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Jan 31, 2025 Read More
Learn about Dividend Kings - the 56 elite companies that have increased dividends for 50+ consecutive years. Discover what makes them special and how to invest.
If you think 25 years of consecutive dividend increases is impressive, meet the Dividend Kings - an elite group of companies that have raised their dividends for 50 or more consecutive years. These are the true champions of dividend reliability.
Looking for the complete list? View all 56 Dividend Kings →
A Dividend King is a company that has increased its annual dividend payment for at least 50 consecutive years. Unlike Dividend Aristocrats, Dividend Kings do not need to be members of the S&P 500 - any publicly traded company can qualify if it meets the 50-year requirement.
This distinction matters because it allows smaller companies with exceptional dividend track records to earn the prestigious King title.
| Criteria | Dividend Kings | Dividend Aristocrats |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Years | 50+ years | 25+ years |
| S&P 500 Required | No | Yes |
| Companies (2025) | 56 | 69 |
| Average Yield | ~2.8% | ~2.5% |
Many Dividend Kings are also Dividend Aristocrats (if they're in the S&P 500), but not all Aristocrats are Kings - they haven't reached the 50-year milestone yet.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Companies | 56 |
| Average Years of Increases | 57 years |
| Longest Streak | American States Water (70 years) |
| Highest Yield | Altria (6.5%) |
These companies have been raising dividends since before many investors were born:
| Company | Ticker | Years | Sector | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American States Water | AWR | 70 | Utilities | 2.7% |
| Emerson Electric | EMR | 69 | Industrials | 1.6% |
| Northwest Natural | NWN | 69 | Utilities | 4.3% |
| Dover Corporation | DOV | 68 | Industrials | 1.2% |
| Procter & Gamble | PG | 68 | Consumer Staples | 2.8% |
| Parker-Hannifin | PH | 68 | Industrials | 1.0% |
| Genuine Parts | GPC | 67 | Consumer Disc. | 3.1% |
American States Water has been raising dividends since 1954 - through 14 presidential administrations, multiple wars, the space race, the internet revolution, and countless economic cycles.
A 50-year dividend growth streak is extraordinary. To achieve it, a company must have successfully navigated:
Any company that maintained and grew dividends through all of these challenges has demonstrated remarkable financial resilience.
Dividend Kings tend to share common characteristics:
Dividend Kings cluster in stable, defensive sectors:
| Sector | Companies | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Consumer Staples | 15 | 27% |
| Industrials | 12 | 21% |
| Utilities | 10 | 18% |
| Financials | 6 | 11% |
| Healthcare | 5 | 9% |
| Materials | 5 | 9% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 2 | 4% |
| Real Estate | 1 | 2% |
No Technology or Communication Services companies qualify - these sectors are too young, and tech companies often prefer buybacks over dividends.
Water, gas, and electric utilities dominate the Kings list due to their stable, regulated revenue:
Everyday products people buy regardless of economic conditions:
Manufacturing and industrial conglomerates:
Pharmaceutical and medical device giants:
Select specific Dividend Kings that match your criteria. This works best if you:
Tips for selecting Kings:
While there's no pure "Dividend Kings ETF," several funds have significant King exposure:
| ETF | Ticker | Focus | King Overlap |
|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares S&P 500 Aristocrats | NOBL | 25+ year growers | High |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation | VIG | 10+ year growers | Moderate |
| Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity | SCHD | Quality dividends | Moderate |
Create a diversified Dividend Kings portfolio:
Conservative approach:
Balanced approach:
Growth-focused approach:
Here's what a $100,000 investment in Dividend Kings could generate:
| Strategy | Avg Yield | Year 1 Income | Year 10 Income* |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Yield | 4.0% | $4,000 | $5,920 |
| Balanced | 2.8% | $2,800 | $4,145 |
| Growth | 2.0% | $2,000 | $3,475 |
*Assumes 4% annual dividend growth and dividend reinvestment
Use our dividend calculator to project your specific income.
Even Kings face risks:
Companies can lose their streak by:
When a King loses status, the stock often drops significantly as disappointed investors sell.
Kings are concentrated in defensive sectors. If you invest only in Kings, you'll have:
Quality comes at a price. Dividend Kings often trade at premium valuations, which can limit upside and increase downside risk if sentiment shifts.
These mature companies typically grow earnings at 3-6% annually. If you're seeking aggressive capital appreciation, Kings may underperform growth stocks.
These companies are close to achieving King status:
| Company | Ticker | Current Years | Expected Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pentair | PNR | 49 | 2026 |
| Leggett & Platt | LEG | 49* | TBD |
*Watch for any dividend actions that could affect streaks.
Here's a practical approach to incorporating Kings into your portfolio:
Don't put all your eggs in utilities and consumer staples. Spread across:
Automatically reinvest dividends to compound your returns. With Kings paying dividends for 50+ years, you know those reinvested dividends will likely keep growing.
Ready to invest in Dividend Kings?
Learn how dividends are taxed and use our calculator to estimate your tax bill. Understand qualified vs ordinary dividends and discover tax-saving strategies.
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