In this article, we will take a look at the Dividend Kings List: Top 15 Stocks.
Dividend Kings are a small group of companies that have raised their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years. Stocks like these have remained popular with investors for a simple reason. Over long market cycles, companies that pay dividends have often delivered stronger long-term returns than businesses that do not. They also tend to carry lower risk. Regular dividend payments usually reflect steady cash flow and disciplined financial management.
A report from Guggenheim Investments notes that dividend growth stocks can appeal to investors looking for companies that operate with discipline and may help cushion portfolios during periods of market volatility. The report also points out that dividend growth strategies are typically more diversified across sectors. This differs from pure yield strategies, which often lean heavily toward Financial and Utilities stocks.
Dividends themselves have also played a meaningful role in long-term returns. According to the report, dividends paid to shareholders have accounted for nearly 40% of total market returns over the past 20 years. Strategies built around dividend growth have also tended to show favorable up and down capture ratios. In practical terms, this means investors may still participate in the market’s long-term gains. At the same time, they may retain more value when markets inevitably decline.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend kings to invest in.
Photo by Vitaly Taranov on Unsplash
Our Methodology:
To create this list, we examined a set of over 50 dividend king companies, recognized for consistently increasing dividends for 50 years or more. From this group, we selected companies with the highest dividend yields as of March 6 and organized them in ascending order based on their yield, from lowest to highest. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
15. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)
Dividend Yield as of March 6: 0.81%
On March 3, Morgan Stanley raised its price recommendation on W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) to $1,190 from $1,100 and maintained an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The firm said it was updating its estimates to reflect the company’s Q4 results and rolling forward its forecasts.
During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Donald Macpherson said the company streamlined its portfolio by exiting the U.K. market. At the same time, Grainger invested in new supply chain capacity to extend its service leadership. The discussion also turned to artificial intelligence and machine learning. Macpherson said the company’s data capabilities support its five strategic growth engines and help drive market share gains in the High-Touch Solutions segment. He noted that Grainger expanded its assortment by more than 85,000 SKUs in 2025. According to him, that marked the largest increase for the High-Touch segment in almost a decade.
He also described several AI-driven improvements across marketing and sales. These included broader seller coverage and the ongoing rollout of the seller insights platform. Looking ahead to 2026, Macpherson said the company plans to apply AI to the platform to generate actionable insights, identify new customer contacts, and improve coaching opportunities for sales leaders.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) operates as a broadline distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating products for businesses and institutions. The company reports its operations through two segments: High-Touch Solutions North America and Endless Assortment.
14. MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA)
Dividend Yield as of March 6: 1.16%
On February 17, Baird analyst Robert Mason raised the firm’s price recommendation on MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) to $205 from $184. The firm reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. The firm said it updated its model after reporting its Q4 results, noting that the outlook for 2026 sales was in line with expectations.
During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, President and CEO Steven Blanco said the year ended on a solid note, supported by the company’s Accelerate strategy. He reported that consolidated sales increased 2% during the quarter. Acquisitions contributed roughly 3% to growth, while foreign exchange added another 2% tailwind. Blanco said the Detection segment showed strong momentum, with organic growth of 17%. He explained that demand for fixed solutions largely drove that performance.
Results were weaker in the fire service. Organic sales in the segment declined 21%, which he attributed to delays in AFG funding and the temporary shutdown of the U.S. government. Industrial PPE posted a modest improvement. Blanco said organic sales in that category rose 1%. He also noted that the acquisition of M&C TechGroup contributed around $15 million in revenue during the quarter. Blanco added that Detection has become the company’s largest product category. It now represents 41% of total sales. He also pointed to several new product launches. Blanco added that the newest generation 2025 G1 SCBA received NFPA approval in November.
He also said the company deployed nearly $0.5 billion toward growth investments and shareholder returns during the year. The dividend, he noted, was increased for the 55th consecutive year.
MSA Safety Incorporated (NYSE:MSA) develops advanced safety products, technologies, and solutions designed to protect workers and facility infrastructure. Its main product categories include fire service, detection, and industrial personal protective equipment.
13. Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR)
Dividend Yield as of March 6: 1.17%
On March 5, Seaport Research analyst Scott Graham lowered the firm’s price recommendation on Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR) to $130 from $135. The analyst maintained a Buy rating on the shares.
Earlier in February, Pentair announced several changes to its executive leadership team. The moves were part of a broader effort to support growth, strengthen innovation, and respond more quickly to customer needs.
Effective March 1, 2026, Adrian Chiu took on the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy, Innovation and Digital Officer. The position is newly created and focuses on corporate strategy, emerging technologies, and digital transformation. Chiu previously led Pentair Water Solutions.De’Mon Wiggins also saw his responsibilities expand. As EVP and President of Pentair Flow, he now oversees Pentair Water Solutions as well. In this role, he leads strategic initiatives across Commercial Water Solutions, Water Quality Management, and Flow. The two segments will continue to report separately.
The company also confirmed the departure of two longtime executives. Steve Pilla, EVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, and Phil Rolchigo, EVP and Chief Technology Officer, left the company on March 1, 2026. After their departures, Pentair eliminated both positions. Supply chain operations now report to incoming CFO Nick Brazis. The innovation and sustainability teams have been moved under Adrian Chiu.
Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR) provides a range of smart and sustainable water solutions for homes, businesses, and industries worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Flow, Water Solutions, and Pool.
