The list of dividend champions includes companies which have managed to increase annual dividends to shareholders for at least 25 years in a row. I use it as a starting point for my research. A company that managed to grow dividends for 25 years in a row is a company that is worthy of further research. This impressive streak of annual dividend increases does not happen by accident. A company with such a long dividend streak has had a strong business tailwind, which allowed it to grow earnings and dividends for extended periods of time. While the streak of annual dividend increases is not an automatic buy signal, I use it to identify companies for further research.
I find the list of dividend champions to be more complete than the list of dividend aristocrats. The list of dividend aristocrats uses inconsistent criteria to add and remove stocks, and has excluded companies for no reason in the past. Given that I update the list of dividend champions, and post the supporting data behind each dividend champion, I have list of companies have raised dividends for 25 years in a row. I am very comfortable with the list of dividend champions for those reasons, which is something I cannot say about the list of dividend aristocrats. If you study the historical changes in the dividend aristocrats you will understand my point of view.
You can download the December list of Dividend Champions from this location.
I have included a brief note about the companies that raised dividends over the past month, and extended their streak of annual dividend increases:
Atmos Energy (ATO) raised its quarterly dividend by 8.20% to 52.50 cents/share. This marked the 35th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend champion.
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) raised its quarterly diidend by 14.50% to cents/share. The increased cash dividend marks the 44th consecutive year in which ADP has raised its quarterly dividend. This was also the second dividend increase for ADP so far this year, bringing the current distribution a cool 25% higher than the dividend paid during the same time last year.
Becton Dickinson (BDX) raised its quarterly dividend by 2.70% to 77 cents/share. This was the forty-seventh consecutive fiscal year in which the company has raised their dividend
Black Hills (BKH) raised its quarterly dividend by 6.30% to 50.50 cents/share. This was the 49th consecutive annual dividend increase, which is one of the longest streaks in the utility industry.
Brown-Forman (BF.B) raised its quarterly dividend by 5.10% to 16.60 cents/share. The dividend increase marked the 35th consecutive year of dividend increases at Brown-Forman, and the 73rd year of paying quarterly dividends at the company
Emerson Electric (EMR) raised its quarterly dividend by 1.03% to 49 cents/share. This dividend king has completed 62 consecutive years of increased dividends per share to shareholders.
Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (FMCB) raised its semi-annual dividend by 1.46% to $7/share. This year marks the 84th consecutive year that Farmers & Merchants Bancorp has paid cash dividends and the 54th consecutive year dividends have been increased. This was the second increase this year, bringing the dividend increase to 3% over the payment done this time last year. The company is one of the 26 dividend kings on my list.
Hormel Foods (HRL) boosted its quarterly dividend by 12% to 21 cents/share. This marked the 53rd consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend king.
Lancaster Colony (LANC) increased its quarterly dividend by 8.30% to 65 cents/share. This marked the 56th consecutive year of increased annual dividends for this dividend king.
McCormick & Co (MKC) raised its quarterly dividend by 9.60% to 57 cents/share. This marked the 33rd consecutive dividend increase for this excellent, but overpriced company.
MDU Resources (MDU) raised its quarterly dividend by 2.50% to 20.25 cents/share. The company raised its dividend for the 28th consecutive year.
Roper Technologies (ROP) increased its quarterly dividend by 12.10% to 46.25 cents/share. This was the twenty-sixth consecutive year in which Roper has increased its dividend.
Sysco (SYY) raised its quarterly dividend by 8.30% to 39 cents/share. This marked the 49th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend champion.
Tennant Corporation (TNC) raised its quarterly dividend by 4.80% to 22 cents/share. This the 47th consecutive year that the company has increased its annual cash dividend payout. If it hadn't raised distributions this quarter, the stock would have lost its long streak of annual dividend increases.
Vectren Corp (VVC) raised its quarterly dividend by 6.70% to 48 cents/share. This marked the 59th consecutive annual dividend increase for this dividend king. The company is in the process of being acquired by Centerpoint Energy for $72/share in cash. The deal is expected to close in 2019.
Relevant Articles:
- November 2018 Dividend Champions List
- October 2018 Dividend Champions List
- 2018 Dividend Kings List
- Ten Dividend Stocks for November