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These S&P 500 Stocks Created The Highest Shareholder Return Over The Past 25 Years

The S&P 500 had total returns of 7.2% a year over the last 25 years. At this rate, the S&P 500 doubled investor wealth every 10 years.

Investors often think of dividend stocks as stodgy slow growers that offer current income but little in the way of capital appreciation. This is often not the case.

In fact, if you look at the top 15 dividend stocks of the past 25 years, you'll see that even the worst of them way outperforms the market.

To find the 15 best-performing dividend stocks of the last 25 years, we reviewed the dividend history of all dividend-paying stocks in the S&P 500. Businesses that paid dividends from 1990 through 2015 without missing more than one year were included as dividend stocks.

Here are the 15 best stocks from the large index with the highest total return of the past 25 years.

Paychex -- Yield: 3.60%

Paychex (NASDAQ:PAYX) employs 13,000 people, generates revenue of $2,739.60 million and has a net income of $674.90 million. The current market capitalization stands at $16.87 billion.

Paychex’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,160.20 million. The EBITDA margin is 42.35% (the operating margin is 38.46% and the net profit margin 24.63%).

Financials: The total debt represents 0.00% of Paychex assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 0.00%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 37.89% was realized by Paychex.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.85. Last fiscal year, Paychex paid $1.52 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 24.97, the P/S ratio is 6.16 and the P/B ratio is finally 9.45. The dividend yield amounts to 3.60%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Paychex (PAYX)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Paychex (PAYX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Paychex (PAYX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Paychex (PAYX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Paychex (PAYX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Paychex (PAYX)


Public Storage -- Yield: 3.35%

Public Storage (NYSE:PSA) employs 5,300 people, generates revenue of $2,195.40 million and has a net income of $1,149.96 million. The current market capitalization stands at $35.09 billion.

Public Storage’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,505.22 million. The EBITDA margin is 68.56% (the operating margin is 48.65% and the net profit margin 52.38%).

Financials: The total debt represents 0.66% of Public Storage assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 0.68%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 17.49% was realized by Public Storage.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.47. Last fiscal year, Public Storage paid $5.60 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 37.13, the P/S ratio is 15.98 and the P/B ratio is finally 6.79. The dividend yield amounts to 3.35%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Public Storage (PSA)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Public Storage (PSA)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Public Storage (PSA)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Public Storage (PSA)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Public Storage (PSA)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Public Storage (PSA)


T. Rowe Price Group. -- Yield: 2.68%

T. Rowe Price Group. (NASDAQ:TROW) employs 5,991 people, generates revenue of $3,982.10 million and has a net income of $1,229.60 million. The current market capitalization stands at $19.87 billion.

T. Rowe Price Group.’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2,002.60 million. The EBITDA margin is 50.29% (the operating margin is 47.48% and the net profit margin 30.88%).

Financials: The total debt represents 0.00% of T. Rowe Price Group. assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 0.00%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 23.80% was realized by T. Rowe Price Group..

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $4.56. Last fiscal year, T. Rowe Price Group. paid $1.76 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 17.00, the P/S ratio is 4.99 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.75. The dividend yield amounts to 2.68%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of T. Rowe Price Group. (TROW)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of T. Rowe Price Group. (TROW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of T. Rowe Price Group. (TROW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of T. Rowe Price Group. (TROW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of T. Rowe Price Group. (TROW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of T. Rowe Price Group. (TROW)


Vornado Realty Trust -- Yield: 2.60%

Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:VNO) employs 4,503 people, generates revenue of $2,635.94 million and has a net income of $494.18 million. The current market capitalization stands at $18.27 billion.

Vornado Realty Trust’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,432.44 million. The EBITDA margin is 54.34% (the operating margin is 30.94% and the net profit margin 18.75%).

Financials: The total debt represents 45.23% of Vornado Realty Trust assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 142.47%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 4.90% was realized by Vornado Realty Trust.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.50. Last fiscal year, Vornado Realty Trust paid $2.92 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 64.32, the P/S ratio is 6.93 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.33. The dividend yield amounts to 2.60%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Vornado Realty Trust (VNO)


Harley-Davidson -- Yield: 2.11%

Harley-Davidson (NYSE:HOG) employs 5,900 people, generates revenue of $6,228.51 million and has a net income of $844.61 million. The current market capitalization stands at $12.21 billion.

Harley-Davidson’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,460.28 million. The EBITDA margin is 23.45% (the operating margin is 20.57% and the net profit margin 13.56%).

Financials: The total debt represents 57.77% of Harley-Davidson assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 189.21%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 28.54% was realized by Harley-Davidson.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.75. Last fiscal year, Harley-Davidson paid $1.10 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 15.62, the P/S ratio is 1.96 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.27. The dividend yield amounts to 2.11%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Harley-Davidson (HOG)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Harley-Davidson (HOG)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Harley-Davidson (HOG)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Harley-Davidson (HOG)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Harley-Davidson (HOG)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Harley-Davidson (HOG)


Home Depot -- Yield: 2.03%

Home Depot (NYSE:HD) employs 371,000 people, generates revenue of $83,176.00 million and has a net income of $6,345.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $151.16 billion.

Home Depot’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $12,255.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 14.73% (the operating margin is 12.59% and the net profit margin 7.63%).

Financials: The total debt represents 43.05% of Home Depot assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 184.48%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 58.09% was realized by Home Depot.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $4.93. Last fiscal year, Home Depot paid $1.88 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 23.65, the P/S ratio is 1.82 and the P/B ratio is finally 16.32. The dividend yield amounts to 2.03%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Home Depot (HD)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Home Depot (HD)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Home Depot (HD)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Home Depot (HD)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Home Depot (HD)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Home Depot (HD)


General Dynamics -- Yield: 1.84%

General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) employs 99,500 people, generates revenue of $30,852.00 million and has a net income of $2,673.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $49.30 billion.

General Dynamics’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $4,385.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 14.21% (the operating margin is 12.61% and the net profit margin 8.66%).

Financials: The total debt represents 11.06% of General Dynamics assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 33.06%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 20.30% was realized by General Dynamics.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $8.27. Last fiscal year, General Dynamics paid $2.48 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 18.17, the P/S ratio is 1.60 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.21. The dividend yield amounts to 1.84%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of General Dynamics (GD)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of General Dynamics (GD)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of General Dynamics (GD)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of General Dynamics (GD)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of General Dynamics (GD)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of General Dynamics (GD)


UnitedHealth Group -- Yield: 1.65%

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH) employs 170,000 people, generates revenue of $130,474.00 million and has a net income of $5,619.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $115.68 billion.

UnitedHealth Group’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $11,752.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 9.01% (the operating margin is 7.87% and the net profit margin 4.31%).

Financials: The total debt represents 20.15% of UnitedHealth Group assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 53.63%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 17.40% was realized by UnitedHealth Group.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $6.22. Last fiscal year, UnitedHealth Group paid $1.03 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 19.38, the P/S ratio is 0.89 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.57. The dividend yield amounts to 1.65%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of UnitedHealth Group (UNH)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of UnitedHealth Group (UNH)


TJX Companies -- Yield: 1.21%

TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) employs 198,000 people, generates revenue of $29,078.41 million and has a net income of $2,215.13 million. The current market capitalization stands at $47.26 billion.

TJX Companies’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $4,195.48 million. The EBITDA margin is 14.43% (the operating margin is 12.34% and the net profit margin 7.62%).

Financials: The total debt represents 14.59% of TJX Companies assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 38.08%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 52.16% was realized by TJX Companies.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.20. Last fiscal year, TJX Companies paid $0.70 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 21.75, the P/S ratio is 1.63 and the P/B ratio is finally 11.15. The dividend yield amounts to 1.21%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of TJX Companies (TJX)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of TJX Companies (TJX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of TJX Companies (TJX)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of TJX Companies (TJX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of TJX Companies (TJX)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of TJX Companies (TJX)


Nike -- Yield: 0.97%

Nike (NYSE:NKE) employs 62,600 people, generates revenue of $30,601.00 million and has a net income of $3,273.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $98.33 billion.

Nike’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $4,824.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 15.76% (the operating margin is 13.64% and the net profit margin 10.70%).

Financials: The total debt represents 5.83% of Nike assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 9.92%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 27.82% was realized by Nike.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.71. Last fiscal year, Nike paid $1.08 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 31.03, the P/S ratio is 3.21 and the P/B ratio is finally 7.75. The dividend yield amounts to 0.97%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Nike (NKE)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Nike (NKE)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Nike (NKE)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Nike (NKE)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Nike (NKE)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Nike (NKE)


Sherwin-Williams -- Yield: 0.96%

Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) employs 39,674 people, generates revenue of $11,129.53 million and has a net income of $865.89 million. The current market capitalization stands at $25.99 billion.

Sherwin-Williams’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,504.42 million. The EBITDA margin is 13.52% (the operating margin is 11.72% and the net profit margin 7.78%).

Financials: The total debt represents 31.64% of Sherwin-Williams assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 181.18%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 63.06% was realized by Sherwin-Williams.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $9.81. Last fiscal year, Sherwin-Williams paid $2.20 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 28.33, the P/S ratio is 2.33 and the P/B ratio is finally 26.50. The dividend yield amounts to 0.96%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Sherwin-Williams (SHW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Sherwin-Williams (SHW)


Charles Schwab -- Yield: 0.69%

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW) employs 14,900 people, generates revenue of $6,157.00 million and has a net income of $1,321.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $45.74 billion.

Charles Schwab’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2,315.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 37.60% (the operating margin is 34.35% and the net profit margin 21.46%).

Financials: The total debt represents 67.71% of Charles Schwab assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 887.18%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 12.34% was realized by Charles Schwab.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $0.95. Last fiscal year, Charles Schwab paid $0.24 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 36.85, the P/S ratio is 7.43 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.18. The dividend yield amounts to 0.69%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Charles Schwab (SCHW)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Charles Schwab (SCHW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Charles Schwab (SCHW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Charles Schwab (SCHW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Charles Schwab (SCHW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Charles Schwab (SCHW)


Lennar Corporation -- Yield: 0.31%

Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN) employs 6,825 people, generates revenue of $7,779.81 million and has a net income of $628.69 million. The current market capitalization stands at $10.33 billion.

Lennar Corporation’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $968.11 million. The EBITDA margin is 12.44% (the operating margin is 12.47% and the net profit margin 8.08%).

Financials: The total debt represents 47.39% of Lennar Corporation assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 127.23%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 14.03% was realized by Lennar Corporation.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.14. Last fiscal year, Lennar Corporation paid $0.16 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 16.62, the P/S ratio is 1.33 and the P/B ratio is finally 2.19. The dividend yield amounts to 0.31%.

Stock Charts:


Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Lennar Corporation (LEN)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Lennar Corporation (LEN)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Lennar Corporation (LEN)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Lennar Corporation (LEN)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Lennar Corporation (LEN)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Lennar Corporation (LEN)