Desiring Durable Passive Income During an Economic Downturn? These Elite Dividend Stocks Have Hiked Their Payouts In Each of the Last 4 Recessions.

Economic Outlook - Economic forecasters are increasing the likelihood of a recession, with Goldman Sachs raising its probability from 20% to 45% and JPMorgan estimating nearly 80% [1] Corporate Responses to Recession - Recessions typically lead to declines in corporate profits, prompting companies to cut costs through layoffs and potentially suspend dividend payments [2] Resilient Companies - Companies like ExxonMobil and Coca-Cola are considered recession-resistant due to strong cash flows and balance sheets, having increased dividends through past recessions [3][11] ExxonMobil's Financial Strength - ExxonMobil raised its dividend by 4%, marking 42 consecutive years of increases, and plans to invest over $140 billion in capital projects through 2030, which is expected to enhance earnings capacity by $20 billion annually [5][6] - The company generated $34.4 billion in free cash flow last year, significantly exceeding its $16.7 billion dividend outlay, and maintains a low leverage ratio of 6% with a cash balance of $23.2 billion [7] Coca-Cola's Dividend Growth - Coca-Cola increased its dividend by 5.2%, extending its streak to 63 years, and expects to generate $9.5 billion in free cash flow this year, covering its $8.4 billion dividend outlay [8][9] - The company aims for organic revenue growth of 4%-6% annually, which should support mid-to-high single-digit earnings-per-share growth, positioning it well for continued dividend increases [10]