13 Best Dividend Kings to Buy in 2026

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1. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 103

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth: 63

On January 16, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shared results from a new analysis of Phase 3 data showing that CAPLYTA (lumateperone), when used alongside an antidepressant, delivered significantly higher remission rates in adults with major depressive disorder compared with placebo plus an antidepressant after six weeks. The company also said the benefits held up over time, with continued improvement observed through six months in an open-label extension study. These results were included in one of 11 abstracts from Johnson & Johnson’s neuropsychiatry portfolio presented at the 64th Annual Meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, held January 12 to 15 in Nassau, Bahamas.

Even with other corporate moves in the pipeline, including plans to spin off its orthopedics business, Johnson & Johnson’s main engine is still its ability to develop new medicines and advanced medical technology. Its pipeline and commercial products cover a wide set of areas, including immunology (rheumatoid arthritis, infectious diseases), neuroscience (schizophrenia, oncology, cardiovascular care), and metabolic conditions such as diabetes.

A major strength of the business is that demand for its products is not tied closely to the economic cycle. People do not stop needing treatment in a downturn, and for many patients, these therapies are essential. That stability continues to show up in the numbers. In the third quarter, Johnson & Johnson reported adjusted sales growth of 4.4% year over year, while diluted earnings per share jumped 15.7%.

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture, and sell a broad range of healthcare products, supported by ongoing research and development across its businesses.

While we acknowledge the potential of JNJ to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than JNJ and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

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