2026 Dividend Champions

The 2026 Dividend Champions: Updates, Performance, and Analysis

This article provides an updated list of the Dividend Champions in 2026, select financial data, and analysis. The list and data are updated monthly.

The Dividend Champions 2026 companies on United States stock exchanges have raised their dividend for 25+ consecutive years. This list is a select list of only 150 companies. This number is from nearly 6,000 companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ in 2026, indicating a success rate of approximately 2.5%.

This list is not one of the best or top Dividend Champions. Instead, it is an informational source to assist in making investment decisions. Lastly, the Dividend Champions list was first created in 2008 by David Fish (deceased in 2018). He originally started the list in the Dividend Investing Resource Center.


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Market Update for the 2026 Dividend Champions

The Dividend Champions 2026 are currently trading at an elevated valuation of a trailing average price-to-earnings ratio of about 22.73X. This multiple is down from its peak of more than 31X in May 2021. The forward P/E ratio is more reasonable at 17.90 times earnings.

The current average dividend yield is about 2.54%. The average trailing 10-year dividend growth rate is about 6.22%, and the average past 5-year dividend growth rate is around 5.90%. On average, the payout ratio is approximately 55.60%. The mean market cap is currently $59,368 million. 

Currently, the Dividend Champion with the highest yield is Universal Health Realty (UHT), the one trading with the lowest trailing earnings multiple is the Bank of Utica (BKUT), and the one with the lowest forward earnings multiple is RenaissanceRe Holdings (RNR).

The updated, selected financial data and the dividend earnings calendar for each stock in the Dividend Champions list are in the tables below. The most recent dividend increases are also available to search.

According to Stock Rover*, in the trailing 1-year, the Dividend Champions 2026 have returned +17.5% (blue line) compared to +22.54% for the S&P 500 Index (red line), as seen in the chart below. Over the trailing 5-years, this group of stocks has returned +61.3%, and the S&P 500 has returned +86.8%.

Dividend Champions 2026 Trailing 1-Year Returns
Source: Stock Rover

List of Dividend Champions in 2026

Stock Rover* was used to create this table. Sign up to gain access to data, charts, and screeners.

TickerCompany NameNo. YearsDividend Yield (%)10-yr Dividend Growth Rate (%)Payout Ratio (%)TTM P/E RatioMarket Cap (millions)
ABBVAbbVie542.8011.70326.00n/a$441,539
ABMABM Indus582.605.8042.5017.1$2,619
ABTAbbott Laboratories542.709.3066.9026.5$164,427
ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland532.605.7091.5035.2$38,064
ADPAutomatic Data Processing512.8012.4060.3022.5$96,447
AFLAflac442.0011.5026.8014$62,091
ALBAlbemarle291.302.90n/an/a$15,145
ANDCAndover Bancorp433.600.8035.009.7$41
ANDEAndersons301.102.6020.9018.9$2,417
AOSA.O. Smith322.4011.6037.1015.8$8,134
APDAir Products442.507.7075.9031.2$66,289
AROWArrow Financial303.004.3037.5013.1$669
ARTNAArtesian Resources333.703.6055.0015.1$349
ATOAtmos Energy422.309.1045.6021.5$29,164
ATRAptarGroup321.504.8031.5021.3$7,942
AWRAmerican States Water712.408.4057.7024.5$3,286
BANFBancFirst321.7010.5026.1015.6$3,829
BDXBecton Dickinson542.804.80105.6026.3$41,565
BENFranklin Resources463.906.2099.2025.7$17,677
BF.BBrown-Forman423.705.4059.8016.5$11,689
BKHBlack Hills563.805.3070.8019.1$5,578
BKUTBank Of Utica (ny)313.004.3014.805.1$152
BMIBadger Meter331.1014.9034.6032.8$4,231
BRCBrady401.101.9022.0020.3$4,191
BROBrown & Brown321.0010.4018.1022.1$22,994
CAHCardinal Health400.901.4031.1035.7$54,750
CASSCass Information Systems252.506.7047.0022.1$665
CASYCasey's General Stores270.3010.0011.8042.9$30,418
CATCaterpillar330.707.0029.4046.7$432,214
CBChubb331.204.0013.6012.3$134,897
CBSHCommerce Bancshares561.907.1026.4014.3$8,495
CBUCommunity Financial Sys332.804.2045.4016.1$3,483
CCFNMuncy Columbia Financial302.102.6023.7011.4$307
CFRCullen/Frost Bankers342.706.7039.0015.1$9,742
CHDChurch & Dwight Co301.305.6039.1031.5$22,668
CHRWC.H. Robinson Worldwide271.303.9050.1039.1$22,720
CINFCincinnati Financial662.107.0020.1010$27,138
CLColgate-Palmolive652.303.1080.0035.3$72,825
CLXClorox485.304.9080.1015.1$11,254
CPKFChesapeake Financial331.906.1015.709$177
CSLCarlisle Companies491.3013.9025.1019.3$13,353
CTASCintas431.0018.4036.2037.5$71,100
CTBICommunity Trust Bancorp453.005.5036.0012.6$1,301
CVXChevron394.105.20120.0030.3$346,637
CWTCalifornia Water Servs Gr592.606.9061.8024.6$2,939
DCIDonaldson311.406.2031.8023.9$10,298
DOVDover701.002.2025.7026.5$28,490
EBCEastern Bankshares272.40n/a28.7012.3$4,768
ECLEcolab341.107.6037.1036.9$77,050
EDConsolidated Edison523.202.9057.8018.6$40,637
EFSIEagle Financial Services363.104.5032.6010.6$217
EMREmerson Electric691.601.6049.8032$77,181
ENBEnbridge315.206.20181.8026.3$121,184
EPDEnterprise Prods Partners285.903.4080.6013.8$80,677
ERIEErie Indemnity362.407.2046.1022.7$12,957
ESEversource Energy284.305.9065.2015.8$27,803
ESSEssex Property Trust323.604.90115.9032.8$18,873
ETREntergy322.304.2062.3029.1$53,159
EXPDExpeditors International321.007.3024.8027.6$22,315
FASTFastenal272.0012.3079.0041$53,245
FDSFactSet Research Systems271.908.8029.2015.9$8,603
FELEFranklin Electric341.1010.8032.1030.7$4,492
FFMRFirst Farmers Financial353.0012.5027.609.3$474
FMAOFarmers & Merchants313.107.2034.7011.4$408
FMCBFarmers & Merchants611.604.6017.909.7$917
FRTFederal Realty Investment583.701.9077.7020.9$10,526
FULH.B. Fuller571.805.8027.9016.3$2,963
GDGeneral Dynamics351.707.7037.8023.6$101,748
GGGGraco291.6010.4035.9023.9$12,147
GPCGenuine Parts703.404.90n/an/a$17,102
GRCGorman-Rupp531.006.1033.5035.5$2,096
GWWW.W. Grainger540.707.4024.3036.8$64,439
HRLHormel Foods604.807.30137.1028.7$13,389
HTOH2O America582.908.1057.8021.1$2,569
IBMIBM312.301.9058.3026.1$277,548
ITTITT300.8012.0025.2034$17,254
ITWIllinois Tool Works622.4011.3058.7024.6$76,841
JKHYJack Henry & Associates361.608.1032.8021$10,673
JNJJohnson & Johnson642.105.3059.6030$623,709
KMBKimberly-Clark544.703.4079.3021.3$36,490
KOCoca-Cola642.604.2064.6026$355,514
KVUEKenvue634.30n/a98.5022.8$36,825
LECOLincoln Electric Holdings301.309.5031.5025.5$13,496
LINLinde331.207.9040.2034.8$242,991
LOWLowe's Companies632.4015.7040.5018$119,430
MATWMatthews International333.805.40336.7090.1$841
MCDMcDonald's492.707.6059.6022.8$196,447
MDTMedtronic483.505.3075.7022.1$105,462
MGEEMGE Energy502.304.9048.1021$3,086
MGRCMcGrath RentCorp351.706.9030.8018.2$2,814
MKCMcCormick & Co403.708.4030.908.6$13,860
MOAltria Group565.906.5087.7015$119,547
MSAMSA Safety561.305.0028.5022.7$6,479
MSEXMiddlesex Water532.606.1058.3022.7$1,015
MZTIThe Marzetti633.607.2060.8017.5$3,074
NCNACCO Industries412.20-0.2035.1016.6$358
NDSNNordson621.2013.1034.4030.6$15,955
NEENextEra Energy322.9011.1058.8022.1$181,656
NFGNational Fuel Gas562.803.2028.7010.7$7,563
NIDBNortheast Indiana Bancorp303.206.1025.808.2$56
NJRNew Jersey Resources303.307.1055.3017.2$5,892
NNNNNN REIT365.203.30116.1022.7$8,848
NUENucor531.004.1022.0022.1$50,622
NWFLNorwood Financial344.104.5045.8011.5$340
NWNNorthwest Natural Hldg704.000.5067.1017$2,088
ORealty Income325.203.10265.0051.8$59,159
ORIOld Republic Intl453.105.3028.4010.2$10,063
OZKBank OZK323.7011.7028.908.2$5,476
PEPPepsiCo544.307.0075.2018.1$188,316
PGProcter & Gamble702.905.0060.6021.5$341,954
PHParker Hannifin700.8012.2026.2035$119,677
PIIPolaris314.102.10n/an/a$3,744
PNRPentair501.40-2.0024.8018.7$12,050
PPGPPG Indus542.505.9039.9016.6$25,847
PSBQPSB Holdings331.501.8019.2014.2$200
RLIRLI511.206.1014.9014$5,529
RNRRenaissanceRe Holdings310.502.802.705.2$13,284
ROPRoper Technologies331.0011.7021.0022.2$35,920
RPMRPM International522.107.0040.2019.9$13,191
RTXRTX321.501.0050.4036.6$262,872
SCLStepan592.807.60n/an/a$1,282
SEICSEI Investments351.107.2016.9016.2$11,394
SHWSherwin-Williams481.0011.1030.1031.9$81,890
SJMJM Smucker294.005.10n/an/a$11,849
SOMESomerset Trust Holding262.303.9016.407.3$194
SONSonoco Products503.903.9020.709$5,443
SPGIS&P Global530.9010.4024.4027.4$128,156
SRCE1st Source402.109.1023.9012.4$1,952
SWKStanley Black & Decker583.804.20135.1035.6$13,496
SYKStryker321.108.8039.4037.9$125,735
SYYSysco562.705.7059.8022.8$39,485
TGTTarget583.507.4059.7017.5$60,075
TMPTompkins Financial402.904.3021.807.9$1,322
TNCTennant551.504.5071.6050.8$1,453
TRTootsie Roll Industries581.003.0026.5028.6$2,172
TROWT. Rowe Price Group404.409.2054.7012.6$25,079
TRPTC Energy263.604.50152.2028.5$71,375
TYCBCalvin B. Taylor362.304.6026.0011.4$172
UBSIUnited Bankshares523.301.4041.9012.9$6,329
UHTUniversal Health Realty406.901.40232.0034$617
ULUnilever433.702.9047.0020.7$126,565
UMBFUMB Financial341.205.8014.5012.6$10,921
UVVUniversal566.504.50251.5039.5$1,282
WABCWestamerica Bancorp323.202.1041.0013$1,370
WLYJohn Wiley & Sons332.801.4033.7012.1$2,543
WMTWalmart530.904.0033.4039.5$892,976
WSTWest Pharmaceutical Servs330.306.2011.4047.9$25,267
WTRGEssential Utilities343.606.8069.1019.7$10,928
XOMExxonMobil Holdings433.003.2068.0023.2$569,764
YORWYork Water293.003.9060.8020.6$490
WSTWest Pharmaceutical Servs330.306.2011.4044.1$23,377
WTRGEssential Utilities343.706.8069.1019.2$10,655
XOMExxon Mobil432.703.2068.0025.4$624,477
YORWYork Water283.003.9060.8020.6$490

Dividend Calendar for the Dividend Champions 2026

Stock Rover* was used to create this table. Sign up to track your dividends and income.

TickerCompanyEx-Div. DateDiv. Record DateDiv. Payment DateDividend FrequencyNext Div. Payment Per ShareFwd. Div. Per Share
ABBVAbbVie7/15/267/15/268/14/264$1.73 $6.92
ABMABM Indus7/2/267/2/268/3/264$0.29 $1.16
ABTAbbott Laboratories7/15/267/15/268/17/264$0.63 $2.52
ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland5/20/265/20/266/10/264$0.52 $2.08
ADPAutomatic Data Processing6/12/266/12/267/1/264$1.70 $6.80
AFLAflac5/20/265/20/266/1/264$0.61 $2.44
ALBAlbemarle6/12/266/12/267/1/264$0.41 $1.62
ANDCAndover Bancorp6/10/266/10/267/1/262$0.38 $0.76
ANDEAndersons7/1/267/1/267/22/264$0.20 $0.80
AOSA.O. Smith4/30/264/30/265/15/264$0.36 $1.42
APDAir Products7/1/267/1/268/10/264$1.81 $7.24
AROWArrow Financial5/12/265/12/265/26/264$0.30 $1.20
ARTNAArtesian Resources5/15/265/15/265/29/264$0.32 $1.25
ATOAtmos Energy5/26/265/26/266/8/264$1.00 $4.00
ATRAptarGroup5/6/265/6/265/27/264$0.48 $1.89
AWRAmerican States Water5/18/265/18/266/2/264$0.50 $2.02
BANFBancFirst6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.49 $1.96
BDXBecton Dickinson6/9/266/9/266/30/264$1.05 $4.20
BENFranklin Resources6/29/266/29/267/10/264$0.33 $1.32
BF.BBrown-Forman6/10/266/10/267/1/264$0.23 $0.92
BKHBlack Hills5/15/265/15/266/1/264$0.70 $2.81
BKUTBank Of Utica (ny)6/30/266/30/267/14/262$9.75 $19.50
BMIBadger Meter5/22/265/22/266/5/264$0.40 $1.60
BRCBrady7/10/267/10/267/31/264$0.25 $0.98
BROBrown & Brown5/11/265/11/265/20/264$0.17 $0.64
CAHCardinal Health7/1/267/1/267/15/264$0.52 $2.05
CASSCass Information Systems6/5/266/5/266/15/264$0.32 $1.28
CASYCasey's General Stores7/31/268/1/268/14/264$0.65 $2.36
CATCaterpillar7/20/267/20/268/19/264$1.63 $6.52
CBChubb6/12/266/12/267/2/264$1.02 $4.08
CBSHCommerce Bancshares6/5/266/5/266/23/264$0.28 $1.10
CBUCommunity Financial Sys6/15/266/15/267/10/264$0.47 $1.88
CCFNMuncy Columbia Financial5/26/265/26/266/11/264$0.16 $0.62
CFRCullen/Frost Bankers5/29/265/29/266/15/264$1.03 $4.12
CHDChurch & Dwight Co5/15/265/15/266/1/264$0.31 $1.23
CHRWC.H. Robinson Worldwide6/5/266/5/267/2/264$0.63 $2.52
CINFCincinnati Financial6/23/266/23/267/15/264$0.94 $3.76
CLColgate-Palmolive7/20/267/20/268/14/264$0.53 $2.12
CLXClorox4/22/264/22/265/8/264$1.24 $4.96
CPKFChesapeake Financial6/1/266/1/266/15/264$0.18 $0.72
CSLCarlisle Companies5/18/265/18/266/1/264$1.10 $4.40
CTASCintas5/15/265/15/266/15/264$0.45 $1.80
CTBICommunity Trust Bancorp6/15/266/15/267/1/264$0.53 $2.12
CVXChevron5/19/265/19/266/10/264$1.78 $7.12
CWTCalifornia Water Servs Gr5/11/265/11/265/22/264$0.34 $1.27
DCIDonaldson6/15/266/15/266/30/264$0.32 $1.22
DOVDover5/29/265/29/266/15/264$0.52 $2.08
EBCEastern Bankshares6/5/266/5/266/22/264$0.15 $0.54
ECLEcolab6/16/266/16/267/15/264$0.73 $2.92
EDConsolidated Edison5/13/265/13/266/15/264$0.89 $3.47
EFSIEagle Financial Services5/4/265/4/265/15/264$0.31 $1.24
EMREmerson Electric5/15/265/15/266/10/264$0.56 $2.22
ENBEnbridge5/15/265/15/266/1/264$0.68 $2.81
EPDEnterprise Prods Partners7/31/267/31/268/14/264$0.56 $2.20
ERIEErie Indemnity7/7/267/7/267/21/264$1.46 $5.85
ESEversource Energy5/18/265/18/266/30/264$0.79 $3.15
ESSEssex Property Trust6/30/266/30/267/15/264$2.59 $10.36
ETREntergy5/1/265/1/266/1/264$0.64 $2.56
EXPDExpeditors International6/1/266/1/266/15/262$0.81 $1.62
FASTFastenal4/28/264/28/265/26/264$0.24 $0.92
FDSFactSet Research Systems5/29/265/29/266/18/264$1.16 $4.64
FELEFranklin Electric5/7/265/7/265/21/264$0.28 $1.12
FFMRFirst Farmers Financial6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.26 $1.02
FMAOFarmers & Merchants7/10/267/10/267/20/264$0.23 $0.92
FMCBFarmers & Merchants6/12/266/12/267/1/264$5.35 $20.50
FRTFederal Realty Investment7/1/267/1/267/15/264$1.13 $4.52
FULH.B. Fuller4/30/264/30/265/14/264$0.25 $0.98
GDGeneral Dynamics7/2/267/2/268/7/264$1.59 $6.36
GGGGraco7/20/267/20/268/5/264$0.29 $1.18
GPCGenuine Parts6/5/266/5/267/2/264$1.06 $4.25
GRCGorman-Rupp5/15/265/15/266/10/264$0.19 $0.76
GWWW.W. Grainger5/11/265/11/266/1/264$2.49 $9.27
HRLHormel Foods7/13/267/13/268/17/264$0.29 $1.17
HTOH2O America5/11/265/11/266/1/264$0.44 $1.76
IBMIBM5/8/265/8/266/10/264$1.69 $6.76
ITTITT6/8/266/8/267/6/264$0.39 $1.54
ITWIllinois Tool Works6/30/266/30/267/10/264$1.61 $6.44
JKHYJack Henry & Associates6/1/266/1/266/19/264$0.61 $2.38
JNJJohnson & Johnson5/26/265/26/266/9/264$1.34 $5.36
KMBKimberly-Clark6/5/266/5/267/2/264$1.28 $5.12
KOCoca-Cola6/15/266/15/267/1/264$0.53 $2.12
KVUEKenvue5/13/265/13/265/27/264$0.21 $0.83
LECOLincoln Electric Holdings6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.79 $3.16
LINLinde6/4/266/4/266/18/264$1.60 $6.40
LOWLowe's Companies7/22/267/22/268/5/264$1.25 $5.00
MATWMatthews International5/11/265/11/265/25/264$0.25 $1.02
MCDMcDonald's6/2/266/2/266/16/264$1.86 $7.44
MDTMedtronic6/26/266/26/267/17/264$0.72 $2.88
MGEEMGE Energy6/1/266/1/266/15/264$0.47 $1.90
MGRCMcGrath RentCorp7/17/267/17/267/31/264$0.50 $1.96
MKCMcCormick & Co7/6/267/6/267/20/264$0.48 $1.92
MOAltria Group6/15/266/15/267/10/264$1.06 $4.24
MSAMSA Safety5/15/265/15/266/10/264$0.54 $2.16
MSEXMiddlesex Water5/15/265/15/266/1/264$0.36 $1.42
MZTIThe Marzetti6/5/266/5/266/30/264$1.00 $4.00
NCNACCO Industries6/1/266/1/266/15/264$0.26 $1.05
NDSNNordson6/18/266/18/267/6/264$0.82 $3.28
NEENextEra Energy6/5/266/5/266/15/264$0.62 $2.49
NFGNational Fuel Gas6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.56 $2.22
NIDBNortheast Indiana Bancorp5/14/265/14/265/28/264$0.19 $0.76
NJRNew Jersey Resources6/10/266/10/267/1/264$0.47 $1.90
NNNNNN REIT4/30/264/30/265/15/264$0.60 $2.40
NUENucor6/30/266/30/268/11/264$0.56 $2.24
NWFLNorwood Financial7/15/267/15/268/3/264$0.32 $1.28
NWNNorthwest Natural Hldg4/30/264/30/265/15/264$0.49 $1.97
ORealty Income7/31/267/31/268/14/2612$0.27 $3.25
ORIOld Republic Intl6/5/266/5/266/15/264$0.31 $1.26
OZKBank OZK7/13/267/13/267/20/264$0.48 $1.86
PEPPepsiCo6/5/266/5/266/30/264$1.48 $5.92
PGProcter & Gamble4/24/264/24/265/15/264$1.09 $4.26
PHParker Hannifin5/8/265/8/266/5/264$2.00 $8.00
PIIPolaris6/1/266/1/266/15/264$0.68 $2.72
PNRPentair7/24/267/24/268/7/264$0.27 $1.06
PPGPPG Indus5/11/265/11/266/12/264$0.71 $2.84
PSBQPSB Holdings7/10/267/10/267/31/264$0.18 $0.72
RLIRLI5/29/265/29/266/12/264$0.18 $0.72
RNRRenaissanceRe Holdings6/15/266/15/266/30/264$0.41 $1.64
ROPRoper Technologies7/8/267/8/267/22/264$0.91 $3.64
RPMRPM International7/14/267/14/267/31/264$0.54 $2.16
RTXRTX8/14/268/14/269/3/264$0.73 $2.92
SCLStepan6/1/266/1/266/15/264$0.40 $1.58
SEICSEI Investments6/8/266/8/266/16/262$0.52 $1.04
SHWSherwin-Williams5/22/265/22/266/5/264$0.80 $3.20
SJMJM Smucker5/15/265/15/266/1/264$1.10 $4.40
SOMESomerset Trust Holding6/10/266/10/266/19/264$0.44 $1.76
SONSonoco Products5/8/265/8/266/10/264$0.54 $2.13
SPGIS&P Global8/26/268/26/269/10/264$0.97 $3.88
SRCE1st Source5/5/265/5/265/15/264$0.43 $1.72
SWKStanley Black & Decker6/8/266/8/266/23/264$0.83 $3.32
SYKStryker6/30/266/30/267/31/264$0.88 $3.52
SYYSysco7/2/267/2/267/24/264$0.55 $2.20
TGTTarget8/12/268/12/269/1/264$1.16 $4.64
TMPTompkins Financial5/8/265/8/265/15/264$0.67 $2.68
TNCTennant5/29/265/29/266/15/264$0.31 $1.24
TRTootsie Roll Industries6/18/266/18/267/9/264$0.09 $0.36
TROWT. Rowe Price Group6/15/266/15/266/29/264$1.30 $5.20
TRPTC Energy6/30/266/30/267/31/264$0.62 $2.47
TYCBCalvin B. Taylor4/27/264/27/265/7/264$0.38 $1.52
UBSIUnited Bankshares6/12/266/12/267/1/264$0.38 $1.52
UHTUniversal Health Realty6/22/266/22/266/30/264$0.75 $3.00
ULUnilever5/15/265/15/266/26/264$0.54 $2.28
UMBFUMB Financial6/10/266/10/267/1/264$0.43 $1.72
UVVUniversal7/13/267/13/268/3/264$0.83 $3.32
WABCWestamerica Bancorp5/4/265/4/265/15/264$0.48 $1.86
WLYJohn Wiley & Sons7/7/267/7/267/23/264$0.36 $1.42
WMTWalmart8/21/268/21/269/8/264$0.25 $0.99
WSTWest Pharmaceutical Servs4/29/264/29/265/6/264$0.22 $0.88
WTRGEssential Utilities5/12/265/12/266/1/264$0.34 $1.37
XOMExxonMobil Holdings5/15/265/15/266/10/264$1.03 $4.12
YORWYork Water6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.23 $0.91

Promotions to Dividend Kings in 2025

In 2025, Automatic Data Processing (ADP), Pentair (PNR), RLI (RLI), and United Bankshares (UBSI) were added to the list of Dividend Kings.

Additions to the Dividend Champions in 2025

In 2025, Cass Information Systems (CASS), Somerset Trust Holdings (SOME), and TC Energy (TRP) were added to the list of Dividend Champions.

Cass Information Systems is a payment and information processing company for manufacturing, distribution, and retail businesses.

Somerset Trust Holdings is a small bank holding company in Pennsylvania.

TC Energy is a Canadian energy company that owns and operates pipelines, LNG terminals, gas storage facilities, and power generation facilities.

Deletions to the Dividend Champions in 2025

In 2025, no Dividend Champions fell off the list because of dividend cuts or freezes.

Other Dividend Stock Lists

The other U.S. stock lists are:

For Canadian stocks, we have an article on

For UK stocks, we have an article on

Other dividend stock lists

FAQs About the 2026 Dividend Champions

What do I like About the Dividend Champions 2026?

The Dividend Champions 2026 list is a screen for further investigating stocks for a dividend growth portfolio. It is a list of companies with stable businesses that have competitive advantages and have returned cash to shareholders consistently through dividends and, in some cases, buybacks over an extended period.

Over-The-Counter Stocks Increase the Number

The number of Dividend Champions increases if we include over-the-counter (OTC) stocks. As a result, the total universe of U.S. stocks goes up to about 12,000. We have added many of these stocks to our list in 2026, increasing the number of Dividend Champions by about 20 from earlier years.

In addition, the list changes slowly. However, even during extreme economic duress, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, only a handful of companies dropped off the list each year. This fact points to the resiliency of the businesses on the Dividend Champions 2026 list and management’s commitment to the dividend.

What are the Differences Between the Dividend Champions and Dividend Aristocrats

The Dividend Champion 2026 list is broader and more comprehensive than the Dividend Aristocrat list. A stock must only meet the requirement for raising the dividend for 25+ years to be added to the Dividend Champions List. However, the criteria for inclusion as a Dividend Aristocrat are stricter. In addition to the 25+ years of dividend increases, a stock must be a part of the S&P 500 Index, have a minimum market capitalization of $3 billion, and meet trading volume and sector weighting requirements.

Hence, a stock can be a Dividend Champion but not a Dividend Aristocrat.

What are the Differences Between Dividend Champions and Dividend Kings

The Dividend Kings are more exclusive than the Dividend Champions. To become a Dividend King, a stock must raise its dividend for 50+ consecutive years, a much harder achievement. However, a company can be a Dividend King, a Dividend Champion, and a Dividend Aristocrat. For instance, The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is found on all three lists. 

Two MLPs and Six REITs Are on the Dividend Champions 2026 List

The 2026 Dividend Champions list contains many banks, utilities, consumer defensive, and industrial companies. 

The list includes three Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs): Enbridge (ENB), Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), and TC Energy (TRP).

The Dividend Champions list has five Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): Essex Property Trust (ESS), Federal Realty Investment (FRT), National Retail Properties (NNN), Realty Income (O), and Universal Health Realty (UHT).

In addition, W.P. Carey will fall off the list in 2026 because it reduced the quarterly payout.

Related Articles About REITs on Dividend Power

What is the Sector and Industry Breakdown?

Companies from the Financial sector have the most significant representation on the Dividend Champions 2026 list, with 42 companies, followed by the Industrial sector, with 30 companies. The Consumer Defensive sector has 22, and the Utilities sector has 16 Companies. The lowest representation is from the Communications Services sector, with one company.

Dividend Champion Sector Analysis

Financials tend to have stable and generally rising earnings over time. There are 29 regional banks, six insurance companies, three asset managers, and two financial data & stock exchange companies on the list of Dividend Champions. Regional banks are often conservative; they have room to expand, allowing for earnings per share and dividend growth. Insurance and asset manager companies have sticky customers and grow with time.

Industrial companies tend to have somewhat more volatile earnings and cash flows, but many have conservative payout ratios, allowing them to grow dividends during recessions and economic downturns. The list includes 13 specialty industrial machinery companies, two aerospace & defense companies, one conglomerate, as well as others.

Consumer Defensive companies tend to have predictable earnings and cash flows that grow slowly with time. Many did well during the COVID-19 pandemic. Larger companies in this sector tend to acquire smaller ones, leading to industry consolidation. Seven household & personal products companies and four packaged food companies are on the list, including several well-known ones.

Dividend Champion Industry Analysis

Market Size of the Dividend Champions 2026

Large-cap companies do not dominate the list, which includes quite a few mid-cap ($2 billion – $10 billion) and small-cap ($300 million – $2 billion) companies.

Walmart (WMT) is the largest dividend champion by market capitalization, and Andover Bancorp (ANDC) is the smallest.

Who’s On Deck?

At the start of the year, several companies on the Dividend Contender List have raised the dividend for 24 years. This number includes L3 Harris Technologies (LHX), Nike (NKE), Royal Gold (RGLD), and Southern (SO). These stocks will become Dividend Champions, assuming they raise their dividend in 2026.

Prior Year Lists and Articles


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Prakash Kolli is the founder of the Dividend Power site. He is a self-taught investor, analyst, and writer on dividend growth stocks and financial independence. His writings can be found on Seeking Alpha, InvestorPlace, Business Insider, Nasdaq, TalkMarkets, ValueWalk, The Money Show, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and leading financial sites. In addition, he is part of the Portfolio Insight and Sure Dividend teams. He was recently in the top 1.0% and 100 (73 out of over 13,450) financial bloggers, as tracked by TipRanks (an independent analyst tracking site) for his articles on Seeking Alpha.

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