Question 1

What is a Dividend Aristocrat?

Accepted Answer

A Dividend Aristocrat is an S&P 500 company that has increased its dividend for at least 25 consecutive years. As of 2026, there are about 67 Aristocrats. They represent the most reliable dividend payers in the market — companies that maintained and grew dividends through recessions, market crashes, and economic uncertainty.

Question 2

What is a Dividend King?

Accepted Answer

A Dividend King is a company that has increased its dividend for 50 or more consecutive years. There are about 50 Dividend Kings. These are among the most dependable income stocks in existence. Notable Kings include Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and 3M.

Question 3

Do Dividend Aristocrats outperform the market?

Accepted Answer

Historically, yes. The S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index has outperformed the broader S&P 500 over most 10-year periods, with lower volatility. This is partly because companies that can consistently grow dividends tend to have strong competitive advantages and disciplined management.

Question 4

Can a company lose its Aristocrat status?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If a company freezes or cuts its dividend, it's removed from the Aristocrats list. Companies are also removed if they leave the S&P 500. Notable removals include AT&T (after the Warner Bros. Discovery spinoff) and 3M (after splitting off its healthcare division).

Question 5

Should I only invest in Dividend Aristocrats?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. While Aristocrats are excellent core holdings, limiting yourself to only Aristocrats means missing younger companies with higher growth potential. A balanced approach might allocate 50-60% to Aristocrats/Kings for stability and 40-50% to other quality dividend growers.

Question 6

How do I use this list to build a portfolio?

Accepted Answer

Start by filtering for your target yield range and sector diversity. Pick 2-3 companies from each major sector to ensure diversification. Check payout ratios (prefer under 60%) and recent dividend growth rates. Then use our Dividend Calculator to see projected income from your selections.

Dividend Aristocrats & Kings

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Tools

Dividend Stock Comparison

Yield on Cost Calculator

Monthly Dividend Planner