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 23.08X. This multiple is down from its peak of more than 31X in May 2021. The forward P/E ratio is more reasonable at 18.32 times earnings.

The current average dividend yield is about 2.50%. The average trailing 10-year dividend growth rate is about 6.18%, and the average past 5-year dividend growth rate is around 5.57%. On average, the payout ratio is approximately 57.26%. The mean market cap is currently $61,973 million. 

Currently, the Dividend Champion with the highest yield is Universal (UVV), 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 +19.5% (blue line) compared to +21.7% 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 +61.7%, and the S&P 500 has returned +86.8%.

2026 Dividend Champions 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)
ABBVAbbVie542.8011.70190.4070.9$443,228
ABMABM Indus582.405.8042.5018.5$2,818
ABTAbbott Laboratories542.309.3078.7036$192,539
ADMArcher-Daniels-Midland532.605.7056.3021.9$38,629
ADPAutomatic Data Processing512.5012.4060.5025.3$109,735
AFLAflac442.0011.5025.6013.1$60,712
ALBAlbemarle291.302.90344.70n/a$15,397
ANDCAndover Bancorp433.600.8035.009.7$41
ANDEAndersons301.202.6015.3012.6$2,213
AOSA.O. Smith322.3011.6039.4017.4$8,494
APDAir Products442.407.70n/an/a$68,034
AROWArrow Financial303.104.3038.1012.6$723
ARTNAArtesian Resources333.603.6055.0015.7$368
ATOAtmos Energy422.409.1045.7020.2$28,721
ATRAptarGroup321.504.8033.8023.9$8,428
AWRAmerican States Water712.508.4055.1024.3$3,516
BANFBancFirst321.7010.5026.1015.6$3,887
BDXBecton Dickinson542.304.80126.2031.5$49,566
BENFranklin Resources463.906.2089.1023$17,203
BF.BBrown-Forman423.305.4059.8018.3$12,992
BKHBlack Hills563.805.3069.3018.6$5,638
BKUTBank Of Utica (ny)312.704.3014.805.6$182
BMIBadger Meter331.2014.9037.2030.6$3,780
BRCBrady401.001.9022.0021.4$4,426
BROBrown & Brown320.9010.4018.1022.9$23,961
CAHCardinal Health400.901.4028.2032$53,780
CASSCass Information Systems252.206.7044.9021.1$749
CASYCasey's General Stores270.3010.5011.8044.6$31,594
CATCaterpillar330.807.8025.9036.8$392,838
CBChubb331.204.0013.8012.2$132,908
CBSHCommerce Bancshares561.807.1026.6014.7$8,607
CBUCommunity Financial Sys332.904.2043.5015.2$3,455
CCFNMuncy Columbia Financial302.202.6022.7010.7$304
CFRCullen/Frost Bankers342.406.7038.1015.9$10,477
CHDChurch & Dwight Co301.205.6038.5032.5$23,960
CHRWC.H. Robinson Worldwide271.703.9047.5028.5$17,454
CINFCincinnati Financial662.207.0016.908.2$26,514
CLColgate-Palmolive652.303.1082.3036.6$74,081
CLXClorox484.704.60102.9022.2$12,883
CPKFChesapeake Financial331.806.1012.907.4$184
CSLCarlisle Companies491.3013.9025.0021.3$14,924
CTASCintas431.0020.1036.2040.8$80,105
CTBICommunity Trust Bancorp453.305.5035.4013.3$1,436
CVXChevron393.605.2067.0019$387,808
CWTCalifornia Water Servs Gr592.706.9057.0022.5$3,103
DCIDonaldson311.306.2031.8025.8$11,093
DOVDover701.002.2024.9025$27,833
EBCEastern Bankshares272.40n/a30.2013.1$5,374
ECLEcolab341.107.6037.9037$77,443
EDConsolidated Edison523.202.9057.0017.8$40,085
EFSIEagle Financial Services362.904.5035.0012.3$234
EMREmerson Electric691.401.6047.8036$91,286
ENBEnbridge315.406.20207.0027.6$112,222
EPDEnterprise Prods Partners285.803.4075.8013.2$82,103
ERIEErie Indemnity362.307.2057.5023.2$13,377
ESEversource Energy284.405.9065.2015.5$27,160
ESSEssex Property Trust323.604.90160.8044.8$18,470
ETREntergy322.404.2063.5027.3$49,887
EXPDExpeditors International320.907.3022.9027.3$24,314
FASTFastenal271.9013.2078.0043.9$58,912
FDSFactSet Research Systems271.608.8029.2018.9$10,213
FELEFranklin Electric341.1010.8031.1030.4$4,683
FFMRFirst Farmers Financial352.9012.5027.609.5$485
FMAOFarmers & Merchants312.607.2034.7013.5$486
FMCBFarmers & Merchants611.60-2.0014.6010$961
FRTFederal Realty Investment583.901.9091.1024$10,330
FULH.B. Fuller571.605.8027.9017.9$3,249
GDGeneral Dynamics351.607.7037.2024$106,318
GGGGraco291.4010.4035.3025.8$13,322
GPCGenuine Parts703.104.90n/an/a$18,659
GRCGorman-Rupp531.006.1031.9033.7$2,105
GWWW.W. Grainger540.807.4023.6033.7$62,238
HRLHormel Foods604.807.30137.1028.7$13,449
HTOH2O America582.808.1059.9022.3$2,649
IBMIBM312.901.9058.7021.1$223,417
ITTITT300.7012.0028.7042.6$19,373
ITWIllinois Tool Works622.4011.3058.2026.4$82,871
JKHYJack Henry & Associates361.508.1032.8021.8$11,073
JNJJohnson & Johnson642.105.3060.0030.4$631,586
KMBKimberly-Clark544.603.4086.3021.9$36,816
KOCoca-Cola642.404.2062.5026.3$376,128
KVUEKenvue634.40n/a97.7022.6$37,289
LECOLincoln Electric Holdings301.109.5030.9028.5$15,513
LINLinde331.307.9039.8030.9$220,440
LOWLowe's Companies632.3013.6040.5018.5$122,357
MATWMatthews International334.405.40336.7076.9$722
MCDMcDonald's492.707.6059.5022.1$192,655
MDTMedtronic483.205.3075.7024.3$115,946
MGEEMGE Energy502.404.9046.7019.9$3,060
MGRCMcGrath RentCorp351.606.9031.4019.4$2,944
MKCMcCormick & Co403.508.4030.909.1$14,641
MOAltria Group566.506.5089.3013.7$108,666
MSAMSA Safety561.105.0026.4023.6$7,300
MSEXMiddlesex Water532.506.1054.8022.7$1,108
MZTIThe Marzetti633.407.2060.8018.4$3,219
NCNACCO Industries412.50-0.2044.0018.3$316
NDSNNordson621.1013.1034.4033.1$17,272
NEENextEra Energy322.9011.1053.1019.3$179,414
NFGNational Fuel Gas562.703.2029.8011.4$7,747
NIDBNortheast Indiana Bancorp303.206.1025.208$56
NJRNew Jersey Resources303.407.1052.3015.4$5,635
NNNNNN REIT365.403.10118.2022.8$8,874
NUENucor530.804.1017.8021.7$61,775
NWFLNorwood Financial343.704.5043.2011.8$375
NWNNorthwest Natural Hldg703.900.5065.8017$2,138
ORealty Income325.203.10236.4045.9$59,563
ORIOld Republic Intl453.005.3025.909.4$10,323
OZKBank OZK323.6011.6030.008.6$5,696
PEPPepsiCo544.207.0075.2018.4$191,931
PGProcter & Gamble703.005.0063.1021.8$335,322
PHParker Hannifin700.8012.2026.2037.2$133,509
PIIPolaris314.002.10n/an/a$3,905
PNRPentair501.60-2.3025.9017.2$10,672
PPGPPG Indus542.606.3040.5016.5$25,504
PSBQPSB Holdings331.401.8019.2015.4$213
RLIRLI511.106.1013.8013.4$5,872
RNRRenaissanceRe Holdings310.502.802.805.6$13,290
ROPRoper Technologies330.9011.7014.4016.6$39,313
RPMRPM International521.907.0041.0021.9$14,465
RTXRTX321.301.0048.2038.8$296,169
SCLStepan592.407.60n/an/a$1,483
SEICSEI Investments351.007.2017.9018.8$12,768
SHWSherwin-Williams480.9011.1029.1033.3$87,769
SJMJM Smucker293.804.10n/an/a$12,773
SOMESomerset Trust Holding262.303.9016.007.2$196
SONSonoco Products503.703.9033.709$5,765
SPGIS&P Global530.9010.4023.5025.7$124,603
SRCE1st Source401.909.6023.1012.7$2,134
SWKStanley Black & Decker583.304.2080.8025$15,435
SYKStryker321.008.8035.8035.3$130,832
SYYSysco562.605.9059.8022.8$39,982
TGTTarget583.006.8059.7020.5$70,631
TMPTompkins Financial402.804.8021.208.3$1,454
TNCTennant551.804.50117.8064.9$1,153
TRTootsie Roll Industries580.903.0027.9031.7$2,106
TROWT. Rowe Price Group404.709.2051.5011.2$23,742
TRPTC Energy264.004.50145.6025.1$65,717
TYCBCalvin B. Taylor362.704.7026.0010.2$153
UBSIUnited Bankshares523.101.4041.0013.4$6,683
UHTUniversal Health Realty407.301.40214.4029.7$573
ULUnilever433.602.9047.0021$136,080
UMBFUMB Financial341.305.8014.0012.6$11,463
UVVUniversal567.404.60431.6059.2$1,117
WABCWestamerica Bancorp323.202.1041.1013.2$1,383
WLYJohn Wiley & Sons332.801.4033.7012.5$2,634
WMTWalmart530.904.0033.4040.8$920,908
WSTWest Pharmaceutical Servs330.306.2011.1044.3$24,361
WTRGEssential Utilities343.606.5070.3020.8$11,481
XOMExxonMobil Holdings432.603.2052.5020.4$652,190
YORWYork Water292.803.9056.1020.5$535
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-Midland8/19/268/19/269/9/264$0.52 $2.08
ADPAutomatic Data Processing9/11/269/11/2610/1/264$1.70 $6.80
AFLAflac8/19/268/19/269/1/264$0.61 $2.44
ALBAlbemarle9/11/269/11/2610/1/264$0.41 $1.64
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. Smith7/31/267/31/268/17/264$0.36 $1.44
APDAir Products10/1/2610/1/2611/9/264$1.81 $7.24
AROWArrow Financial8/11/268/11/268/25/264$0.30 $1.19
ARTNAArtesian Resources8/17/268/17/268/28/264$0.32 $1.27
ATOAtmos Energy8/24/268/24/269/8/264$1.00 $4.00
ATRAptarGroup7/30/267/30/268/20/264$0.48 $1.92
AWRAmerican States Water8/17/268/17/269/2/264$0.55 $2.18
BANFBancFirst6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.49 $1.96
BDXBecton Dickinson9/9/269/9/269/30/264$1.05 $4.20
BENFranklin Resources6/29/266/29/267/10/264$0.33 $1.32
BF.BBrown-Forman9/3/269/3/2610/1/264$0.23 $0.92
BKHBlack Hills8/17/268/17/269/1/264$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 & Brown8/12/268/12/268/19/264$0.17 $0.66
CAHCardinal Health10/1/2610/1/2610/15/264$0.52 $2.06
CASSCass Information Systems9/4/269/4/269/14/264$0.32 $1.28
CASYCasey's General Stores7/31/268/1/268/14/264$0.65 $2.60
CATCaterpillar7/20/267/20/268/19/264$1.63 $6.52
CBChubb9/11/269/11/2610/2/264$1.02 $4.08
CBSHCommerce Bancshares9/4/269/4/269/22/264$0.28 $1.10
CBUCommunity Financial Sys9/15/269/15/2610/13/264$0.49 $1.90
CCFNMuncy Columbia Financial8/24/268/25/269/10/264$0.16 $0.62
CFRCullen/Frost Bankers8/31/268/31/269/15/264$1.03 $4.12
CHDChurch & Dwight Co8/14/268/14/269/1/264$0.31 $1.23
CHRWC.H. Robinson Worldwide9/4/269/4/2610/2/264$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
CLXClorox8/12/268/12/268/28/264$1.25 $5.00
CPKFChesapeake Financial9/1/269/1/269/15/264$0.18 $0.72
CSLCarlisle Companies8/19/268/19/269/1/264$1.25 $5.00
CTASCintas8/14/268/14/269/15/264$0.52 $2.08
CTBICommunity Trust Bancorp9/15/269/15/2610/1/264$0.65 $2.60
CVXChevron8/19/268/19/269/10/264$1.78 $7.12
CWTCalifornia Water Servs Gr8/10/268/10/268/21/264$0.34 $1.34
DCIDonaldson8/17/268/17/268/31/264$0.32 $1.24
DOVDover8/31/268/31/269/15/264$0.52 $2.10
EBCEastern Bankshares9/8/269/8/269/22/264$0.15 $0.56
ECLEcolab9/15/269/15/2610/15/264$0.73 $2.92
EDConsolidated Edison8/19/268/19/269/15/264$0.89 $3.51
EFSIEagle Financial Services8/3/268/3/268/14/264$0.31 $1.24
EMREmerson Electric8/14/268/14/269/10/264$0.56 $2.22
ENBEnbridge8/14/268/14/269/1/264$0.69 $2.75
EPDEnterprise Prods Partners7/31/267/31/268/14/264$0.56 $2.20
ERIEErie Indemnity10/5/2610/5/2610/20/264$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
ETREntergy8/13/268/13/269/1/264$0.64 $2.56
EXPDExpeditors International6/1/266/1/266/15/262$0.81 $1.62
FASTFastenal7/28/267/28/268/25/264$0.26 $0.96
FDSFactSet Research Systems8/31/268/31/269/17/264$1.16 $4.64
FELEFranklin Electric8/6/268/6/268/20/264$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 & Merchants9/10/269/11/2610/1/264$5.60 $22.40
FRTFederal Realty Investment10/1/2610/1/2610/15/264$1.16 $4.64
FULH.B. Fuller7/30/267/30/268/13/264$0.25 $0.98
GDGeneral Dynamics10/9/2610/9/2611/13/264$1.59 $6.36
GGGGraco7/20/267/20/268/5/264$0.29 $1.18
GPCGenuine Parts9/4/269/4/2610/2/264$1.06 $4.25
GRCGorman-Rupp8/14/268/14/269/10/264$0.19 $0.76
GWWW.W. Grainger8/10/268/10/269/1/264$2.49 $9.96
HRLHormel Foods7/13/267/13/268/17/264$0.29 $1.17
HTOH2O America8/10/268/10/269/1/264$0.44 $1.76
IBMIBM8/10/268/10/269/10/264$1.69 $6.76
ITTITT9/8/269/8/2610/5/264$0.39 $1.54
ITWIllinois Tool Works9/30/269/30/2610/9/264$1.72 $6.88
JKHYJack Henry & Associates6/1/266/1/266/19/264$0.61 $2.38
JNJJohnson & Johnson8/25/268/25/269/8/264$1.34 $5.36
KMBKimberly-Clark9/4/269/4/2610/2/264$1.28 $5.12
KOCoca-Cola9/15/269/15/2610/1/264$0.53 $2.12
KVUEKenvue8/12/268/12/268/26/264$0.21 $0.84
LECOLincoln Electric Holdings9/30/269/30/2610/15/264$0.79 $3.16
LINLinde9/3/269/3/269/17/264$1.60 $6.40
LOWLowe's Companies7/22/267/22/268/5/264$1.25 $5.00
MATWMatthews International8/10/268/10/268/24/264$0.25 $1.02
MCDMcDonald's9/1/269/1/269/16/264$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 Safety8/14/268/14/269/10/264$0.54 $2.16
MSEXMiddlesex Water8/17/268/17/269/1/264$0.36 $1.44
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 Energy8/28/268/28/269/15/264$0.62 $2.49
NFGNational Fuel Gas6/30/266/30/267/15/264$0.56 $2.22
NIDBNortheast Indiana Bancorp8/13/268/13/268/27/264$0.19 $0.76
NJRNew Jersey Resources6/10/266/10/267/1/264$0.47 $1.90
NNNNNN REIT7/31/267/31/268/14/264$0.62 $2.48
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 Hldg7/31/267/31/268/14/264$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
PEPPepsiCo9/4/269/4/269/30/264$1.48 $5.92
PGProcter & Gamble7/24/267/24/268/17/264$1.09 $4.35
PHParker Hannifin5/8/265/8/266/5/264$2.00 $8.00
PIIPolaris9/1/269/1/269/15/264$0.68 $2.72
PNRPentair7/24/267/24/268/7/264$0.27 $1.06
PPGPPG Indus8/10/268/10/269/11/264$0.74 $2.96
PSBQPSB Holdings7/10/267/10/267/31/264$0.18 $0.72
RLIRLI5/29/265/29/266/12/264$0.18 $0.72
RNRRenaissanceRe Holdings9/15/269/15/269/30/264$0.41 $1.64
ROPRoper Technologies10/2/2610/2/2610/21/264$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 $2.82
SCLStepan9/1/269/1/269/15/264$0.40 $1.58
SEICSEI Investments6/8/266/8/266/16/262$0.52 $1.04
SHWSherwin-Williams8/21/268/21/269/11/264$0.80 $3.20
SJMJM Smucker8/14/268/14/269/1/264$1.12 $4.48
SOMESomerset Trust Holding6/10/266/10/266/19/264$0.44 $1.76
SONSonoco Products8/10/268/10/269/10/264$0.54 $2.16
SPGIS&P Global8/26/268/26/269/10/264$0.97 $3.88
SRCE1st Source8/4/268/4/268/14/264$0.45 $1.68
SWKStanley Black & Decker9/8/269/8/269/22/264$0.84 $3.36
SYKStryker9/30/269/30/2610/30/264$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 Financial8/7/268/7/268/14/264$0.70 $2.80
TNCTennant8/31/268/31/269/15/264$0.31 $1.24
TRTootsie Roll Industries6/18/266/18/267/9/264$0.09 $0.36
TROWT. Rowe Price Group9/15/269/15/269/29/264$1.30 $5.20
TRPTC Energy9/29/269/29/2610/30/264$0.62 $2.50
TYCBCalvin B. Taylor7/27/267/27/268/6/264$0.41 $1.54
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 Financial9/10/269/10/2610/1/264$0.50 $2.00
UVVUniversal10/9/2610/12/2611/2/264$0.83 $3.32
WABCWestamerica Bancorp8/3/268/3/268/14/264$0.48 $1.92
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 Servs7/29/267/29/268/5/264$0.22 $0.88
WTRGEssential Utilities8/11/268/11/269/1/264$0.36 $1.44
XOMExxonMobil Holdings8/17/268/17/269/10/264$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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