4. Hormel Foods
> Industry: Packaged foods
> Yield: 2.1%
> Years: 52

Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL) announced in February that it expects a full-year 2018 tax rate of 17.5% to 20.5% and that its “unwavering commitment to returning cash back to our shareholders in the form of consistent dividend increases and share buybacks will not change.” The maker of Spam and other packaged and prepared foods has hiked its dividend for 52 consecutive years.

5. Johnson & Johnson
> Industry: Consumer and health/medical products
> Yield: 2.5%
> Years: over 55

In April, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) hiked its quarterly dividend to $0.84 per share from $0.80, marking an increase in the quarterly dividend for its 55th consecutive year. Johnson & Johnson shares recently traded at $130.00, down from an all-time high of $148.32. Its market cap is $350 billion, and its consensus price target is about $149.50. The highest analyst target for the consumer products and medical/health products giant is up at $175.

6. Procter & Gamble
> Industry: Consumer products
> Yield: 3.6%
> Years: 62

Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG) just raised its dividend yet again in April of 2018, and the consumer products giant remains in a long transitionary period of focusing on growth brands and righting certain operations. Defensive and dividend investors know that Procter & Gamble is known for raising its dividend year in and year out. On top of the company paying a dividend for 128 straight years, dating back to its inception since 1890, this new hike now makes the 62nd consecutive year that Procter & Gamble has raised its dividend.

The company’s shares recently traded at $78.10, and the market cap is $196 billion. The 52-week trading range is $75.81 to $94.67, and the consensus price target is $91.40.

7. Stanley Black & Decker
> Industry: Tools and machinery
> Yield: 1.7%
> Years: 50

Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (NYSE: SWK) joined the list of companies with its 50th consecutive annual dividend increase in July of 2017. The company remains committed to hikes ahead, noting that a strong and growing dividend continues to be a critical component of Stanley’s shareholder value proposition. Trading at $152.10, it has a 52-week range of $130.00 to $176.62 and a consensus target price of $190.50.

24/7 Wall St. also tracked a list of runner-up candidates that also appear to being very close to joining the ranks of companies hiking their dividends for 50 consecutive years.

• Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT) is now at 46 straight years, with a yield of 1.9%.
• Becton Dickinson and Co. (NYSE: BDX) is at 45 straight years, but it yields about 1.4%.
• Consolidated Edison Inc. (NYSE: ED) was last seen at 44 straight years, and it now yields 3.6%.
• Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE: KMB) was last seen at 45 years, and it has a 3.6% yield.
• PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) was last seen at 45 straight years of dividend hikes. It has a 2.9% yield.
• Sysco Corp. (NYSE: SYY) has said to have raised its dividend 49 times, and it has a 2.39% yield.
• Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) increased its dividend in June of 2017, marking the 46th straight year of hikes. Target has a 3.4% yield.
• Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) hiked its dividend in February of 2018 for the 45th straight year. Walmart yields almost 2.4%.

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