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12 Best Performing Dividend Aristocrats

The Dividend Aristocrats are a group S&P 500 that have each paid increasing dividends for 25+ consecutive years. 

We are talking a lot of the best dividend paying stocks and trying to find the best investment ideas for the years to come.

But what kind of investments worked in the past? For sure, each of the Dividend Aristocrats have shown a great performance in recent years but if you put your chips on those stocks in 2009, which of them generated the best performance, better than the overall market and better than other long-term dividend growth stocks.

I will tell you the answer in this short article.

There are currently only 50 Dividend Aristocrats. What's important about the Dividend Aristocrats is how well they have performed. Not all Dividend Aristocrats are good investments, especially in today's overvalued market. Low interest rates have pushed up real asset values, especially dividend stocks. This makes finding high quality dividend growth stocks trading at reasonable prices more difficult.

Here are 12 stocks of the S&P Dividend Aristocrats Index with more than 400% return ranked by the higehest price development since 2009.

These are the results...

Leggett & Platt -- Yield: 2.75%

Leggett & Platt (NYSE:LEG) employs 21,000 people, generates revenue of $3,917.20 million and has a net income of $328.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $6.74 billion.

Leggett & Platt’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $602.90 million. The EBITDA margin is 15.39% (the operating margin is 12.42% and the net profit margin 8.37%).

Financials: The total debt represents 31.88% of Leggett & Platt assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 87.04%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 29.02% was realized by Leggett & Platt.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $2.59. Last fiscal year, Leggett & Platt paid $1.26 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 19.03, the P/S ratio is 1.69 and the P/B ratio is finally 6.19. The dividend yield amounts to 2.75%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Leggett & Platt (LEG)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Leggett & Platt (LEG)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Leggett & Platt (LEG)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Leggett & Platt (LEG)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Leggett & Platt (LEG)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Leggett & Platt (LEG)


Cincinnati Financial -- Yield: 2.54%

Cincinnati Financial (NASDAQ:CINF) employs 4,493 people, generates revenue of $5,142.00 million and has a net income of $634.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $12.66 billion.

Cincinnati Financial’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $986.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 19.18% (the operating margin is 18.16% and the net profit margin 12.33%).

Financials: The total debt represents 4.53% of Cincinnati Financial assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 13.32%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 9.75% was realized by Cincinnati Financial.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.86. Last fiscal year, Cincinnati Financial paid $1.84 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 19.74, the P/S ratio is 2.42 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.93. The dividend yield amounts to 2.54%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Cincinnati Financial (CINF)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Cincinnati Financial (CINF)


AFLAC Incorporated -- Yield: 2.23%

AFLAC Incorporated (NYSE:AFL) employs 9,915 people, generates revenue of $21,025.00 million and has a net income of $2,533.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $30.55 billion.

AFLAC Incorporated’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $5,420.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 25.78% (the operating margin is 19.74% and the net profit margin 12.05%).

Financials: The total debt represents 4.20% of AFLAC Incorporated assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 28.07%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 14.05% was realized by AFLAC Incorporated.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $6.08. Last fiscal year, AFLAC Incorporated paid $1.58 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 12.09, the P/S ratio is 1.43 and the P/B ratio is finally 1.76. The dividend yield amounts to 2.23%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)


Illinois Tool Works -- Yield: 2.18%

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW) employs 48,000 people, generates revenue of $13,405.00 million and has a net income of $1,899.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $42.72 billion.

Illinois Tool Works’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $3,346.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 24.96% (the operating margin is 21.39% and the net profit margin 14.17%).

Financials: The total debt represents 47.19% of Illinois Tool Works assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 142.08%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 31.54% was realized by Illinois Tool Works.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.37. Last fiscal year, Illinois Tool Works paid $2.07 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 22.28, the P/S ratio is 3.15 and the P/B ratio is finally 8.29. The dividend yield amounts to 2.18%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Illinois Tool Works (ITW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Illinois Tool Works (ITW)


Lowe's Companies -- Yield: 1.94%

Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW) employs 180,000 people, generates revenue of $59,074.00 million and has a net income of $2,546.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $63.65 billion.

Lowe's Companies’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $6,568.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 11.12% (the operating margin is 8.41% and the net profit margin 4.31%).

Financials: The total debt represents 40.46% of Lowe's Companies assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 165.26%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 28.76% was realized by Lowe's Companies.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $3.11. Last fiscal year, Lowe's Companies paid $1.07 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 23.16, the P/S ratio is 1.07 and the P/B ratio is finally 8.57. The dividend yield amounts to 1.94%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Lowe's Companies (LOW)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Lowe's Companies (LOW)


Stanley Black & Decker -- Yield: 1.89%

Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) employs 51,250 people, generates revenue of $11,171.80 million and has a net income of $902.20 million. The current market capitalization stands at $18.62 billion.

Stanley Black & Decker’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,777.60 million. The EBITDA margin is 15.91% (the operating margin is 11.78% and the net profit margin 8.08%).

Financials: The total debt represents 25.12% of Stanley Black & Decker assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 65.38%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 14.77% was realized by Stanley Black & Decker.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $6.45. Last fiscal year, Stanley Black & Decker paid $2.14 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 19.09, the P/S ratio is 1.65 and the P/B ratio is finally 3.25. The dividend yield amounts to 1.89%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)


PPG Industries -- Yield: 1.56%

PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG) employs 46,600 people, generates revenue of $15,330.00 million and has a net income of $1,426.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $27.79 billion.

PPG Industries’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2,667.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 17.40% (the operating margin is 12.57% and the net profit margin 9.30%).

Financials: The total debt represents 25.33% of PPG Industries assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 86.80%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 27.65% was realized by PPG Industries.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $5.41. Last fiscal year, PPG Industries paid $1.41 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 19.08, the P/S ratio is 1.78 and the P/B ratio is finally 5.49. The dividend yield amounts to 1.56%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of PPG Industries (PPG)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of PPG Industries (PPG)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of PPG Industries (PPG)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of PPG Industries (PPG)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of PPG Industries (PPG)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of PPG Industries (PPG)


Hormel Foods Corp -- Yield: 1.55%

Hormel Foods Corp (NYSE:HRL) employs 20,800 people, generates revenue of $9,263.86 million and has a net income of $687.26 million. The current market capitalization stands at $20.52 billion.

Hormel Foods Corp’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,198.40 million. The EBITDA margin is 12.94% (the operating margin is 11.52% and the net profit margin 7.42%).

Financials: The total debt represents 7.08% of Hormel Foods Corp assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 10.88%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 18.05% was realized by Hormel Foods Corp.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $1.54. Last fiscal year, Hormel Foods Corp paid $0.50 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 24.58, the P/S ratio is 2.13 and the P/B ratio is finally 4.94. The dividend yield amounts to 1.55%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Hormel Foods Corp (HRL)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Hormel Foods Corp (HRL)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Hormel Foods Corp (HRL)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Hormel Foods Corp (HRL)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Hormel Foods Corp (HRL)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Hormel Foods Corp (HRL)


Sherwin-Williams Company -- Yield: 1.21%

Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW) employs 40,706 people, generates revenue of $11,339.30 million and has a net income of $1,053.85 million. The current market capitalization stands at $26.09 billion.

Sherwin-Williams Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $1,813.20 million. The EBITDA margin is 15.99% (the operating margin is 14.25% and the net profit margin 9.29%).

Financials: The total debt represents 33.74% of Sherwin-Williams Company assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 224.67%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 112.57% was realized by Sherwin-Williams Company.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $11.82. Last fiscal year, Sherwin-Williams Company paid $2.68 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 2.26 and the P/B ratio is finally 29.59. The dividend yield amounts to 1.21%.

Stock Charts:

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


Cintas Corporation -- Yield: 0.92%

Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) employs 35,000 people, generates revenue of $4,905.46 million and has a net income of $456.94 million. The current market capitalization stands at $12.39 billion.

Cintas Corporation’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $947.04 million. The EBITDA margin is 19.31% (the operating margin is 15.94% and the net profit margin 9.31%).

Financials: The total debt represents 31.67% of Cintas Corporation assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 70.55%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 24.21% was realized by Cintas Corporation.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $4.16. Last fiscal year, Cintas Corporation paid $1.05 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 27.67, the P/S ratio is 2.50 and the P/B ratio is finally 6.49. The dividend yield amounts to 0.92%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Cintas Corporation (CTAS)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of Cintas Corporation (CTAS)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Cintas Corporation (CTAS)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of Cintas Corporation (CTAS)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Cintas Corporation (CTAS)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of Cintas Corporation (CTAS)


S&P Global -- Yield: 1.14%

S&P Global (NYSE:SPGI) employs 20,400 people, generates revenue of $5,313.00 million and has a net income of $1,268.00 million. The current market capitalization stands at $34.23 billion.

S&P Global’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $2,074.00 million. The EBITDA margin is 39.04% (the operating margin is 36.08% and the net profit margin 23.87%).

Financials: The total debt represents 44.13% of S&P Global assets and the total debt in relation to the equity amounts to 1,861.34%. Due to the financial situation, a return on equity of 339.00% was realized by S&P Global.

Twelve trailing months earnings per share reached a value of $4.36. Last fiscal year, S&P Global paid $1.32 in the form of dividends to shareholders.

Market Valuation: Here are the price ratios of the company: The P/E ratio is 29.08, the P/S ratio is 6.34 and the P/B ratio is finally 174.90. The dividend yield amounts to 1.14%.

Stock Charts:

Long-Term Stock Price Chart of S&P Global (SPGI)
Long-Term Stock Price Chart of S&P Global (SPGI)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of S&P Global (SPGI)
Long-Term Dividend Payment History of S&P Global (SPGI)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of S&P Global (SPGI)
Long-Term Dividend Yield History of S&P Global (SPGI)


Here is the performance list of all dividend aristocrats...