All 65 Dividend Aristocrats Now: The Updated 2021 List

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All 65 Dividend Aristocrats Now: The Updated 2021 List


Updated on August 2nd, 2021 by Bob Ciura
Spreadsheet data updated daily

The Dividend Aristocrats are a select group of 65 S&P 500 stocks with 25+ years of consecutive dividend increases.

They are the ‘best of the best’ dividend growth stocks. The Dividend Aristocrats have a long history of outperforming the market.

The requirements to be a Dividend Aristocrat are:

There are currently 65 Dividend Aristocrats. You can download an Excel spreadsheet of all 65 (with metrics that matter such as dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking the link below:

 

Click here to download your Dividend Aristocrats Excel Spreadsheet List now.

Note: On January 22nd, 2021, International Business Machines (IBM), NextEra Energy (NEE), and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) were added to the Dividend Aristocrats Index. Carrier Global (CARR), Otis Worldwide (OTIS), and Raytheon Technologies (RTX) were all removed, leaving the total count at 65.

Source: S&P News Releases

You can see detailed analysis on all 65 further below in this article, in our Dividend Aristocrats In Focus series. Analysis includes valuation, growth, and competitive advantage(s).

Table of Contents

How to Use The Dividend Aristocrats List To Find Dividend Investment Ideas

The downloadable Dividend Aristocrats Excel Spreadsheet List above contains the following for each stock in the index:

All Dividend Aristocrats are high quality businesses based on their long dividend histories. A company cannot pay rising dividends for 25+ years without having a strong and durable competitive advantage.

But not all Dividend Aristocrats make equally good investments today. That’s where the spreadsheet in this article comes into play. You can use the Dividend Aristocrats spreadsheet to quickly find quality dividend investment ideas.

The list of all 65 Dividend Aristocrats is valuable because it gives you a concise list of all S&P 500 stocks with 25+ consecutive years of dividend increases (that also meet certain minimum size and liquidity requirements).

These are businesses that have both the desire and ability to pay shareholders rising dividends year-after-year. This is a rare combination.

Together, these two criteria are powerful – but they are not enough. Value must be considered as well.

The spreadsheet above allows you to sort by forward price-to-earnings ratio so you can quickly find undervalued, high quality dividend stocks.

Here’s how to use the Dividend Aristocrats list to quickly find high quality dividend growth stocks potentially trading at a discount:

  1. Download the list
  2. Sort by ‘Forward PE Ratio’, smallest to largest
  3. Research the top stocks further

Here’s how to do this quickly in the spreadsheet

Step 1: Download the list, and open it.

Step 2: Apply a filter function to each column in the spreadsheet.

Step 3: Click on the small gray down arrow next to ‘Forward P/E Ratio’, and then click on ‘Descending’.

Step 4: Review the highest ranked Dividend Aristocrats before investing. You can see detailed analysis on every Dividend Aristocrat further below in this article.

That’s it; you can follow the same procedure to sort by any other metric in the spreadsheet.

This article examines the characteristics and performance of the Dividend Aristocrats in detail. A table of contents for easy navigation is below.

Performance Through July 2021

In July 2021, the Dividend Aristocrats, as measured by the Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), registered a positive return of 2.1%. It slightly under-performed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) for the month.

Short-term performance is mostly noise. Performance should be measured over a minimum of 3 years, and preferably longer periods of time.

The Dividend Aristocrats Index has slightly under-performed the broader market index over the last decade, with a 15.2% total annual return for the Dividend Aristocrats versus 15.4% for the S&P 500 Index. However, the Dividend Aristocrats have exhibited slightly lower risk than the benchmark, as measured by standard deviation. This has led to to superior risk-adjusted returns for the Dividend Aristocrats relative to the broader market in the past 10 years.

Source: S&P Fact Sheet

Higher total returns with lower volatility is the ‘holy grail’ of investing. It is worth exploring the characteristics of the Dividend Aristocrats in detail to determine why they have performed so well.

Note that a good portion of the out-performance relative to the S&P 500 comes during recessions (2000 – 2002, 2008). Dividend Aristocrats have historically seen smaller draw-downs during recessions versus the S&P 500. This makes holding through recessions that much easier. Case-in-point: In 2008 the Dividend Aristocrats Index declined 22%. That same year, the S&P 500 declined 38%.

Great businesses with strong competitive advantages tend to be able to generate stronger cash flows during recessions. This allows them to gain market share while weaker businesses fight to stay alive.

The Dividend Aristocrats Index has beaten the market over the last 28 years…

I believe dividend paying stocks outperform non-dividend paying stocks for three reasons:

  1. A company that pays dividends is likely to be generating earnings or cash flows so that it can pay dividends to shareholders. This excludes ‘pre-earnings’ start-ups and failing businesses. In short, it excludes the riskiest stocks.
  2. A business that pays consistent dividends must be more selective with the growth projects it takes on because a portion of its cash flows are being paid out as dividends. Scrutinizing over capital allocation decisions likely adds to shareholder value.
  3. Stocks that pay dividends are willing to reward shareholders with cash payments. This is a sign that management is shareholder-friendly.

In our view, Dividend Aristocrats have historically outperformed the market and other dividend paying stocks because they are, on average, higher-quality businesses.

A high-quality business should outperform a mediocre business over a long period of time, all other things being equal.

For a business to increase its dividends for 25+ consecutive years, it must have or at least had in the very recent past a strong competitive advantage.

Sector Overview

A sector breakdown of the Dividend Aristocrats index is shown below:

The top 2 sectors by weight in the Dividend Aristocrats are Industrials and Consumer Staples. The Dividend Aristocrats Index is tilted toward Consumer Staples and Industrials relative to the S&P 500. These 2 sectors make up over 40% of the Dividend Aristocrats Index, but less than 20% of the S&P 500.

The Dividend Aristocrats Index is also significantly underweight the Information Technology sector, with a 3% allocation compared with over 20% allocation within the S&P 500.

The Dividend Aristocrat Index is filled with stable ‘old economy’ blue chip consumer products businesses and manufacturers; the 3M’s (MMM), Coca-Cola’s (KO), and Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ) of the investing world. These ‘boring’ businesses aren’t likely to generate 20%+ earnings-per-share growth, but they also are very unlikely to see large earnings draw-downs as well.

The Top Dividend Aristocrats Now

Each month we rank stocks with 25+ years of rising dividends (which includes the Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Champions) based on a mix of expected total returns and Dividend Risk Scores. Our rankings are powered by data from The Sure Analysis Research Database.

A special report of our top 10 is published on the 1st day of each month in our Top 10 Dividend Elite service.

Click here to start your free trial of this service and get your special report on our top 10 dividend stock picks with 25+ years of rising dividends.

Analysis on our top 7 Dividend Aristocrats is below.

Dividend Aristocrat #7: AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)

AbbVie is a pharmaceutical company spun off by Abbott Laboratories (ABT) in 2013. Its most important product is Humira. Humira is a multi-purpose pharmaceutical product and was the top-selling drug in the world. Humira is now facing biosimilar competition in Europe, which has had a noticeable impact on the company. It will lose patent protection in the U.S. in 2023.

Meanwhile, the company continues to post strong results. Second-quarter revenue increased 34% to nearly $14 billion. Adjusted earnings-per-share rose 33% to $3.11. For 2021, AbbVie expects adjusted earnings-per-share in a range of $12.52-$12.62.

AbbVie’s major risk is loss of exclusivity for Humira. Fortunately, AbbVie has multiple growth opportunities to replace Humira, particularly in the therapeutic areas of immunology, hematology, and neuroscience. For example, last quarter AbbVie’s hematology revenue increased 14% to $1.8 billion.

Based on expected 2021 earnings-per-share of $12.57, AbbVie trades for a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.2. Our fair value estimate for AbbVie is a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 10. An expanding P/E multiple could boost shareholder returns over the next five years.

In addition, we expect annual earnings growth of 3.0%, while the stock has a 4.5% dividend yield. We expect total annual returns of 8.5% per year over the next five years.

Dividend Aristocrat #6: Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)

Stanley Black & Decker is a world leader in power tools, hand tools, and related items. The company holds the top global position in tools and storage sales. Stanley Black & Decker is second in the world in the areas of commercial electronic security and engineered fastening.

Source: Investor Presentation

The company reported second quarter results on 7/22/2021. Revenue grew 36.5% to $4.3 billion, topping estimates by $70 million. Adjusted earnings–per–share of $3.08 compared very favorably to adjusted earnings–per–share of $1.60 in the prior year.

Organic growth remains elevated with a 33% increase in the second quarter. Sales for Tools & Storage, the largest segment within the company, were higher by 46%, the fourth consecutive double–digit and the second 40%+ quarter.

Stanley Black & Decker raised guidance once again. The company now expects adjusted earnings–per–share in a range of $11.35 to $11.65 for 2021, up from $10.70 to $11.00 and $9.70 to $10.30 previously.

The stock has a 1.6% dividend yield, and we expect 8% annual EPS growth. With a small reduction from a declining P/E multiple, total returns are expected to reach 8.7% per year.

Dividend Aristocrat #5: Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX)

Becton, Dickinson & Company is a global leader in the medical supply industry. The company was founded in 1897 and today operates in 190 countries, generating annual sales above $19 billion. Nearly half the company’s revenue comes from outside the U.S.

The company operates three segments—the Medical Division includes needles for drug delivery systems, and surgical blades. The Life Sciences division provides products for the collection and transportation of diagnostic specimens. Lastly, the Intervention segment includes several of the products produced by what used to be Bard.

Source: Investor Presentation

On 5/8/2021, BD released earnings results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021. Revenue improved 15.4% to $4.9 billion, beating estimates by $26.5 million. Adjusted earnings–per–share of $3.19 was a 25.1% increase from the previous year and $0.15 better than expected.

Each region once again showed growth. The U.S. grew 1.9%, international markets were up 25.7%, with developed nations improving 10.4%, emerging markets higher by 24% and China up 62%.

The company reaffirmed its guidance for fiscal 2021 and expects adjusted EPS in the range of $12.75 to $12.85. Shares trade for a P/E of nearly 20, which is above our fair value estimate of 18.6. Still, the stock could generate total returns of nearly 10% per year, based on expected annual EPS growth of 10% and the 1.3% dividend yield.

Dividend Aristocrat #4: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Archer–Daniels–Midland is the largest publicly traded farmland product company in the United States. The company‘s businesses include the processing of cereal grains and oilseeds and agricultural storage and transportation.

The company reported strong second-quarter earnings results. Adjusted earnings-per-share increased by 56% year-over-year, while adjusted operating profit increased 44%.

Source: Investor Presentation

Archer–Daniels–Midland’s business is recession resilient since the demand for food products is not cyclical. Archer–Daniels–Midland is one of the most significant players in its industry and has competitive advantages due to its scale and geographical reach. The company has been increasing its dividend for 46 consecutive years.

Archer–Daniels–Midland looks like a low–risk investment due to its recession resilience, solid balance sheet, geographic diversification, and dividend history.

ADM stock trades for a P/E ratio of , below our fair value estimate of . In addition, we expect 6% annual EPS growth while the stock has a 2.5% dividend yield. Total returns are expected to reach 10.5% per year over the next five years.

Dividend Aristocrat #3: Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA)

Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy in both the United States and Europe. Through its flagship Walgreens business and other business ventures, the company has a presence in more than 25 countries, employs more than 450,000 people and has more than 21,000 stores.

In the most recent quarter, Walgreens reported constant currency revenue growth of 10% from continuing operations. Once again the U.S. pharmaceutical segment led the way for the company.

Source: Investor Presentation

Year-to-date, Walgreens has posted 10% growth in adjusted EPS.

Walgreens’ competitive advantage lies in its vast scale and network in an important and growing industry. However, lately a variety of headwinds had surfaced including reimbursement pressure, lower generic deflation and consumer market challenges that have called this advantage into question. And this was before the COVID–19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the payout ratio remains reasonable at under 40% of expected adjusted EPS for the current fiscal year, implying a safe dividend.

WBA shares trade for a 2021 price-to-earnings ratio of 9.1, below our fair value estimate of 10. In addition, we expect 5% annual EPS growth, while the stock has a 4% dividend yield. Total returns are expected to reach 10.6% over the next five years.

Dividend Aristocrat #2: Lowe’s Companies (LOW)

Lowe’s Companies is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the US (after Home Depot). The company operates more than 2,200 home improvement and hardware stores in the U.S. and Canada.

Lowe’s reported first quarter results on May 19th. Quarterly revenue of $24.4 billion increased 24% from the same quarter last year. Comparable sales (which measures sales at stores open at least one year) increased 26%. Earnings-per-share on an adjusted basis, increased 81% year-over-year.

We forecast 7% annual EPS growth over the next five years. Lowe’s has a long runway of growth up ahead.

Source: Investor Presentation

Another key to Lowe’s success has been its booming e-commerce platform. This is a key differentiator between successful retailers like Lowe’s and the many retailers that are reporting losses or going out of business. Lowe’s is benefiting right alongside the e-commerce boom.

Lowe’s enjoys competitive advantages from scale and brand power as it operates in a duopoly with Home Depot. Neither of the two are expanding their store count significantly, and neither is interested in a price war. Both should remain highly profitable, as the home improvement market in the US is large enough for two companies to succeed.

Based on expected EPS of $11.01 for the current fiscal year, Lowe’s stock trades for a P/E ratio of 17.5. Our fair value estimate is a P/E of 20. The combination of multiple expansion, 7% expected EPS growth and the 1.7% dividend yield lead to total expected returns of 11.2% per year through 2026.

Dividend Aristocrat #1: AT&T Inc. (T)

AT&T is a telecommunications giant, as its core Communications segment provides mobile, broadband and video to 100 million U.S. consumers and 3 million businesses.

In the 2021 second quarter, AT&T generated $44.0 billion in revenue, up 7.6% from Q2 2020. Adjusted earnings-per-share (EPS) equaled $0.89 compared to $0.83 in the year ago quarter. AT&T ended the quarter with a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 3.15x.

Source: Investor Presentation

Reported net income equaled $7.5 billion or $1.04 per share. On an adjusted basis, earnings–per–share equaled $0.86 compared to $0.84 in the year-ago quarter. AT&T ended the quarter with a net debt–to–EBITDA ratio of 3.1x.

AT&T is undergoing massive changes as it seeks to unload its satellite TV and media assets. On February 25th, AT&T announced it will spin off multiple assets into a separate company called New DIRECTV that will own and operate the DirecTV satellite TV business, as well as AT&T TV and U-verse video. AT&T will own 70% of the company, and will sell 30% ownership to TPG for approximately nearly $8 billion, which will be used to pay down debt.

On May 17th, 2021 AT&T announced an agreement to combine WarnerMedia with Discovery, Inc. (DISCA) to create a new global entertainment company. AT&T will receive $43 billion in a combination of cash, securities and retention of debt. AT&T shareholders receive stock representing 71% of the new company, with Discovery shareholders owning 29%.

We believe these various deals with allow AT&T to simplify its operations, become more efficient, and return to its core focus on telecom services. For example, 5G is a major area of focus for AT&T. The company continues to expand 5G to more cities around the country. AT&T’s 5G service now covers more than 120 million people.

With a P/E below 10, AT&T is undervalued against our fair value estimate of 11. The combination of 3% expected EPS growth and the 7.4% dividend yield lead to total expected returns of 13.5% per year over the next five years.

The Dividend Aristocrats In Focus Analysis Series

You can see analysis on every single Dividend Aristocrat below. Each is sorted by GICS sectors and listed in alphabetical order by name. The newest Sure Analysis Research Database report for each security is included as well, with its date in brackets.

Consumer Staples

Industrials

Health Care

Consumer Discretionary

Financials

Materials

Energy

Information Technology

Real Estate

Telecommunication Services

Utilities

Looking for no-fee DRIP Dividend Aristocrats? Click here to read an article examining all 15 no-fee DRIP Dividend Aristocrats in detail.

Historical Dividend Aristocrats List
(1989 – 2020)

The image below shows the history of the Dividend Aristocrats Index from 1989 through 2020:

Note: CL, GPC, and NUE were all removed and re-added to the Dividend Aristocrats Index through the historical period analyzed above. We are unsure as to why. Companies created via a spin-off (like AbbVie) can be Dividend Aristocrats with less than 25 years of rising dividends if the parent company was a Dividend Aristocrat.

Historical Aristocrats Image April 2020

Click here to download the 1989 to 2020 Dividend Aristocrats Excel Spreadsheet.

This information was compiled from the following sources:

Other Dividend Lists & Final Thoughts

The Dividend Aristocrats list is not the only way to quickly screen for stocks that regularly pay rising dividends.

There is nothing magical about the Dividend Aristocrats. They are ‘just’ a collection of high quality shareholder friendly stocks that have strong competitive advantages.

Purchasing these types of stocks at fair or better prices and holding for the long-run will likely result in favorable long-term performance.

You have a choice in what type of business you buy into. You can buy into the mediocre, or the excellent.

Often, excellent businesses are not more expensive (based on their price-to-earnings ratio) than mediocre businesses.

“When we own portions of outstanding businesses with outstanding managements, our favorite holding period is forever.”

– Warren Buffett

Thanks for reading this article. Please send any feedback, corrections, or questions to support@suredividend.com.


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