Reaching retirement age brings both opportunities and challenges. Relying solely on the U.S. government for financial security isn’t advisable. Full retirement age for Social Security is 66 if you were born between 1943 and 1954. For those born from 1955 to 1960, the age gradually increases to 67. Anyone born in 1960 or later reaches full retirement benefits at age 67. Baby Boomers and pre-retirees understand that Social Security alone won’t sustain a comfortable retirement, making passive income essential for supplementing monthly cash flow. The Dividend Kings rank among the most reliable investment choices for generating consistent passive income.
Companies that have raised dividends for shareholders for 50 consecutive years or longer deliver the dependability passive income investors need. For those seeking to boost annual income through dividend stocks, consistency is crucial. The Dividend Kings comprise 56 to 58 companies (depending on the tracking source) that have increased dividends for at least five decades, demonstrating exceptional reliability. These qualities are essential for investors who depend on passive income to supplement their overall revenue. Unlike the Dividend Aristocrats, Dividend Kings don’t require S&P 500 membership.
We screened the list for companies offering among the highest yields while maintaining strong financial stability. Five well-known giants represent the type of investments retirees and Baby Boomers can buy now and hold for years. All carry Buy ratings from top Wall Street firms we follow.
Why do we cover the high-yielding Dividend Kings?
Since 1926, dividends have contributed approximately 32% of total return for the S&P 500, with capital appreciation accounting for 68%. Sustainable dividend income paired with capital appreciation potential therefore forms the foundation of total return expectations. Research by Hartford Funds in collaboration with Ned Davis Research found that dividend stocks delivered a 9.18% annualized return over the 50 years from 1973 to 2023. During the same period, this was more than double the 3.95% annualized return for non-payers.
Altria
Altria Group Inc. (NYSE:MO | MO Price Prediction) ranks among the world’s largest producers and marketers of tobacco, cigarettes, and related products. This tobacco company offers value investors a compelling entry point paired with a generous dividend yield. Altria manufactures and sells smokable and oral tobacco products in the United States through its subsidiaries.
The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand, along with:
- Cigars and pipe tobacco principally under the Black & Mild and Middleton brands
- Moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands
- on! Oral nicotine pouches
- e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand
The company sells tobacco products primarily to wholesalers, including distributors and large retail organizations such as chain stores.
Altria used to own over 10% of Anheuser-Busch InBev S.A. (NYSE:BUD), the world’s largest brewer. Earlier this year, the company sold 35 million of its 197 million shares through a global secondary offering. That represents 18% of its holdings while leaving 8% of outstanding shares in reserve. Altria also announced a $2.4 billion stock repurchase plan partially funded by the sale.
Stifel has a Buy rating with a $63 target price.
Northwest Natural Holding
This small-cap company provides natural gas service to approximately 2.0 million people across more than 140 communities. This off-the-radar utility stock suits conservative investors, pays a dependable dividend, and has climbed over 9% this year. Northwest Natural Holding Co. (NYSE:NWN), through its subsidiary Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The company also operates:
- 5.7 billion cubic feet of the Mist gas storage facility contracted to other utilities and third-party marketers
- Natural gas asset management services
- An appliance retail center
In addition, it engages in gas storage, water, non-regulated renewable natural gas, and other investments and activities.
The company provides natural gas service through approximately:
- 786,000 meters in Oregon and southwest Washington
- Water services to about 80,000 people through roughly 33,000 water and wastewater connections in the Pacific Northwest and Texas
Northwest Natural increased its dividend for the 70th consecutive year in 2025, one of the longest dividend growth streaks among all publicly traded companies.
United Bancshares
United Bankshares Inc. (NASDAQ:UBSI) is a bank holding company with dual headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia, and Fairfax, Virginia. This mid-cap financial company offers solid total return potential in a sector that has performed well over the past year. United Bancshares primarily provides commercial and retail banking products and services in the United States. It operates through two segments:
- Community Banking
- Mortgage Banking
The company accepts:
- Checking, savings, time, and money market accounts
- Individual retirement accounts and demand deposits
- Statement and special savings accounts
- NOW accounts
Its loan products include:
- Commercial loans and leases to small and mid-size industrial and commercial companies
- Construction and real estate loans, including commercial and residential mortgages
- Loans secured by owner-occupied real estate
- Personal, student, and credit card receivables
- Personal, commercial, and floor plan loans
- Home equity loans
In addition, the company offers credit cards, safe deposit boxes, wire transfers, and other banking products and services, plus investment and security services. It provides services to correspondent banks, including buying and selling federal funds, automated teller machine services, internet banking, and telephone banking services.
Furthermore, United Bancshares provides community banking services such as asset management, real property title insurance, financial planning, mortgage banking, brokerage services, investment management, and retirement planning. The company achieved its 52nd consecutive year of dividend increases in 2025, joining the elite ranks of Dividend Kings.
Kimberly-Clark
This American multinational personal care corporation produces mostly paper-based consumer products. This consumer staples leader is a safe bet for cautious investors, offering a substantial dividend yield. Kimberly-Clark Corp. (NYSE:KMB) and its subsidiaries manufacture and market personal care and consumer tissue products worldwide.
It operates through three segments:
- Personal Care
- Consumer Tissue
- K-C Professional
The Personal Care segment offers a diverse range of products, including:
- Disposable diapers
- Swim pants, training and youth pants, baby wipes
- Feminine and incontinence care products under Huggies, Pull-Ups, Little Swimmers, GoodNites, DryNites, Sweety, Kotex, U by Kotex, Intimus, Depends, Plenitud, Softex, Poise, and other brand names
The Consumer Tissue segment provides facial and bathroom tissues, paper towels, napkins, and related products under brand names:
- Kleenex
- Scott
- Cottonelle
- Viva
- Andrex
- Scottex
- Neve
The K-C Professional segment offers wipers, tissues, towels, apparel, soaps, and sanitizers under the Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and KleenGuard brands. Kimberly-Clark has increased its dividend for 54 consecutive years.
Federal Realty Investment Trust
Founded in 1962, Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE:FRT) pursues a mission to deliver long-term, sustainable growth through investing in densely populated, affluent communities. While real estate has slowly recovered, demand continues growing, and hard assets are generally considered prudent investments during inflationary periods. The trust is a recognized leader in the ownership, operation, and redevelopment of high-quality retail-based properties in major coastal markets spanning from the District of Columbia and Boston to San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Federal Realty’s mission centers on delivering long-term, sustainable growth by investing in densely populated, affluent communities where retail demand exceeds supply.
Its expertise includes creating urban, mixed-use neighborhoods such as:
- Santana Row in San Jose, California
- Pike & Rose in North Bethesda, Maryland
- Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts
Federal Realty’s portfolio comprises approximately 3,500 tenants across 27 million square feet of space and 3,100 residential units. Federal Realty has increased its quarterly dividend to shareholders for 58 consecutive years, the longest record in the REIT industry.
Investors Can Generate Huge Passive Income With 7 Dividend Kings
Editor’s note: This article has been updated with current dividend increase streak data for Federal Realty Investment Trust (58 consecutive years), Northwest Natural Holding (70 consecutive years), United Bancshares (52 consecutive years), and Kimberly-Clark (54 consecutive years), along with the latest 2026 Dividend Kings count.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks