2025 Dividend Kings Guide - Complete Analysis

Key Takeaway for 2025

Dividend Kings average 2.71% yield with 5.94% annual dividend growth, providing superior long-term risk-adjusted returns despite underperforming tech-driven markets in 2025 (+5.6% vs S&P 500's +13.5%).

🎯 2025 Performance Leaders

National Fuel Gas (NFG)

+30%

AI/data center demand driving 53-year streak forward with projected 10%+ EPS growth through 2027

Consolidated Edison (ED)

+25%

New Dividend King with 51-year streak, benefiting from successful rate cases in New York

Abbott Labs (ABT)

+20.7%

Healthcare resilience with 7.5-8.5% projected organic growth for 2025

AbbVie (ABBV)

+20.4%

Successful post-Humira diversification strategy continues paying dividends

🏆 Dividend Kings Snapshot

Showing 8 of 55 companies

Sort by:

Company	Sector	Yield	Payout	2025	Years

Company ↕	Sector ↕	Yield ↕	Payout ↕	2025 Performance ↕	Years ↕

Average Dividend Kings Metrics

2.71%

Average Yield
(vs 1.25% S&P 500)

62.5%

Average Payout
(sustainable level)

5.94%

5-Year Growth
(CAGR)

55

Total Companies
(4 added, 3 removed)

📊 At-A-Glance Scorecards

💰

Dividend Safety Leaders

★★★★★

EXCELLENT

Walmart (WMT)

25-30% payout ratio - Ultra conservative

Abbott Labs (ABT)

45-50% payout ratio - Strong balance sheet

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

Conservative ratios - Defensive healthcare

⚠️

Dividend Safety - At Risk

★☆☆☆☆

CAUTION

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)

135% payout - Earnings don't cover dividends

Kenvue (KVUE)

147% payout - New spinoff establishing operations

Universal Corp (UVV)

85% payout - Tobacco industry decline

❓ Dividend Kings FAQ

Why are there no technology Dividend Kings?

Technology companies are completely absent (0% vs 29% in S&P 500) because:

📅

Short History

Most tech giants only started paying dividends in the 2000s-2010s

🔬

R&D Priority

Tech companies historically reinvest profits into growth

⏰

50-Year Rule

Must have started consistent growth in 1970s or earlier

Which companies are most at risk of losing their status?

Highest Risk Companies (based on 2025 analysis):

Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)

135% payout ratio, -37% performance, 56-year streak at risk

Target Corporation (TGT)

-30% performance, weak consumer spending, 53-year streak

Kenvue (KVUE)

147% payout ratio, new J&J spinoff operations

Universal Corp (UVV)

85% payout ratio, tobacco industry facing decline

📈 Performance Comparison

Dividend Kings vs Market

2025 YTD Performance +5.6%

Average Yield 2.71% 🏆

20-Year CAGR 24.7% 🏆

Volatility (3-year) 12.5% 🏆

Metric	Dividend Kings (50+ years)	Dividend Aristocrats (25+ years)	S&P 500 (Broad market)
YTD 2025 Performance	+5.6%	+4.4%	+13.5% 🏆
Average Dividend Yield	2.71% 🏆	2.0%	1.25%
20-Year CAGR	24.7% 🏆	11.6%	22.9%
Volatility (3-year)	12.5% 🏆	14.1%	14.4%
Risk-Adjusted Returns (Sharpe)	0.74 🏆	~0.50	0.39

💡 Investment Implication

Dividend Kings excel in long-term wealth building and risk-adjusted returns, making them ideal for income-focused portfolios despite 2025's tech-driven market underperformance. Consider 20-30% allocation for balanced exposure to this elite group of dividend champions.

📊 Recent List Changes (2024)

✅ New Additions

RLI Corp

Insurance company joins elite list

ADP

Payroll services achieves 50 years

Consolidated Edison

Utility reaches milestone status

Kenvue

J&J spinoff inherits streak

❌ Removed

3M Company

Cut dividend after financial strain

Leggett & Platt

Ended long streak due to pressures

Telephone & Data Systems

Telecom challenges forced cut

Current count: 55 companies - The dynamic nature reflects ongoing economic pressures testing even the most established dividend payers

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