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Dividends in Focus: Industry Leaders

For many investors, investing in an industry leader is a requirement when choosing a stock, as these companies are often the most stable. In addition to being stable, many of these companies also have a long history of dividend raises. Below is a dividend overview of some of the biggest companies from each industry.

Please note that in each table, the * highlights which month the company typically increases dividends.

Basic Materials

Exxon

Exxon (XOM ) is one of the largest oil giants in the world and has been consecutively raising its dividend every year since 1983. Over the past five years, the company has been boosting its dividend an average of 8% per year and typically offers a yield between 2.5% and 3.0%.

Royal Dutch Shell

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS-A ) is an oil giant based in the Netherlands that offers its stock to U.S. investors through an ADR. The company has been lifting its dividend every year since 2012 by an average of 3% per year. Be sure to read Foreign Dividends: Tax Rates, Largest Payers, ADRs and ETFs.

Chevron

Chevron Corporation (CVX ) has been boosting its dividend every year since 1986. The oil and gas company has been increasing its dividend an average of 9% every year over the last five years and has offered a dividend yield ranging from 2.5% to roughly 4% during that time frame.

Consumer Goods

Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble (PG ) is one of the largest and most popular consumer goods company and has been raising its dividend every year since 1957 – longer than any other company in the Dow 30. The company typically raises its dividend by about 9% each year and tends to offer a dividend yield around 3%.

Toyota Motors

Toyota Motors (TM ) is an automobile company based in Japan. The company offers its stock to U.S. investors in the form of an ADR. TM offers a semi-annual dividend, but pays different amounts each year. Be sure to read our Guide to Analyzing Transportation Stocks.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola (KO ) has been paying a dividend since 1920 and has been consecutively raising its dividend since 1963. The beverage company raises its dividend by about 8% each year and typically holds a dividend yield around 3%. See also 7 Charts That compare Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.

Financial Services

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo (WFC ) is a financial services company that has been increasing its dividend every year since 2012. Although the company has a limited history with its dividend increases, it has exceeded its peers with recovering its dividend from the financial crisis. Be sure to read the History of Bank Stock Dividends: Still Little Recovery from Financial Crisis.

JP Morgan

JP Morgan (JPM ) is one of the most well-known financial services firms and has been raising its dividend since 2011. After slashing its dividend to just 5 cents per share in 2009, JPM has been able to fully recover its dividend.

HSBC Holdings

HSBC Holdings (HSBC ) is an England-based financial services company that offers its stock in the form of an ADR. The stock typically offers dividend yield over 3%, but it has no history of consecutive annual increases.

Healthcare

Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ ) is one of the largest and most popular healthcare product companies and has raised its dividend every year since 1963. Every year, the company raises its dividend by about 7% and offers a dividend yield around 3%. See also Companies That Own the World’s Most Popular Brands.

Novartis

Novartis AG (ADR) (NVS ) is a healthcare giant based in Switzerland. The company offers its stock to U.S. investors in the form of an ADR and pays an annual dividend.

Pfizer

Pfizer (PFE ) is one of the largest drug companies on the market and has been lifting its dividend since 2010. The company usually raises its dividend by about 10%, or 2 cents per quarter. PFE typically has a dividend yield well over 3%.

Industrials

Boeing

Boeing (BA) is an aerospace defense company that has been boosting its dividend since 2012. The company typically gives investors a modest dividend increase each year with a dividend yield between 2% and 3%.

Honeywell

Honeywell (HON ) is another popular aerospace defense company that has been raising its dividend every year since 2011. The company offers a dividend yield around 2% and raises its quarterly dividend by about 10% every year.

Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin (LMT ) is an aerospace defense and technology company. The company has increased its quarterly dividend every year since 2003 and typically offers a yield between 3% and 5%. The company’s dividend increases are usually close to 20% annually. Be sure to also check out The Truth About the Dividend Payout Ratio.

Services

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart (WMT ) is the largest retailer in the United States. The company has been boosting its dividend consecutively since 1975 and tends to raise its dividend by 10% to 20%. See Also 7 Charts to Put Wal-Mart in Perspective.

Disney

Disney (DIS ) is an entertainment company known for its theme parks and movies. The company pays an annual dividend each year in December or January. DIS tends to offer a dividend yield around 1% and has increased dividends consecutively since 2011.

Comcast

Comcast (CMCSA ) is a communications company that has been raising its dividend since 2011. Although the company tends to raise its dividend significantly each year, its yield tends to fall below 2%.

Technology

Apple

Apple (AAPL ) is the largest U.S. company by market capitalization. Following the passing of former CEO Steve Jobs, the company paid its first dividend since 1995 in 2012. Despite the company’s enormous amount of cash, the company has yet to pay an attractive yield to dividend investors. See also The Complete History of Apple.

Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT ) is a software company that has been lifting dividends since 2004. The company typically offers a dividend yield between 2% and 3%. In the last five years, MSFT has raised its dividend an average of 16% per year.

Verizon

Verizon (VZ ) is a telecommunications company that remains a favorite among dividend investors. The company has been raising its dividend since 2007 and will typically offer a dividend yield between 4% and 5%. See Also: 7 Charts That Compare AT&T and Verizon.

Utilities

Dominion Resources

Dominion Resources (D ) is an electric company that has been raising its dividend every year since 2009. Over the last five years, the company has raised its dividend an average of 7% a year. It offers a yield typically above 3.0%

Southern Company

Southern Company (SO ) is another popular electric company that has been consecutively boosting dividends since 2002. The company typically offers a dividend yield over 4% and raises its dividend by about 4% every year.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (DUK ) is an electric company that has been raising its dividend every year since 2007. DUK tends to offer a dividend yield between 4% and 5% and increases its dividend by about 2% every year.

The Bottom Line


While the stocks above are placed primarily on market capitalization, it is also important to consider which industry is best for your investment objective. Investors that are focused on major blue chip stocks may want to consider a major corporation like a Dow 30 component. For investors seeking the best industries for dividend investing, be sure to check out 4 Dividend-Friendly Industries.