10 Best Long Term Dividend Stocks in 2025

Many long-term investors value dividend stocks as a way to obtain recurring revenue. The term “dividend stock” refers to companies that distribute a portion of their profits to shareholders. Usually, this happens quarterly, and shareholders can either receive the dividend in cash or convert it into additional stock in the company. 

While dividends are most commonly associated with companies, some ETFs also pay dividends to holders. For example, there are ETFs that specifically invest in dividend-paying stocks. 

Investors who are looking to buy the best long-term stocks with dividends should consider several factors. This, of course, includes the company’s dividend yield, which tells us how much the company pays out in dividends on a yearly basis. The dividend yield is expressed as a percentage and is calculated by dividing the amount a company pays per share by the current price of the share.

However, simply choosing stocks from a list of companies with the highest dividend yields at the moment is probably not the best idea for long-term-oriented investors looking for the best stocks for dividends. Instead, it’s worth considering companies that have been consistently paying and increasing their dividends over a long period of time.

The Dividend Aristocrats: Top dividend stocks with proven track records

Here, we should introduce the concept of “Dividend Aristocrats,” which refers to companies that satisfy four criteria: 

• The company must be part of the S&P 500 index
• The company has been paying and increasing their dividend for 25 consecutive years
• The company has a minimum-float adjusted market capitalization of at least $3 billion
• The company’s shares have averaged at least $5 million in trading volume during the last three months

At the time of writing, there are 69 companies with Dividend Aristocrat status. Companies with the Dividend Aristocrat designation typically have less volatility than the rest of the market and are a great starting point for investors who want to maximize dividend growth and are looking for the best dividend stocks to buy now.

In recent years, however, they have underperformed the S&P 500 as a whole when it comes to total returns (gains through the increase in share price, plus dividend payouts). 

If you’re interested in investing in such companies, it’s worth noting that there are ETFs that invest in Dividend Aristocrat stocks, providing a straightforward way to own all the Dividend Aristocrat stocks.

The best long-term dividend stocks

Now, let’s look at 10 companies that have been consistently paying and raising their dividends for a long period of time to give you some ideas of which companies you could invest in if you’re interested in collecting dividends. All the companies on the list are Dividend Aristocrats, ordered by their dividend yield paid over the trailing twelve-month period.

Please note that “TTM dividend yield” refers to the trailing twelve-month dividend yield, which includes dividends paid in the last year to calculate the dividend yield. 

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1. Realty Income (NYSE: O)

O Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 5.58%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 31
• TTM P/E ratio: 56

Realty Income is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in the United States that specializes in acquiring and managing commercial properties under long-term net lease agreements. Founded in 1969, the company owns thousands of properties across retail, industrial, and service sectors, and is well known for paying dividends on a monthly basis. Realty Income has a market capitalization of around $50 billion and operates across the United States and several international markets.

Realty Income is listed on the NYSE under the ticker O. Its stock has declined by about 4% in the past year, lagging behind the S&P 500’s 23% gain over the same period. The company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, making it one of the most reliable income stocks among Dividend Aristocrats.

2. Amcor Plc (NYSE: AMCR)

AMCR Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 5.13%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 5
• TTM P/E ratio: 17

Amcor is a global packaging company headquartered in Switzerland that develops and produces flexible and rigid packaging solutions for food, beverage, healthcare, and personal care products. The company traces its roots back to 1860 in Australia and has grown through a series of mergers and acquisitions to become one of the largest packaging firms worldwide. Amcor has a market capitalization of roughly $15 billion and employs more than 40,000 people across over 40 countries.

Amcor is listed on the NYSE under the ticker AMCR. Its stock has fallen by about 7% over the last year, underperforming the S&P 500’s gain in the same period. The company has increased its dividend for 5 consecutive years, placing it among the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats.

3. Franklin Resources (NYSE: BEN)

BEN Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.92%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 28
• TTM P/E ratio: 36

Franklin Resources is an investment management company headquartered in the United States that operates under the Franklin Templeton brand. Founded in 1947, the firm provides asset management and advisory services to retail, institutional, and high-net-worth clients across global equity, fixed income, alternative, and multi-asset strategies. Franklin Resources has a market capitalization of about $13.5 billion and manages more than a trillion dollars in assets under management.

Franklin Resources is listed on the NYSE under the ticker BEN. Its stock has increased by around 19% in the past year, trailing the S&P 500’s 23% gain during the same period. The company has raised its dividend for 36 consecutive years, solidifying its place among the Dividend Aristocrats.

4. Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT)

FRT Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.78%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 56
• TTM P/E ratio: 24

Federal Realty Investment Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in the United States that focuses on owning, operating, and redeveloping high-quality retail and mixed-use properties in major metropolitan markets. Founded in 1962, the company’s portfolio includes shopping centers, residential units, and office space located in affluent, densely populated communities. Federal Realty has a market capitalization of about $7 billion and more than 100 properties across the United States.

Federal Realty Investment Trust is listed on the NYSE under the ticker FRT. Its stock has decreased by approximately 15% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500’s gain in the same period. The company holds the longest record among REITs for dividend growth, having raised its dividend payout for 56 consecutive years.

5. T. Rowe Price Group (NYSE: TROW)

TROW Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.62%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 38
• TTM P/E ratio: 12

T. Rowe Price Group is an investment management company that provides a wide range of mutual funds, retirement products, and advisory services to individual and institutional investors worldwide. The firm manages hundreds of billions in assets and serves clients across equity, fixed income, and multi-asset strategies. As of 2023, the company had around 7,900 employees.

Its shares have increased by about 4% in the past year, underperforming the S&P 500. T. Rowe Price has a market capitalization of approximately $24 billion, and the company’s dividends have been increasing for 38 consecutive years. In 2024, T. Rowe Price generated $6.7 billion in revenue and $1.5 billion in net income.

6. Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE: SWK)

SWK Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.37%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 56
• TTM P/E ratio: 15

Stanley Black & Decker is a global manufacturer of tools, storage solutions, and industrial equipment, serving both professional contractors and consumer markets. The company’s portfolio includes well-known brands such as DeWalt, Craftsman, and Stanley, and its products are sold in more than 60 countries. As of 2023, Stanley Black & Decker employed roughly 50,000 people worldwide.

Stanley Black & Decker is listed on the NYSE under the SWK ticker symbol. Its shares have fallen by around 21% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500. The company has a market capitalization of about $12 billion, and its dividends have been increased for 56 consecutive years. In 2024, Stanley Black & Decker reported $15.8 billion in revenue and $295 million in net income.

7. Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES)

ES Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.54%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 24
• TTM P/E ratio: 29

Eversource Energy is a regulated utility company that provides electricity, natural gas, and water services to customers across several New England states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The company serves more than 4 million customers and plays a key role in regional energy infrastructure and renewable energy initiatives.

Eversource Energy is listed on the NYSE under the ES ticker symbol. The company’s shares have risen by about 1% in the past year, significantly underperforming the S&P 500. Eversource has a market capitalization of approximately $20 billion and has been raising its dividend for 29 consecutive years, establishing itself as a steady income stock among the Dividend Aristocrats.

8. Chevron (NYSE: CVX)

CVX Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.39%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 37
• TTM P/E ratio: 20

Chevron is a multinational energy corporation that’s primarily focused on the oil and gas industry. The company owns several brands, including Texaco, Havoline, and others. Chevron is engaged in upstream operations, such as oil exploration and production, as well as downstream operations, like transportation and the production of gas, lubricants, and various petrochemicals. Notably, Chevron had a merger with Texaco in 2021.

Chevron is among the largest companies in the world, with a market capitalization of $299 billion. The company is listed on the NYSE under the CVX ticker symbol. In the last year, Chevron stock has gained 39.5%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500. Chevron stockholders have been enjoying 37 consecutive years of dividend growth.

9. Target (NYSE: TGT)

TGT Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 4.33% 
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 56
• TTM P/E ratio: 13

Target is a major corporation in the retail sector and the seventh-largest retailer in the United States. It operates nearly 1,950 locations in the United States and brought in $107 billion in revenue in 2023. In addition to physical locations, Target is also engaged in e-commerce through the Target.com platform. As of 2024, Target had a market capitalization of $79 billion and 415,000 employees.

Target is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol TGT. The company’s share price has decreased by 23% in the last year, underperforming the S&P 500. Target is one of the longest-standing members of the Dividend Aristocrats, with 56 consecutive years of dividend growth. 

10. Essex Property Trust (NYSE: ESS)

ESS Stock Dividends Information:

• TTM dividend yield: 3.97%
• Consecutive years of dividend growth: 30
• TTM P/E ratio: 27

Essex Property Trust is a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in the United States that focuses on owning, developing, and managing residential apartment communities. Its portfolio is concentrated in high-demand markets along the West Coast, including California and Washington, where it operates tens of thousands of apartment units.

Essex Property Trust has a market cap of about $15 billion and employs roughly 1,800 people. The company is listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol ESS. The price of the company’s shares has declined by around 8% in the past year, falling well short of the S&P 500’s performance. Essex Property Trust has been increasing its dividend for 27 consecutive years, placing it firmly among the Dividend Aristocrats.

Overview of the top Dividend Aristocrats

In the table below, you can see an overview of the top Dividend Aristocrats. 

The bottom line: Long-term investors looking for dividends have plenty of choice

Hopefully, our article has helped you identify some of the best dividend-paying stocks for long-term investing. As you can see, some companies have been on a very long streak of increasing their dividends, with the longest-standing Dividend Aristocrats doing so for more than 50 years. If you are looking for broader exposure to companies that have been increasing their dividends over the long term, it’s worth exploring ETFs that invest in the Dividend Aristocrats.

If you’re looking to invest over the long term in other asset classes, we’ve prepared a list of the best cryptocurrencies to buy for the long-term.