The Best 10 Dividend Growth Stocks (and ETFs) in the USA to Hold Forever - 247Broadstreet.com

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The Best 10 Dividend Growth Stocks (and ETFs) in the USA to Hold Forever

In an era of market volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and persistently elevated interest rates, one investment strategy has consistently delivered wealth compounding for patient investors: Dividend Growth Investing.

 

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The philosophy is simple yet powerful: identify high-quality companies (or ETFs) with durable competitive advantages, pristine balance sheets, and a proven commitment to steadily increasing their dividends year after year. When held for decades, these investments provide three powerful wealth-building forces:

A growing stream of passive income
Capital appreciation from high-quality businesses tend to compound book value and earnings
Inflation protection rising dividends outpace CPI over long periods

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This article presents our carefully curated list of the 10 best U.S. dividend growth stocks and ETFs that we believe can realistically be held “forever” (or at least for multi-decade horizons). These are not speculative high-yield plays or turnaround stories. They are fortress-like businesses with economic moats, shareholder-friendly management teams, and dividend track records measured in decades not years.
All data is accurate as of November 30, 2025.
Selection Criteria (Non-Negotiable)
Every name on this list had to meet the following strict filters:

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Minimum 20 consecutive years of dividend increases (25+ preferred)
Investment-grade credit rating (BBB+ or higher)
Payout ratio generally below 65% (room for continued growth)
Return on invested capital (ROIC) consistently above 10%
Economic moat (brand, network effect, cost advantage, switching costs, or regulatory license)
Positive free cash flow generation in at least 9 of the past 10 years
Reasonable valuation relative to historical norms and growth prospects

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With the methodology established, let’s examine the top 10 holdings that made the final cut.


1. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) – 63 Years of Consecutive Dividend Increases

Sector: Healthcare
Market Cap: ~$420 billion
Current Yield: 3.1%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 6.8%
10-Year Dividend CAGR: 6.2%
S&P Credit Rating: AAA (one of only two U.S. companies)

Few companies embody “hold forever” quite like Johnson & Johnson. With dominant positions in pharmaceuticals (Stelara, Darzalex, Tremfya), medical devices, and consumer health (Tylenol, Neutrogena, Listerine), JNJ operates in recession-resistant end markets. Even during the 2021–2023 talc litigation overhang, the company never once cut or froze its dividend a testament to the resilience of its cash flows.
The recent spin-off of its Consumer Health business (Kenvue) has left JNJ with a sharper focus on higher-margin pharmaceuticals and med-tech, while the ~$40 billion cash infusion from the separation provides ample firepower for bolt-on acquisitions and debt reduction. Trading at only 15.8× 2026 expected earnings with mid-single-digit revenue growth and high-single-digit EPS growth projected through 2028, JNJ remains one of the safest ways to compound wealth in public markets.

 

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2. Procter & Gamble (PG) – 69 Years of Consecutive Increases

Sector: Consumer Staples
Market Cap: ~$410 billion
Current Yield: 2.4%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 6.1%
Payout Ratio: 59%

P&G owns 22 billionaire brands (each generating >$1 billion in annual sales) including Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Crest, and Bounty. The company’s pricing power is legendary: during the 2022–2024 inflation surge, P&G successfully implemented 15–20% price increases across most categories while only experiencing mid-single-digit volume declines.
With 65% of sales coming from products ranked #1 or #2 in their respective categories, P&G enjoys structural advantages that are nearly impossible to disrupt. The company targets 3–5% organic sales growth and 6–8% EPS growth long term numbers it has consistently delivered on for decades. At 24× forward earnings, the stock is not cheap, but you are paying for irreplaceable cash flow stability.

 

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3. Coca-Cola (KO) – 63 Years of Consecutive Increases

Sector: Consumer Staples
Market Cap: ~$290 billion
Current Yield: 3.0%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 5.4%
Debt/EBITDA: 2.4×

Coca-Cola sells 2.2 billion servings per day across 200+ countries. The company’s distribution moat is arguably the widest on Earth: 25 million retail outlets, many of them small family-run stores in emerging markets that Amazon will never reach. KO has shifted its portfolio toward lower-sugar offerings (Coke Zero Sugar grew 12% in 2024) while expanding in coffee (Costa), energy (Monster, Reign), and alcohol RTDs.
Emerging markets still represent less than 40% of volume but are growing at 7–9% annually provide a multi-decade runway. With a rock-solid balance sheet and $12+ billion in annual free cash flow, Coca-Cola can easily support its dividend even in severe recessions (it did so flawlessly in 2008–2009).

 

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4. PepsiCo (PEP) – 53 Years of Consecutive Increases

Sector: Consumer Staples
Market Cap: ~$235 billion
Current Yield: 3.2%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 7.0%

While often compared to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo is a very different under the hood. Roughly half of revenue comes from food (Frito-Lay, Quaker, Gatorade), providing diversification away from carbonated soft drinks. Frito-Lay North America alone generates ~$24 billion in sales with operating margins above 30% a cash machine almost without peer.
PEP has outperformed KO in total return over the past 15 years, largely because of superior emerging-market exposure and the transformative 2020 acquisition of Pioneer Foods in South Africa. Valuation at 21× forward earnings is reasonable given 5–7% expected EPS growth.

 

 

 


5. Abbott Laboratories (ABT) – 53 Years of Consecutive Increases
Sector: Healthcare
Market Cap: ~$205 billion
Current Yield: 2.0%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 11.2% (highest on this list)

Abbott’s transformation over the past decade has been remarkable. The 2013 spin-off of AbbVie left Abbott with nutrition (Similac, Ensure), diagnostics, established pharmaceuticals (emerging markets), and medical devices. The 2017 acquisitions of St. Jude Medical and Alere catapulted Abbott into leadership in cardiovascular devices and rapid diagnostics.
Most importantly, FreeStyle Libre (continuous glucose monitoring) has become a >$7 billion franchise growing 20%+ annually with 6+ million users worldwide. Diabetes care now represents ~30% of total profit and growing rapidly. Abbott trades at a premium 27× forward earnings, but the growth trajectory justifies it.

 

 

 


6. Microsoft (MSFT) – 23 Years of Increases (but accelerating rapidly)
Sector: Information Technology
Market Cap: ~$3.1 trillion
Current Yield: 0.7%
10-Year Dividend CAGR: 12.6%
Payout Ratio: 25%

Yes, the yield is low. But Microsoft belongs on any “forever” list for one simple reason: it is one of the greatest capital allocators in history. Since Satya Nadella became CEO in 2014, Microsoft has grown revenue at 13% CAGR, operating income at 18% CAGR, and returned >$250 billion to shareholders via buybacks and dividends.
Azure cloud growth remains 30%+, Copilot/365 AI monetization is in early innings, and the gaming division (Activision) adds high-margin recurring revenue. With net cash of ~$30 billion and free cash flow approaching $80 billion annually, Microsoft could double its dividend tomorrow and still have billions left for acquisitions and buybacks.

 

 

 


7. Visa Inc. (V) – 17 Years of Increases (but qualifies via quality)
Sector: Financials / Payments
Market Cap: ~$620 billion
Current Yield: 0.8%
10-Year Dividend CAGR: 18.4%
Operating Margin: 66%

Visa does not lend money it simply processes transactions. This asset-light model produces obscene returns on capital (ROIC >50%) and virtually no credit risk. The secular shift from cash to digital payments still has decades to run, especially in emerging markets and B2B payments.
Cross-border volume (Visa’s highest-margin segment) grew 18% in fiscal 2025. With only ~12% market share in global consumer payments, Visa has a runway measured in decades. The stock trades at 32× forward earnings reflects this durability.

 

 

 


8. Home Depot (HD) – 37 Years of Consecutive Increases

Sector: Consumer Discretionary
Market Cap: ~$390 billion
Current Yield: 2.3%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 12.1%

Home Depot dominates the $900 billion U.S. home improvement market with ~50% share when combined with private rival Lowe’s. The company benefits from several long-term tailwinds: aging housing stock (U.S. median home age now 43 years), millennial homeownership, and the professional contractor segment (Pro) segment growing 10%+ annually.
The 2022 acquisition of SRS Distribution ($18 billion in sales to Pros) instantly made HD the largest player in that high-margin channel. Trading at 23× forward earnings with 8–10% EPS growth expected, HD offers an attractive blend of growth and income.

 

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9. Realty Income (O) – “The Monthly Dividend Company” – 30 Years of Increases

Sector: REIT
Market Cap: ~$52 billion
Current Yield: 5.3%
5-Year Dividend CAGR: 4.7%
AFFO Payout Ratio: 75%

For investors seeking higher current income with monthly payouts, Realty Income is unmatched. The REIT owns 15,600+ single-tenant net-lease properties (tenants pay taxes, insurance, maintenance) leased to investment-grade retailers like Walmart, Dollar General, and Walgreens.
Occupancy has remained above 98% for 25+ years. The average remaining lease term is ~9 years, and 90% of rents have contractual escalators. Recent diversification into European properties and data centers has reduced concentration risk. At a 5.3% yield and only modest valuation premium to NAV, “O” remains a core holding for income-focused forever portfolios.

 

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10. Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) – The Ultimate “One-Click” Dividend Growth Solution

Type: ETF
AUM: ~$68 billion
Expense Ratio: 0.06%
Current Yield: 3.8%
10-Year Dividend Growth Rate: ~10% CAGR
Number of Holdings: ~100

Not everyone has the time or inclination to manage individual stocks. For those investors, SCHD is the single best all-in-one dividend growth vehicle available. The ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, selecting companies with at least 10 years of consecutive dividend increases, superior profitability, and strong balance sheets.
Top holdings include many of the names already on this list (Home Depot, Cisco, Verizon, Coca-Cola, Texas Instruments). Because SCHD rebalances annually and caps sector exposure, it avoids the concentration risks that have plagued other dividend funds. Over the past decade, SCHD has delivered total returns comparable to the S&P 500 with significantly lower volatility and a growing 3.8% yield.
Honorable Mentions (Still Excellent, but Slightly Less “Forever”)

NextEra Energy (NEE) – 30 years of increases, world’s largest renewable generator
McDonald’s (MCD) – 49 years, but recent same-store sales weakness
Lowe’s (LOW) – 63 years, but slightly higher cyclicality than HD
Automatic Data Processing (ADP) – 50 years, excellent but slower growth
ExxonMobil (XOM) – 43 years, but energy transition risk

 

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Final Portfolio Construction Thoughts
A balanced “forever” dividend growth portfolio might look like:

40% Core Consumer Staples & Healthcare (PG, KO, PEP, JNJ, ABT
25% High-Quality Growth Compounds – MSFT, V, HD
20% High-Yield Defensive – O, SCHD
15% Flexible / Opportunistic – cash or additional SCHD

Rebalance annually, reinvest dividends religiously, and let the power of compounding work over decades.

 

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Conclusion
The companies and ETFs on this list have already proven they can survive and thrive through multiple recessions, wars, pandemics, and technological disruptions. They possess economic moats, shareholder-friendly management, and balance sheets built to endure.

While no investment involves risk and past performance is no guarantee of future results, these ten names represent the closest thing to “sleep-well-at-night” investing that public markets offer. Buy them gradually on weakness, hold them patiently, and let growing dividends compound your wealth for decades to come.
Your future retired self will thank you.


Disclosure: The author may hold positions in some of the securities mentioned. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Always conduct your own due diligence or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

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