The Educational Arm of The Oxford Club

We have several FREE e-letters that could help you out. Just take this short survey to see which one is best for you.

What’s Your IU IQ? – Find Out Now

Now more than ever, retirees and other income investors are looking for ways to increase their dividends. One way to keep dividend income rising is to peruse the Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Kings List. These lists include stocks that have increased their dividends for decades.

The Dividend Aristocrats List includes stocks in the S&P 500 that have not only paid but increased their dividends for at least 25 straight years. The consistency in dividend growth is no small feat. For instance, only about 65 stocks currently meet the criteria.

Even more prestigious is the Dividend Kings List. Dividend Kings extend the 25-year threshold for Dividend Aristocrats to at least 50 years of dividend increases. The more exclusive group of Dividend Kings includes companies from the Aristocrats list but leaves only 44 stocks that have reached 50 years or more.

Being on either list does not guarantee that a stock will stay on the list forever. In addition, it does not mean a stock’s dividend yield will suit an investor’s taste. However, increasing annual dividend income is a great way to fight inflation for folks who use dividends to pay their everyday expenses.

The longevity of dividend growth for the stocks on the Dividend Kings list could mean the stocks have a competitive advantage over other companies in their industries. Plus, there have been several recessions over the last 50 years. The fact that Dividend Kings have increased their dividends during recession years could mean they can do it again.

Let’s take a closer look at the stocks on the Dividend Kings List.

Some Dividend Kings have been on the list for over a decade, and some have just graduated to the Dividend Kings List from the Aristocrats List. Below is a current Dividend Kings List, including consecutive Years on the List and a short description.

These stocks are pushing for a level beyond Dividend Kings.

These stocks are well-established Dividend Kings.

These stocks have either made their 50th straight annual dividend or expect to pay it in 2022.

Several long-term dividend-paying stocks could move up to the big leagues in the next few years. They may offer dividend increases comparable to the Dividend Kings in the years to come. There is no need to wait for a stock to hit the Dividend Kings List for it to be a great stock to buy.

One could argue that the Dividend Kings list is just something someone made up, and being on the list doesn’t mean anything. For instance, stock can easily fall off the Dividend Kings List also. The criteria could change, but longevity is huge for long-term investors. Being included on the list is a tremendous accomplishment.

BJ Cook is a long-time stock nerd. He has held several roles in the equity research world and earned the right to use the CFA designation in 2014. When he’s not writing for Investment U, you can find him searching for new investment ideas. Outside the investment community, BJ is a die-hard Cubs fan.