Core Insights - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Black Hills, Genuine Parts, and Agree Realty recently announcing dividend hikes [1] Group 1: Black Hills - Black Hills Corp. operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the U.S. [2] - The company has increased its dividends for 55 consecutive years, with the most recent hike on January 24, raising the quarterly payout from $0.65 to $0.676 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $2.70 per share [3] - As of June 30, Black Hills reported annual revenue of $2.24 billion, with Q2 2025 revenues of $439 million, which was below the consensus estimate of $448.40 million, while EPS of $0.38 exceeded the consensus of $0.37 [4] Group 2: Genuine Parts - Genuine Parts Co. is a global service provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts [4] - The company has raised its dividends for 69 consecutive years, with the latest increase on February 18, raising the quarterly payout by 3% to $1.03 per share, equating to an annual figure of $4.12 per share [5] - As of September 30, Genuine Parts reported annual revenue of $24.06 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues of $6.26 billion, surpassing the consensus estimate of $6.13 billion, while EPS of $1.98 fell short of the consensus of $2 [6] Group 3: Agree Realty - Agree Realty Corp. is a real estate investment trust that focuses on acquiring and developing properties net leased to leading omnichannel retail tenants [7]

Core Insights - Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is set to announce its fiscal third-quarter earnings for 2025 on October 21, with a market cap of $19.3 billion [1] - Analysts predict GPC will report a profit of $2.02 per share, reflecting a 7.5% increase from $1.88 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For the full fiscal year, GPC's expected EPS is $7.67, a decrease of 6% from $8.16 in fiscal 2024, but projected to rise to $8.43 in fiscal 2026, marking a 9.9% year-over-year increase [3] Performance Analysis - GPC's stock has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 Index, which gained 17.9% over the past 52 weeks, with GPC shares showing only marginal increases [4] - Following the Q2 results announcement on July 22, GPC shares rose by 7.6%, with adjusted EPS of $2.10 exceeding expectations of $2.08 and revenue reaching $6.2 billion, surpassing forecasts of $6.1 billion [5] Analyst Ratings - The consensus opinion on GPC stock is moderately bullish, with a "Moderate Buy" rating; out of 12 analysts, five recommend a "Strong Buy," six suggest a "Hold," and one advises a "Strong Sell" [6] - The average analyst price target for GPC is $144.62, indicating a potential upside of 6.3% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights seven companies known as Dividend Champions, which have consistently increased their dividends for at least 25 years, making them attractive options for investors seeking reliable income streams. Group 1: Chevron - Chevron is a leading integrated oil and gas producer with a break-even level of around $30 per barrel, allowing it to remain profitable even during downturns in oil prices [2][3] - The company has increased its dividend for 38 consecutive years, demonstrating resilience during oil market fluctuations [3] - Chevron anticipates adding $12.5 billion to its annual free cash flow starting next year, supported by a recent merger with Hess, which enhances its production and cash flow growth outlook [4] Group 2: Consolidated Edison - Consolidated Edison is an electric and gas utility focused on New York City, benefiting from stable demand and government-regulated rates, which support its dividend growth [5] - The company has delivered its 51st annual dividend increase, making it a Dividend King with over 50 years of dividend increases [6] - Consolidated Edison plans to invest $38 billion to maintain and grow its utility operations through the end of the decade, ensuring reliable earnings growth [7] Group 3: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners is a master limited partnership (MLP) with energy midstream assets, providing predictable cash flow through long-term contracts [8] - The MLP has increased its distribution for 27 consecutive years and has $6 billion in organic capital projects expected to boost cash flow by 2026 [9] - Enterprise has a strong balance sheet, allowing it to continue growing its business and high-yielding distribution [10] Group 4: Enbridge - Enbridge is a North American energy infrastructure company with 98% of earnings from predictable revenue frameworks, ensuring visibility into its earnings [12] - The company has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years and has a backlog of approximately $23 billion in capital projects to support future growth [13] Group 5: Genuine Parts - Genuine Parts is a provider of automotive and industrial replacement parts, with a history of growing sales in 91 of its 97 years [14] - The company has raised its dividend for 69 consecutive years, supported by strong cash flows and a disciplined acquisition strategy [15] Group 6: NNN REIT - NNN REIT focuses on single-tenant, net leased retail properties, generating stable rental income due to tenants covering operating costs [16] - The REIT has increased its dividend for 36 consecutive years and maintains a conservative financial profile to support future dividend growth [17] Group 7: PepsiCo - PepsiCo is a global beverage and snacking company with a strong cash flow supporting its nearly 4% dividend yield [18] - The company has raised its dividend for 53 consecutive years and invests heavily in product innovations and capacity expansions to drive growth [19] Conclusion - These companies exemplify resilience and financial strength, making them ideal choices for investors seeking durable and steadily rising passive dividend income [20]