14 Best Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in Heading into 2026

11. Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38

Upside Potential as of December 22: 22.7%

On December 10, Jefferies analyst Saree Boroditsky upgraded Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR) to Buy from Hold and lifted the price target to $135 from $120. The analyst expects the company to compound earnings through 2027, supported by a recovery in volumes and steady margin expansion. Acquisitions could add further upside over time. Pool volumes are expected to pick up in 2026. Discretionary spending appears to be near trough levels, while replacement demand should increase as the industry moves past the unusually high number of pools installed during the COVID period. The analyst shared these views in a research note to investors.

A few days later, on December 15, Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR) announced it will pay a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per share on February 6, 2026, to shareholders of record as of January 23, 2026. The $0.27 quarterly payout, or $1.08 on an annualized basis, represents an 8% increase in the company’s regular dividend rate. The upcoming year will mark the 50th consecutive year that Pentair has raised its dividend.

The company also announced that its Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program authorizing up to $1 billion in buybacks. The authorization is effective immediately and runs through December 31, 2028. Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR) plans to repurchase shares using operating cash flow, through open market purchases, block trades, privately negotiated transactions, or other methods. This new program builds on the existing authorization set to expire at the end of 2025, under which $225 million remained available at the time of the announcement.

Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR) operates across residential, commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and agricultural markets, providing water solutions tailored to a wide range of applications.