14 Stocks on the Verge of Becoming Dividend Aristocrats

8. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY)

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth: 17 Years

On March 6, UBS raised its price recommendation on Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) to $70 from $65 and maintained a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst said Phase III data for milvexian in stroke prevention and atrial fibrillation, expected in the second half of the year, represents one of the company’s key catalysts in 2026, according to a research note.

On March 9, Reuters reported that the company said its experimental drug for a rare form of blood cancer improved survival in a late-stage trial, meeting the study’s main goal. The oral drug mezigdomide, used in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone, showed a significant improvement in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma without the disease worsening. The results were compared with those of patients treated with carfilzomib and dexamethasone alone.

Mezigdomide belongs to a new class of drugs known as CELMoD. These drugs target the cereblon protein and help the body clear myeloma cells more quickly and effectively than older treatments. The company said the safety findings were consistent with the known profile of mezigdomide and the combination regimen. Patients will continue to be monitored for survival and safety.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) is a global biopharmaceutical firm focused on discovering, developing, and delivering medicines for serious diseases. Its research and development work spans several areas, including oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease, and neuroscience.