Fact checked by Peter Gratton Some aristocrats actually like sharing the wealth. In fact, dividend aristocrats share more and more every year. A dividend aristocrat is an S&P 500 company that has increased its dividend annually for at least 25 years,

It's difficult for companies to stay at the top of their industries for long. The competition in the global economy is just too fierce. Yet, there are proven winners, such as Nike ( NKE 2.29%), Hershey ( HSY 1.95%), and PepsiCo ( PEP 1.02%), that have stood the test of time due to their beloved brands and the pricing power it gives them.

Steven Cress talks to Kim Khan about his top dividend stocks for the year. Diversification and strong fundamentals are key strategies for investors. Top picks include NewLake Capital Partners, John Wiley & Sons, Clorox, CareTrust REIT, Northrop Grumman, and Philip Morris.

Despite common perceptions, 2024 turned out to be a strong year for dividends, even though the Aristocrats Index underperformed the broader market.

Realty Income has increased its dividend for 109 quarters in a row. Brookfield Infrastructure has raised its dividend every single year since its formation. Medtronic has increased its dividend payment for 47 straight years.

Here are some of the S&P 500’s fastest-growing dividends over the last five and ten years. Best S&P 500 stocks for 5-year dividend growth. The stocks with the best five-year gro