2 Top Dividend Kings Every Income Investor Should Own
Yahoo Finance·2025-10-20 09:05

Core Insights - Dividend Kings are companies that have increased their dividends annually for at least 50 years, with only 56 companies currently qualifying for this status [1] Group 1: Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson has increased its dividend payment by 4.8% this year, marking 63 consecutive years of dividend growth, with a current yield of 2.7%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's 1.2% [4] - The company holds a AAA bond rating, the highest globally, supported by a strong financial profile, including $19 billion in cash against $46 billion in debt, resulting in a manageable net debt of $27 billion compared to a market cap of $461 billion [5][6] - Johnson & Johnson generated over $14 billion in free cash flow in the first nine months of the year, easily covering its $9.3 billion dividend outlay [6] - The company invests heavily in research and development, with $10.4 billion spent year to date, which supports its innovation in medicines and medical technologies [7] - Recent strategic acquisitions, such as Intra-Cellular for $14.6 billion, enhance its R&D efforts and are expected to drive revenue and earnings growth, supporting future dividend increases [8] Group 2: PepsiCo - PepsiCo is also highlighted as a top Dividend King, with a strong financial profile that supports its dividend payments [9]