14 Best Dividend Growth Stocks to Buy and Hold in 2026

5. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO)

5-Year Average Dividend Growth Rate: 12.09%

Dividend Yield as of January 4: 0.85%

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) is among the best dividend aristocrat stocks to invest in.

On December 23, BMO Capital downgraded Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) to Market Perform from Outperform and trimmed its price target to $88 from $90. The firm expects consensus organic growth estimates to drift lower in 2026, which it views as a potential “sentiment overhang” for the stock. Brown & Brown’s valuation tends to track organic growth closely, and BMO’s forecast, which sits 100 basis points below consensus, prompted the downgrade. The analyst also flagged what it described as a “talent war” with Howden, noting industry reports that Brown & Brown recently lost a large team to a competitor.

Separately, on December 15, Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) announced that a subsidiary acquired the assets of the J. Kevin Campbell Agency, Inc. for an undisclosed amount. The deal was confirmed by J. Scott Penny, the company’s chief acquisitions officer, alongside Kevin Campbell, principal of the Campbell Agency.

Kevin Campbell founded the agency in 1991, building a business focused on workers’ compensation insurance solutions. In 2004, Kian Ostovar joined the firm and later opened an office in Gainesville, Florida, serving clients across north and central Florida.

Both leaders will transition into roles within Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO). Campbell will join the Tampa office, while Ostovar will move to the Ocala office, bringing their experience into the broader platform.

Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) operates as an insurance brokerage, providing risk management solutions across property, casualty, and employee benefits lines.