5 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

In this article, we discuss 5 best long-term dividend stocks to buy now. If you want to read our detailed analysis of dividend stocks and their performance over the years, go directly to read  12 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks To Buy Now.

5. Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth: 31
5-Year Average Payout Ratio: 43.7%

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) is an American food safety company that specializes in the treatment, cleaning, and hygiene of water in a wide variety of applications. In the first quarter of 2023, the company posted revenue of $3.6 billion, which showed a 10% growth from the same period last year. It had roughly $420 million in cash and cash equivalents at the end of March 31, compared with $100 million in the prior-year period.

On May 4, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) declared a dividend of $0.53 per share, which was consistent with its previous dividend. In 2022, the company stretched its dividend growth streak to 31 years, which makes it one of the best long-term stocks. The stock has a dividend yield of 1.17%, as of June 27.

Ecolab Inc. (NYSE:ECL) was a popular stock among hedge funds in Q1 2023, as 53 funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in the company, up from 47 a quarter earlier. These stakes have a consolidated value of over $2.1 billion. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Trust was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q1.