dishing 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 August 14th, 2024, Nordson elevated its dividend by 15% to $0.78 per share quarterly, marking 61 years of will increase.
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% larger in comparison with $719 million in This autumn 2023, which was pushed by a constructive acquisition impression, and offset by natural lower of three%.
Industrial Precision noticed gross sales lower by 3%, whereas the Medical and Fluid Options and Superior Expertise Options segments had gross sales will increase of 19% and 5%, respectively. The corporate generated adjusted earnings per share of $2.78, a 3% improve in comparison with the identical prior-year quarter.
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):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: 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 prospects every week. Income will possible be round $600 billion this 12 months.
Walmart posted second quarter earnings on August fifteenth, 2024, and outcomes have been glorious, sending the inventory hovering. Adjusted earnings-per-share beat estimates by two cents at 67 cents. Income was up nearly 5% year-over-year to $169.3 billion, and beat estimates by nearly $2 billion.
Walmart posted third quarter earnings on November nineteenth, 2024, and outcomes have been higher than anticipated on each the highest and backside traces, and by large margins for each.
Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to 58 cents, which was a nickel forward of estimates, or nearly 10%. Income was up 5.5% to $170 billion, which beat estimates by nearly $3 billion.
Comparable gross sales within the US have been up 5.3%, 150 foundation factors higher than anticipated. Transactions have been 3.1% larger in the course of the quarter, whereas common ticket was up 2.1%.
E-commerce gross sales rose 27% in the course of the quarter and was liable for greater than half of the overall comparable gross sales achieve.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on Walmart (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: Ecolab, Inc. (ECL)
Ecolab Inc. is the worldwide chief in water, hygiene, and vitality 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.
In late October, Ecolab reported (10/29/24) monetary outcomes for the third quarter of fiscal 2024. Natural gross sales grew 4% over the prior 12 months’s quarter, primarily due to robust progress within the Institutional section, which grew its gross sales 7%.
Due to larger volumes, materials value hikes and decrease provide chain prices, adjusted earnings-per-share grew 19%, from $1.54 to $1.83, and exceeded the analysts’ consensus by $0.01.
Furthermore, due to strong pricing and constructive gross sales momentum, administration barely improved its steering for earnings-per-share in 2024, from $6.50-$6.70 to $6.60-$6.70, implying 28% progress over the prior 12 months on the mid-point.
Click on right here to obtain our most up-to-date Positive Evaluation report on ECL (preview of web page 1 of three proven beneath):
Greatest Inventory Utilizing the Dividend Progress Sign: S&P World (SPGI)
S&P World is a worldwide supplier of monetary providers and enterprise data and income of over $13 billion. By means of its numerous segments, it gives credit score rankings, benchmarks and indices, analytics, and different knowledge 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 World posted third quarter earnings on October twenty fourth, 2024, and outcomes have been fairly robust as soon as once more. Adjusted earnings-per-share got here to $3.89, which was 25 cents forward of estimates. Earnings have been down from $4.04 in Q2, however a lot larger than $3.21 within the year-ago interval.
Income soared 16% larger year-on-year to $3.58 billion, which additionally beat estimates by $150 million. Progress within the Scores and Indices section led the highest line larger in Q3, though energy was broad.
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):
Further Studying
The Dividend Aristocrats are among the many greatest dividend progress shares to purchase and maintain for the long term. However the Dividend Aristocrats checklist is just not the one approach to rapidly display for shares that commonly pay rising dividends.
We have now compiled a studying checklist for extra dividend progress inventory investing concepts:
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