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Top 20 Highest Yielding Dividend Kings Now | Yields Up To 7.2%


Updated on December 6th, 2024 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:

You can see the full downloadable spreadsheet of all 54 Dividend Kings (along with important financial metrics such as dividend yields, payout ratios, and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking on the link below:

Click here to instantly download your free spreadsheet of all Dividend Kings now, along with important investing metrics.

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: Genuine Parts Company (GPC)

Genuine Parts has the world’s largest global auto parts network, with more than 10,800 locations worldwide. As a major distributor of automotive and industrial parts, Genuine Parts generates annual revenue of nearly $23 billion.

Source: Investor Presentation

It operates two segments, which are automotive (includes the NAPA brand) and the industrial parts group which sells industrial replacement parts to MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) customers.

Customers are derived from a wide range of segments, including food and beverage, metals and mining, oil and gas, and health care.

The company reported its third-quarter 2024 results, with sales reaching $6.0 billion, a 2.5% increase from the previous year.

Net income fell to $227 million, or $1.62 per diluted share, down from $351 million in Q3 2023. Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) also decreased to $1.88 compared to $2.49 last year.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on GPC (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #19: National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG)

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 largest segment of the company is Exploration & Production.

Thanks to its vertically integrated business model, it enjoys significant synergies.

Source: Investor Presentation

In early November, National Fuel Gas reported (11/1/23) financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The company grew its production 7% over the prior year’s quarter thanks to the development of core acreage positions in Appalachia. However, the average realized price of natural gas fell -18%, from $2.84 to $2.33.

As a result, adjusted earnings-per-share declined -34%, from $1.19 to $0.78, and missed the analysts’ consensus by $0.07. The company has beaten the analysts’ estimates in 15 of the last 18 quarters.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on NFG (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #18: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1886 and has transformed into one of the largest companies in the world. Johnson & Johnson is a mega-cap stock. The company generates annual sales above $99 billion.

Johnson & Johnson operates a diversified business model, allowing it to appeal to a wide variety of customers within the healthcare sector. J&J now operates two segments, pharmaceuticals and medical devices, after spinning off its consumer health franchises.

Johnson & Johnson reported third-quarter 2024 sales growth of 5.2%, reaching $22.5 billion, with operational growth of 6.3%.

Source: Investor Presentation

However, earnings per share (EPS) decreased by 34.3%, largely due to a one-time special charge and acquired in-process research and development (IPR&D).

Adjusted EPS fell 9.0% to $2.42, driven by the same IPR&D impact. The company made significant advancements, including approvals for treatments like TREMFYA and RYBREVANT, and the submission of a new general surgery robotic system, OTTAVA.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on JNJ (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #17: PepsiCo Inc. (PEP)

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage company that generates $89 billion in annual sales. The company’s products include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Frito-Lay chips, Gatorade, Tropicana orange juice and Quaker foods.

Its business is split roughly 60-40 in terms of food and beverage revenue. It is also balanced geographically between the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Source: Investor Presentation

On October 8th, 2024, PepsiCo reported third quarter results for the period ending September 30th, 2024. For the quarter, revenue fell 0.5% to $23.3 billion, which was $460 million below estimates.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.31 compared favorably to $1.97 the prior year and was $0.02 ahead of expectations. Currency exchange reduced revenue and earnings-per-share by ~2%.

Organic sales improved 1.3% for the second quarter and 1.9% year-to-date. Volumes for both food and beverage were down 2%.

PepsiCo Beverages North America’s revenue once again grew 1% organically as higher prices more than offset a 3% decline in volume.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on PEP (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #16: Consolidated Edison (ED)

Consolidated Edison is a large-cap utility stock. The company generates nearly $15 billion in annual revenue and has a market capitalization of approximately $36 billion.

The company serves 3.7 million electric customers, and another 1.1 million gas customers, in New York.

Source: Investor Presentation

It operates electric, gas, and steam transmission businesses, with a steam system that is the largest in the U.S.

On November 7th, 2024, Consolidated Edison reported third quarter results. For the quarter, revenue improved 5.7% to $4.1 billion, which topped estimates by $26 million.

Adjusted earnings of $583 million, or $1.68 per share, compared to adjusted earnings of $561 million, or $1.62 per share, in the previous year. Adjusted earnings-per-share were $0.10 more than anticipated.

As with prior periods, higher rate bases for gas and electric customers were the primary contributors to results in the CECONY business, which accounts for the vast majority of the company’s assets.

Average rate base balances are still expected to grow by 6.4% annually for the 2024 to 2028 period.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Consolidated Edison (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #15: Target Corporation (TGT)

Target was founded in 1902 and now operates about 1,850 big box stores, which offer general merchandise and food, as well as serving as distribution points for the company’s e-commerce business.

Target posted second quarter earnings on August 21st, 2024, and results were quite strong, sending the stock jumping after the report. Adjusted earnings-per-share came to $2.57, which was 39 cents ahead of estimates. Revenue was up 2.7% year-over-year to $25.45 billion, which beat by $240 million.

Comparable sales were up 2% year-over-year, making up most of the total sales gain. Consensus was for a gain of 1.1%. Traffic was up 3% year-over-year with all six core merchandising categories seeing positive growth. Digital comparable sales were up 8.7%, once again driving growth.

Target has grown its dividend for more than five decades, making it a Dividend King. The company is investing heavily in its business in order to navigate through the changing landscape in the retail sector. The payout is now 47% of earnings for this year,

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on TGT (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):


High Yield Dividend King #14: Hormel Foods (HRL)

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.

It has also pursued acquisitions to drive growth. For example, in 2021, Hormel acquired the Planters snack nuts business from Kraft-Heinz (KHC) for $3.35 billion, which has boosted Hormel’s growth.

Source: Investor Presentation

Hormel Foods Corporation reported strong Q3 fiscal 2024 results, with net sales of $2.9 billion and adjusted operating income of $267 million, exceeding expectations.

Key drivers included strong performances in retail brands and international markets, supported by ongoing improvements from the company’s modernization initiatives.

The company posted diluted earnings per share of $0.32 ($0.37 adjusted) and a cash flow from operations of $218 million.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Hormel (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #13: Kimberly-Clark (KMB)

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 segments that each house many popular brands: the Personal Care Segment (Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex, Depend, Poise), the Consumer Tissue segment (Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle, and Viva), and a professional segment. In all, KMB generates ~$21 billion in annual revenue.

Source: Investor Presentation

Kimberly-Clark posted third quarter earnings on October 22nd, 2024, and results were mixed. The company saw the top line fall 4% year-on-year to $5 billion, and that missed estimates by $50 million. Adjusted earnings-per-share fared better, beating expectations by 12 cents at $1.83.

The company noted higher prices for personal care products. While that boosted profit margins on those products, it also drove consumers to lower-priced alternatives, which is why sales fell.

Management noted pricing increases were required in hyper-inflationary economies such as Argentina to help offset input and operating costs. Adjusted profit margins rose 90 basis points to 36.7%.

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 #12: Kenvue Inc. (KVUE)

Kenvue has three segments, including Self Care, Skin Health and Beauty, and Essential Health. Self Care’s product portfolio includes cough, cold, allergy, smoking cessation, and pain care products among others. Skin Health and Beauty holds products such as face, body, hair, and sun care. Essential Health contains products for women’s health, wound care, oral care, and baby care.

Well-known brands in Kenvue’s product line up include Tylenol, Listerine, Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Nicorette, and Zyrtec. These businesses contributed approximately 17% of Johnson & Johnson’s annual revenue.

On November 7th, 2024, Kenvue reported third quarter earnings results for the period ending September 30th, 2024. Revenue decreased 0.5% to $3.9 billion, which was $20 million less than expected.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of $0.28 compared unfavorably to $0.31 last year, but this was $0.01 above estimates.

Organic sales were up 0.9% for the quarter, which follows a 3.6% improvement last year. For the quarter, pricing and mix benefit of 2.5% was offset by a 1.6% decline in volume.

Once again, volume growth in Essential Health was offset by weakness in Skin Health and Beauty and Self Care. Gross profit margin expanded 100 basis points to 58.5%.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on KVUE (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #11: United Bankshares (UBSI)

United Bankshares was formed in 1982 and since that time, has acquired more than 30 separate banking institutions. This focus on acquisitions, in addition to organic growth, has allowed United to expand in the Mid-Atlantic with a $3.7 billion market capitalization, about $30 billion in total assets, and annual revenue of about $1 billion.

United posted third quarter earnings on October 24th, 2024. Earnings-per-share came to 70 cents, while revenue beat estimates by $2.3 million at $262.2 million.

Net interest income was $230 million, up about 2% from Q2. The increase was due to higher average short-term investments, higher yields on loans, and partially being offset by higher deposit costs.

The yield on average net loans rose six basis points to 6.20%, while average interest-bearing deposits rose 10 basis points to 3.28%. Net interest margin came to 3.50%, up two basis points from Q2.

Provisions for credit losses were $6.9 million, up from $5.8 million in Q2. Noninterest income was $31.9 million, up 6% from Q2, which was driven by higher mortgage banking income.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on UBSI (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #10: AbbVie Inc. (ABBV)

AbbVie is a pharmaceutical company spun off by Abbott Laboratories (ABT) in 2013. Its most important product is Humira, now facing biosimilar competition in Europe and the U.S., which has had a noticeable impact on the company.

Even so, AbbVie remains a giant in the healthcare sector, with a large and diversified product portfolio.

Source: Investor Presentation

AbbVie reported its third quarter earnings results on October 30. The company was able to generate revenues of $14.5 billion during the quarter, which was 4% more than AbbVie’s revenues during the previous year’s quarter.

Revenues were positively impacted by compelling growth from some of its newer drugs, including Skyrizi and Rinvoq, while Humira sales declined by 37% due to growing competition from biosimilars and market share losses.

AbbVie earned $3.00 per share during the third quarter, which was 2% more than the company’s earnings-per-share during the previous year’s quarter. AbbVie’s earnings-per-share beat the consensus analyst estimate by $0.08.

AbbVie’s guidance for 2024’s adjusted earnings-per-share was updated during the earnings call; the company expects to earn $10.90 – $10.94 on a per-share basis this year.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on AbbVie (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #9: Archer Daniels Midland (ADM)

Archer-Daniels-Midland is the largest publicly traded farmland product company in the United States. Archer-Daniels-Midland’s businesses include processing cereal grains, oilseeds, and agricultural storage and transportation.

Archer-Daniels-Midland reported its third-quarter results for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 on November 18th, 2024. The company reported adjusted net earnings of $530 million and adjusted EPS of $1.09, both down from the prior year due to a $461 million non-cash charge related to its Wilmar equity investment.

Consolidated cash flows year-to-date reached $2.34 billion, reflecting strong operations despite market challenges.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on ADM (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #8: 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.

Stanley Works and Black & Decker merged in 2010 to form the current company, thought the company can trace its history back to 1843. Black & Decker was founded in Baltimore, MD in 1910 and manufactured the world’s first portable power tool.

The company is composed of three segments: tools & outdoor, and industrial.

Source: Investor Presentation

On October 29th, 2024, Stanley Black & Decker reported third quarter results. For the quarter, revenue declined 5.1% to $3.75 billion, which was $50 million below estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.22 compared favorably to $1.05 in the prior year and was $0.17 better than expected.

Company-wide organic growth decreased 2% following a slight improvement in Q2 2024. Organic sales for Tools & Outdoor, the largest segment within the company, was down 2% as gains in Europe and the Rest of the World were offset by weaker North American results.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on SWK (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #7: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)

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.

Source: Investor Presentation

On October 30, 2024, Federal Realty Investment Trust announced its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.

The company reported net income available for common shareholders of $0.70 per diluted share, up from $0.67 per diluted share in the same quarter last year. Operating income also saw an increase, reaching $105.8 million compared to $100.1 million in Q3 2023.

Funds from Operations (FFO) available to common shareholders improved to $1.71 per diluted share, up from $1.65 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2023.

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 #6: Fortis (FTS)

Fortis is Canada’s largest investor-owned utility business with operations in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.

Fortis currently has 99% regulated assets: 82% regulated electric and 17% regulated gas. Approximately 64% are in the U.S., 33% in Canada, and 3% in the Caribbean.

Source: Investor Presentation

Fortis reported Q3 2024 results on 11/05/24. For the quarter, it reported adjusted net earnings of CAD$420 million, up 2.2% versus Q3 2023, while adjusted earnings-per-share (EPS) came in at C$0.85, up 1.2%.

The year-to-date results provide a bigger picture. During the period, Fortis witnessed adjusted earnings growth of 5.0% to C$1.2 billion, while the adjusted EPS came in at C$2.45, up 3.4%.

Fortis now expects capital investments to be C$5.2 billion this year.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on FTS (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #5: Black Hills Corporation (BKH)

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.

The company has 1.33 million utility customers in eight states. Its natural gas assets include 47,000 miles of natural gas lines. Separately, it has ~9,000 miles of electric lines and 1.4 gigawatts of electric generation capacity.

Source: Investor Presentation

Black Hills Corporation reported its second quarter earnings results on July 31. The company generated revenues of $403 million during the quarter, down 2% year-over-year.

The decline in the company’s revenues was significantly smaller compared to the previous quarter, when Black Hills’ revenues were down by more than 20%.

Black Hills Corporation generated earnings-per-share of $0.33 during the second quarter, which was in line with the consensus analyst estimate. Earnings-per-share were down by 5% versus the previous year’s quarter.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on BKH (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #4: Northwest Natural Holding Co. (NWN)

Northwest was founded over 160 years ago as a natural gas utility in Portland, Oregon.

It has grown from a very small, local utility that provided gas service to a handful of customers to a very successful regional utility with interests that now include water and wastewater, which were purchased in recent acquisitions.

The company’s locations served are shown in the image below.

Source: Investor Presentation

Northwest provides gas service to 2.5 million customers in ~140 communities in Oregon and Washington, serving more than 795,000 connections. It also owns and operates ~35 billion cubic feet of underground gas storage capacity.

Northwest Natural Holding Company reported a third-quarter 2024 net loss of $27.2 million, or $0.71 per share, compared to a net loss of $23.7 million, or $0.65 per share, in the same period in 2023. Revenue was $136.93 million, a 3.21% year-over-year decrease, but exceeded expectations by $4.47 million.

For the first nine months of 2024, net income was $33.9 million, or $0.88 per share, down from $49.2 million, or $1.37 per share, for the same period in 2023.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on NWN (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #3: Canadian Utilities (CDUAF)

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.

The company has a long history of generating steady growth and consistent profits through the economic cycle.

Source: Investor Presentation

On November 14th, 2024, Canadian Utilities posted its Q3 results for the period ending September 30th, 2024. For the quarter, revenues amounted to $599.0 million, relatively flat year-over-year (in constant currency), while adjusted EPS came in at $0.28, about 19% higher year-over-year.

Flat revenues were mainly due to the decreased revenue contribution from ATCOenergy with its sale to ATCO Ltd. in the quarter, being offset by growth in rate base and an increase in return on equity (ROE) in ATCO Energy Systems.

Higher adjusted earnings in Q3 were primarily driven by growth in rate base and an increase in ROE within ATCO Energy Systems’ businesses, higher demand and stronger seasonal spreads in natural gas storage services at ATCO EnPower, and increased interest income.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on CDUAF (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

High Yield Dividend King #2: Universal Corporation (UVV)

Universal Corporation is a market leader in supplying leaf tobacco and other plant-based inputs to consumer product manufacturers.

The Tobacco Operations segment buys and sells tobacco used to make cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, and smokeless products.

Universal buys tobacco from its suppliers, processes it, and sells it to large tobacco companies in the US and internationally.

Source: Investor Presentation

The Ingredient Operations deal mainly with vegetables and fruits but is significantly smaller than the tobacco operations. Universal has been growing this business through acquisitions starting in 2020.

Universal Corporation reported its second quarter earnings results on November 7. The company generated revenues of $710 million during the quarter.

Additionally, Universal Corporation sold carryover crops during the period, which added to the company’s revenue performance.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Universal (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):


High Yield Dividend King #1: Altria Group (MO)

Altria is a tobacco stock that sells cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, e-cigarettes, and more under a variety of brands, including Marlboro, Skoal, and Copenhagen, among others.

The company also has a 35% investment stake in e-cigarette maker JUUL, and a 45% stake in the cannabis company Cronos Group (CRON).

Altria reported solid third-quarter results, driven by the resilience of its smokeable products and the continued market momentum of the on! nicotine pouch brand.

Source: Investor Presentation

The company’s Q3 revenue was $5.34 billion, a 1.3% year-over-year increase, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reaching $1.38, exceeding expectations by $0.03.

Altria also reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance range of $5.07 to $5.15, indicating growth of 2.5% to 4% over 2023.

During the quarter, Altria repurchased 13.5 million shares, spending $680 million, and declared dividends of $1.7 billion. The company has $310 million remaining under its repurchase program, anticipated to complete by year-end.

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 ~1.3% 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. 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

Other Sure Dividend Resources

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



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