Updated on June 26th, 2023 by Bob Ciura
The Dividend Kings are the best-of-the-best in dividend longevity.
What is a Dividend King? A stock with 50 or more consecutive years of dividend increases.
The downloadable Dividend Kings Spreadsheet List below contains the following for each stock in the index among other important investing metrics:
- Payout ratio
- Dividend yield
- Price-to-earnings ratio
You can see the full downloadable spreadsheet of all 50 Dividend Kings (along with important financial metrics such as dividend yields, payout ratios, and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking on the link below:
We typically rank stocks based on their five-year expected annual returns, as stated in the Sure Analysis Research Database.
But for investors primarily interested in income, it is also useful to rank the Dividend Kings according to their dividend yields.
This article will rank the 20 highest-yielding Dividend Kings today.
Table of Contents
- High Yield Dividend King #20: Gorman-Rupp Co. (GRC)
- High Yield Dividend King #19: Sysco Corp. (SYY)
- High Yield Dividend King #18: Hormel Foods (HRL)
- High Yield Dividend King #17: PepsiCo Inc. (PEP)
- High Yield Dividend King #16: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
- High Yield Dividend King #15: The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
- High-Yield Dividend King #14: Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
- High-Yield Dividend King #13: Target Corporation (TGT)
- High-Yield Dividend King #12: Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
- High-Yield Dividend King #11: Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
- High-Yield Dividend King #10: National Fuel Gas (NFG)
- High-Yield Dividend King #9: Black Hills Corp. (BKH)
- High-Yield Dividend King #8: AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)
- High-Yield Dividend King #7: Northwest Natural Holding Co. (NWN)
- High-Yield Dividend King #6: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)
- High-Yield Dividend King #5: Canadian Utilities (CDUAF)
- High-Yield Dividend King #4: 3M Company (MMM)
- High-Yield Dividend King #3: Universal Corporation (UVV)
- High-Yield Dividend King #2: Leggett & Platt (LEG)
- High-Yield Dividend King #1: Altria Group (MO)
High Yield Dividend King #20: Gorman-Rupp Co. (GRC)
- Dividend Yield: 2.6%
Gorman-Rupp is a leading supplier of critical systems that industrial clients count on to run their businesses. The company generates revenue of more than $500 million annually. The company’s products are used in a wide variety of end markets, including agriculture, air conditioning, construction, fire protection, heating, industrial, liquid handling, military, original equipment, petroleum, ventilation, water, and wastewater.
The company’s water-related businesses account for ~58% of annual revenue, non-water contributes 29%, and repair parts account for the remainder.
Related: 7 Best Water Stocks Buys Now
The company’s diversified portfolio helps to protect against declines in any one area of its business.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on GRC (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #19: Sysco Corp. (SYY)
- Dividend Yield: 2.7%
Sysco Corporation is the largest wholesale food distributor in the United States that serves 600,000 locations with food delivery, including restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels, and other facilities. According to estimates, the company has a 16% market share of total food delivery within the United States.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Sysco (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #18: Hormel Foods (HRL)
- Dividend Yield: 2.7%
Hormel Foods was founded back in 1891 in Minnesota. Since that time, the company has grown into a juggernaut in the food products industry with nearly $10 billion in annual revenue.
Hormel has kept with its core competency as a processor of meat products for well over a hundred years, but has also grown into other business lines through acquisitions.
Hormel has a large portfolio of category-leading brands. Just a few of its top brands include include Skippy, SPAM, Applegate, Justin’s, and more than 30 others.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Hormel (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #17: PepsiCo Inc. (PEP)
- Dividend Yield: 2.7%
PepsiCo is a global food and beverage company that generates $86 billion in annual sales. The company’s brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Frito–Lay chips, Gatorade, Tropicana orange juice and Quaker foods. The company has approximately 20 $1 billion-brands in its portfolio.
Source: Investor Presentation
PepsiCo continues to perform well on a fundamental basis. On April 25th, 2023, PepsiCo reported first quarter results for the period ending March 31st, 2022. Revenue grew 10.2% to $17.9 billion, topping analysts’ estimates by $580 million. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.50 compared to $1.29 in the prior year and was $0.11 better than expected.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on PepsiCo (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #16: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
- Dividend Yield: 2.9%
Johnson & Johnson is a global healthcare giant. The company currently operates three segments: Consumer, Pharmaceutical, and Medical Devices & Diagnostics. The corporation includes roughly 250 subsidiary companies with operations in 60 countries and products sold in over 175 countries.
Johnson & Johnson’s key competitive advantage is the size and scale of its business. The company is a worldwide leader in several healthcare categories. Johnson & Johnson’s diversification allows it to continue to grow even if one of the segments is underperforming.
The company has increased its dividend for 60 consecutive years, making it a Dividend King. The stock is owned by many well-known money managers. For example, J&J is a Kevin O’Leary dividend stock.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on JNJ (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #15: The Coca-Cola Company (KO)
- Dividend Yield: 3.0%
Coca-Cola is the world’s largest beverage company, as it owns or licenses more than 500 unique non–alcoholic brands. Since the company’s founding in 1886, it has spread to more than 200 countries worldwide.
Source: Investor Presentation
The company also has an exceptional 59-year dividend increase streak.
Coca-Cola’s competitive advantages include its unparalleled suite of beverage brands, as well as its efficient global
distribution network. Coca-Cola is also extremely resistant to recessionary environments, having increased its earningsper-share during and after the financial crisis.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on KO (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #14: Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
- Dividend Yield: 3.1%
Cincinnati Financial is an insurance company founded in 1950. It offers business, home, auto insurance, and financial products, including life insurance, annuities, property, and casualty insurance.
On February 6th, 2023, Cincinnati Financial reported the fourth quarter and full year results for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. Total revenues were $3.1 billion for the quarter compared to $3.3 billion in 4Q 2021. Revenues were down (6)% year over year.
However, Earned premiums were up 12% year over year from $1.7 billion in 4Q2021 to $1.9 billion in premiums in 4Q2022. Earned premiums growth was driven by 10% growth net written premiums, including price increases, premium growth initiatives and a higher level of insured exposures.
For the full year, total revenue were down (32)% compared to FY2021. However, earned premiums increased 11% year over year.
Also, the company had a net loss of $486 million, or $(3.06) per share, compared with net income of $2.946 billion, or $18.10 per share, in 2021. Overall, Non-GAAP was $4.24 per share compared to $6.41 per share in 2021, a decrease of (34)% year over year. The company also announced its 63 year in a row dividend increase of 8.7%.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on CINF (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #13: Target Corporation (TGT)
- Dividend Yield: 3.3%
Target is a giant discount retailer. Its business consists of about 1,850 big box stores, which offer general merchandise and food, as well as serving as distribution points for the company’s burgeoning e-commerce business. Target should produce about $110 billion in total revenue this year.
We see continued comparable sales growth as driving results, along with sizable margin expansion from low levels in 2022 and 2023, and a tailwind from the buyback. Target’s digital efforts are also working extremely nicely, as we saw again in 2021 results, and the company’s small-format stores are performing very well, opening a new avenue of growth for the company in the coming years.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on TGT (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #12: Kimberly-Clark (KMB)
- Dividend Yield: 3.4%
Kimberly-Clark is a global consumer products company that operates in 175 countries and sells disposable consumer goods, including paper towels, diapers, and tissues.
It operates through two segments that each house many popular brands: Personal Care Segment (Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Depend, Poise) and the Consumer Tissue segment (Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, and Viva), generating nearly $20 billion in annual revenue.
The company recently reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2022 results.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Kimberly-Clark (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #11: Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
- Dividend Yield: 3.6%
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
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on SWK (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #10: National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG)
- Dividend Yield: 4.0%
National Fuel Gas Co. is a diversified energy company that operates in five business segments: Exploration & Production, Pipeline & Storage, Gathering, Utility, and Energy Marketing. The company’s largest segment is Exploration & Production.
Source: Investor Presentation
In early February, National Fuel Gas reported (2/2/23) financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2023. The company grew its production 11% over the prior year’s quarter thanks to the development of core acreage positions in Appalachia. In addition, its realized price of natural gas grew 20% thanks to tight supply.
As a result, adjusted earnings per-share grew 24%, from $1.48 to $1.84, and exceeded the analysts’ consensus by $0.15. National Fuel Gas has exceeded the analysts’ consensus in 14 of the last 15 quarters.
On the other hand, the price of natural gas has plunged to a 2-year low lately, primarily due to relatively warm weather. In addition, the global gas market has somewhat absorbed the impact of the sanctions of western countries on Russia for its invasion in Ukraine. As a result, National Fuel Gas lowered its guidance for its earnings-per-share in fiscal 2023 from $6.40-$6.90 to $5.35-$5.75.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on NFG (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #9: Black Hills Corporation (BKH)
- Dividend Yield: 4.2%
Black Hills Corporation is an electric utility that provides electricity and natural gas to customers in Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Black Hills was founded in 1941, and the company is headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Black Hills (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #8: AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)
- Dividend Yield: 4.4%
AbbVie is a pharmaceutical company spun off by Abbott Laboratories (ABT) in 2013. Its most important product is Humira, which is now facing biosimilar competition in Europe, which has had a noticeable impact on the company. Humira will lose patent protection in the U.S. in 2023.
Even so, AbbVie remains a giant in the healthcare sector, with a large and diversified product portfolio.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on AbbVie (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #7: Northwest Natural Holding Co. (NWN)
- Dividend Yield: 4.6%
NW Natural was founded in 1859 and has grown from just a handful of customers to serving more than 760,000 today. The utility’s mission is to deliver natural gas to its customers in the Pacific Northwest and it has done that well, affording it the ability to raise its dividend for 66 consecutive years.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on NWN (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #6: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)
- Dividend Yield: 4.8%
Federal Realty was founded in 1962. As a Real Estate Investment Trust, Federal Realty’s business model is to own and rent out real estate properties. It uses a significant portion of its rental income, as well as external financing, to acquire new properties. This helps create a “snow-ball” effect of rising income over time.
Federal Realty primarily owns shopping centers. However, it also operates in redevelopment of multi-purpose properties including retail, apartments, and condominiums. The portfolio is highly diversified in terms of tenant base.
Source: Investor Presentation
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Federal Realty (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #5: Canadian Utilities (CDUAF)
- Dividend Yield: 5.1%
Canadian Utilities is an $8 billion company with approximately 5,000 employees. ATCO owns 53% of Canadian Utilities. Based in Alberta, Canadian Utilities is a diversified global energy infrastructure corporation delivering solutions in Electricity, Pipelines & Liquid, and Retail Energy.
Source: Investor Presentation
The company prides itself on having Canada’s longest consecutive years of dividend increases, with a 50-year streak. Unless otherwise noted, US dollars are used in this research report.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on CDUAF (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #4: 3M Company (MMM)
- Dividend Yield: 6.0%
3M sells more than 60,000 products that are used every day in homes, hospitals, office buildings and schools around the world. It has about 95,000 employees and serves customers in more than 200 countries.
3M is now composed of four separate divisions: Safety & Industrial, Healthcare, Transportation & Electronics, and Consumer. The company also announced that it would be spinning off its Health Care segment into a standalone entity, which would have had $8.6 billion of revenue in 2021. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023.
Source: Investor Presentation
On April 25th, 2023, 3M reported announced earnings results for the 2023 first quarter. For the quarter, revenue of $7.7 billion beat analyst estimates by $190 million. Adjusted EPS of $1.97 also beat estimates by $0.37.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on 3M (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #3: Universal Corporation (UVV)
- Dividend Yield: 6.4%
Universal Corporation is a tobacco stock. It is the world’s largest leaf tobacco exporter and importer. The company is the wholesale purchaser and processor of tobacco that operates as an intermediary between tobacco farms and the companies that manufacture cigarettes, pipe tobacco, and cigars. Universal also has an ingredients business that is separate from the core leaf segment.
As the leader in a declining industry, we do not expect the company to deliver strong growth in the future. The company’s earnings-per-share could still rise over the next couple of years, however. Universal’s shares trade at a moderate valuation based on the earnings and cash flows that the company generates.
Universal also does not need to invest large amounts of money into its business, which gives it the ability to utilize a substantial amount of its free cash flows for share repurchases and dividends.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Universal (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #2: Leggett & Platt (LEG)
- Dividend Yield: 6.4%
Leggett & Platt is an engineered products manufacturer. The company’s products include furniture, bedding components, store fixtures, die castings, and industrial products. Leggett & Platt has 14 business units and more than 20,000 employees.
Leggett & Platt reported its first quarter earnings results on May 1. The company reported revenues of $1.21 billion for the quarter, which represents an 8% decline compared to the prior year’s quarter. Revenues were slightly higher than the consensus estimate. The company’s revenue performance was stronger than the one recorded during the previous quarter, when Leggett & Platt had recorded a bigger revenue decline.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Leggett & Platt (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Yield Dividend King #1: Altria Group (MO)
- Dividend Yield: 8.0%
Altria Group was founded by Philip Morris in 1847 and today has grown into a consumer staples giant. While it is primarily known for its tobacco products, it is significantly involved in the beer business due to its 10% stake in global beer giant Anheuser-Busch InBev.
Related: The Best Tobacco Stocks Now, Ranked In Order
The Marlboro brand holds over 42% retail market share in the U.S.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Altria (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
Final Thoughts
High yield dividend stocks have obvious appeal to income investors. The S&P 500 Index yields just ~1.7% right now on average, making high yield stocks even more attractive by comparison.
Of course, investors should always do their research before buying individual stocks.
That said, the 20 stocks in this list have yields at least double the S&P 500 Index average, going all the way up to 8%. And, each of these stocks has increased their dividends for 50 consecutive years. They are all part of the exclusive Dividend Kings list.
As a result, income investors may find these 20 dividend stocks attractive.
Further Reading
If you are interested in finding high-quality dividend growth stocks and/or other high-yield securities and income securities, the following Sure Dividend resources will be useful:
High-Yield Individual Security Research
- 20 Highest-Yielding BDCs
- 20 Highest-Yielding MLPs
- 20 Best Ultra High-Dividend Stocks
- 20 High-Dividend Stocks Under $10
- 20 Undervalued High-Dividend Stocks
- 20 Highest-Yielding Dividend Aristocrats
- 20 Highest Yielding Monthly Dividend Stocks
- 20 Highest-Yielding Small Cap Dividend Stocks
- 20 Safe High Dividend Blue-Chip Stocks With Low Volatility
- 12 Long-Term High-Dividend Stocks To Buy And Hold For Decades
- 12 Consistently High Paying Dividend Stocks With Growth Potential
- 10 Super High Dividend REITs
- 10 Highest Yielding Dividend Champions
- 10 Highest Yielding Dow 30 Stocks | Dogs Of The Dow
- 10 High-Yield Dividend Stocks Trading Below Book Value
- 9 Highest Yielding Royalty Trusts
Other Sure Dividend Resources
- Dividend Kings: 50+ years of rising dividends
- Dividend Champions: 25+ years of rising dividends
- Dividend Aristocrats: 25+ years of rising dividends and in the S&P 500
- Dividend Achievers: 10+ years of rising dividends and in the NASDAQ
- High Dividend Stocks: 4%+ dividend yields
- Monthly Dividend Stocks: Individual securities that pay out every month
- Blue Chip Stock: Kings, Aristocrats, and Achievers
- MLPs: List of MLPs and more
- REITs: List of REITs and more
- BDCs: List of BDCs and more