Dividend Kings to Watch in 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 13 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Coca-Cola's Strong Performance: Despite rising cost pressures, Coca-Cola achieved a 5% organic sales growth in 2025, showcasing its competitive advantages in branding, distribution, and marketing, which is likely to continue attracting conservative investors with its 2.6% dividend yield.
- Hormel Foods in Turnaround: Following a CEO change, Hormel has managed to string together five consecutive quarters of organic sales growth, albeit modest, and its 5% dividend yield may appeal to risk-tolerant investors looking for turnaround opportunities.
- Federal Realty's Unique Position: As the only REIT to achieve Dividend King status, Federal Realty's 4.2% dividend yield combined with its quality asset portfolio ensures stability during economic downturns, making it suitable for income-focused investors.
- Investment Strategy Focused on Necessities: With Coca-Cola, Hormel, and Federal Realty all centered on essential goods, they are expected to continue attracting investors seeking reliable dividends in 2026, particularly amid increasing economic uncertainties.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy KO?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on KO
Wall Street analysts forecast KO stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
13 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 75.710
Low
71.00
Averages
79.33
High
85.00
Current: 75.710
Low
71.00
Averages
79.33
High
85.00
About KO
The Coca-Cola Company is a beverage company. The Company's segments include Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA); Latin America; North America; Asia Pacific, and Bottling Investments. It sells multiple brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Its portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Its water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Its juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and Santa Clara. It operates in two lines of business: concentrate operations and finished product operations. Its concentrate operations sell beverage concentrates, syrups, including fountain syrups, and certain finished beverages to authorized bottling operations. Its finished product operations sell sparkling soft drinks and a variety of other finished beverages.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Coca-Cola Invests $650M to Expand Fairlife in Michigan
- Major Investment Plan: Coca-Cola is committing up to $650 million to its Coopersville plant in Michigan, adding two new production lines and expanding the facility by approximately 245,000 square feet, which is expected to create around 150 jobs, reflecting the company's strong confidence in the Fairlife brand.
- Production Timeline: The new production lines are anticipated to begin commercial production in 2028, a timeline designed to alleviate the capacity crunch Fairlife faces in lactose-free milk and protein shake products, further driving brand growth in the market.
- Strategic Importance: Fairlife has become a key component of Coca-Cola's growth strategy, and its success in expanding into dairy and protein beverages will directly impact Coca-Cola's overall performance and market positioning.
- Historical Background: Coca-Cola has had a partnership with Fairlife since 2012, initially acquiring a minority stake and establishing a national distribution partnership with Select Milk Producers, and after fully acquiring Fairlife in 2020, it has continued to operate as a standalone business, showcasing its potential in the value-added dairy market.
See More
Coca-Cola Stock Rises Slightly Amid Market Trends
- Stock Performance: Coca-Cola (KO) is currently trading up about 1.6%, indicating resilience amidst market fluctuations and reflecting investor confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Industry Comparison: Within the Beverages & Wineries sector, KO's performance is lagging behind PepsiCo (PEP), which is up approximately 3.2% today, while Fomento Economico Mexicano (FMX) remains relatively unchanged, highlighting varying market preferences among companies.
- Market Trends: Despite the slight increase in KO's stock price, the overall market environment remains complex, prompting investors to monitor industry dynamics and competitor performance for more informed investment decisions.
- Analyst Opinions: Analysts express a cautious outlook on Coca-Cola within the S&P 500, suggesting that it may face challenges in the current market, particularly in competition with other beverage giants.
See More
Stock Index Futures Rise, Focus on Four Key Stocks
- Analog Devices Upgrade: Analog Devices (ADI) rose 1.24% in premarket trading after Aretes upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral, setting a price target of $389, as the company is expected to sustain double-digit revenue growth due to its strong positioning in AI.
- Coca-Cola Expansion: Coca-Cola (KO) gained 0.45% before the opening bell, announcing a commitment of up to $650 million to add two new Fairlife production lines at its Coopersville, Michigan plant, which will expand the facility by approximately 245,000 square feet and create around 150 jobs, with production expected to start in 2028.
- UPS Positive Outlook: United Parcel Service (UPS) added 0.63% in premarket trade after receiving a favorable profile in Barron’s, which sees upside potential for the package delivery company, projecting roughly 30% gains over the next 12 months if operational performance continues to improve.
- Sysco Acquisition Deal: Sysco (SYY) dropped 6.36% in premarket trading after announcing a $29.1 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, which includes $21.6 billion in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares, reflecting a high acquisition multiple of approximately 14.6 times Jetro's operating income, indicating potential financial strain.
See More
Vanguard ETFs Shine Amid Market Turbulence
- Safe Haven: The Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) focuses on short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, delivering only a 3.15% return over the past decade, yet it protects capital during market downturns, ensuring investors' purchasing power remains intact against inflation.
- Consumer Staples ETF Outperformance: The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC), holding 104 consumer staples stocks, only fell 4% during the 2022 bear market, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 19% drop and the Nasdaq's 33%, demonstrating its resilience amid economic uncertainty.
- Attractiveness of High-Quality Dividend Stocks: The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index and currently holds 338 stocks; while it is not immune to market sell-offs, it has historically outperformed the S&P 500 during downturns, with an annual expense ratio of just 0.04%.
- Cost Efficiency Advantage: The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF boasts an annual expense ratio of 0.09%, significantly lower than the average 0.73% for similar funds, making it a preferred choice for investors seeking cost-effective options during turbulent times.
See More
Investment Havens Amid Market Turmoil
- Valuation Risks: The S&P 500's Shiller CAPE ratio is nearing its highest level since the dot-com bubble burst, indicating that market valuations are high, which necessitates caution from investors regarding potential market corrections.
- Inflation-Protected ETF: The Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) focuses on short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, delivering only a 3.15% return over the past decade, yet effectively safeguards investors' purchasing power during market downturns, with an annual expense ratio of just 0.03%.
- Consumer Staples ETF Performance: The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) holds 104 consumer staples stocks and has historically outperformed the overall market during downturns, finishing 2022 down only 4%, significantly better than the S&P 500's 19% and Nasdaq's 33% declines.
- Dividend Growth ETF: The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index with 338 stocks, although it carries sell-off risks during market volatility, it has historically outperformed the S&P 500 and has a low annual expense ratio of 0.04%.
See More
The Iran Conflict May Persist: Current Investment Opportunities for Success.
- Current Market Status: The Nasdaq is currently in a correction, having dropped over 10% from its recent highs.
- Bear Market Concerns: There are increasing fears that the Nasdaq may soon enter a bear market, defined as a decline of 20%.
- Wall Street Perspective: Despite the downturn, there is a common belief on Wall Street that opportunities for profit exist in other sectors.
- Market Sentiment: The overall sentiment reflects anxiety about the tech-heavy index's performance amidst potential further declines.
See More
Coca-Cola Invests $650M to Expand Fairlife in Michigan
- Major Investment Plan: Coca-Cola is committing up to $650 million to its Coopersville plant in Michigan, adding two new production lines and expanding the facility by approximately 245,000 square feet, which is expected to create around 150 jobs, reflecting the company's strong confidence in the Fairlife brand.
- Production Timeline: The new production lines are anticipated to begin commercial production in 2028, a timeline designed to alleviate the capacity crunch Fairlife faces in lactose-free milk and protein shake products, further driving brand growth in the market.
- Strategic Importance: Fairlife has become a key component of Coca-Cola's growth strategy, and its success in expanding into dairy and protein beverages will directly impact Coca-Cola's overall performance and market positioning.
- Historical Background: Coca-Cola has had a partnership with Fairlife since 2012, initially acquiring a minority stake and establishing a national distribution partnership with Select Milk Producers, and after fully acquiring Fairlife in 2020, it has continued to operate as a standalone business, showcasing its potential in the value-added dairy market.
See More
Coca-Cola Stock Rises Slightly Amid Market Trends
- Stock Performance: Coca-Cola (KO) is currently trading up about 1.6%, indicating resilience amidst market fluctuations and reflecting investor confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Industry Comparison: Within the Beverages & Wineries sector, KO's performance is lagging behind PepsiCo (PEP), which is up approximately 3.2% today, while Fomento Economico Mexicano (FMX) remains relatively unchanged, highlighting varying market preferences among companies.
- Market Trends: Despite the slight increase in KO's stock price, the overall market environment remains complex, prompting investors to monitor industry dynamics and competitor performance for more informed investment decisions.
- Analyst Opinions: Analysts express a cautious outlook on Coca-Cola within the S&P 500, suggesting that it may face challenges in the current market, particularly in competition with other beverage giants.
See More
Stock Index Futures Rise, Focus on Four Key Stocks
- Analog Devices Upgrade: Analog Devices (ADI) rose 1.24% in premarket trading after Aretes upgraded the stock to Buy from Neutral, setting a price target of $389, as the company is expected to sustain double-digit revenue growth due to its strong positioning in AI.
- Coca-Cola Expansion: Coca-Cola (KO) gained 0.45% before the opening bell, announcing a commitment of up to $650 million to add two new Fairlife production lines at its Coopersville, Michigan plant, which will expand the facility by approximately 245,000 square feet and create around 150 jobs, with production expected to start in 2028.
- UPS Positive Outlook: United Parcel Service (UPS) added 0.63% in premarket trade after receiving a favorable profile in Barron’s, which sees upside potential for the package delivery company, projecting roughly 30% gains over the next 12 months if operational performance continues to improve.
- Sysco Acquisition Deal: Sysco (SYY) dropped 6.36% in premarket trading after announcing a $29.1 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, which includes $21.6 billion in cash and 91.5 million Sysco shares, reflecting a high acquisition multiple of approximately 14.6 times Jetro's operating income, indicating potential financial strain.
See More
Vanguard ETFs Shine Amid Market Turbulence
- Safe Haven: The Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) focuses on short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, delivering only a 3.15% return over the past decade, yet it protects capital during market downturns, ensuring investors' purchasing power remains intact against inflation.
- Consumer Staples ETF Outperformance: The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC), holding 104 consumer staples stocks, only fell 4% during the 2022 bear market, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 19% drop and the Nasdaq's 33%, demonstrating its resilience amid economic uncertainty.
- Attractiveness of High-Quality Dividend Stocks: The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index and currently holds 338 stocks; while it is not immune to market sell-offs, it has historically outperformed the S&P 500 during downturns, with an annual expense ratio of just 0.04%.
- Cost Efficiency Advantage: The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF boasts an annual expense ratio of 0.09%, significantly lower than the average 0.73% for similar funds, making it a preferred choice for investors seeking cost-effective options during turbulent times.
See More
Investment Havens Amid Market Turmoil
- Valuation Risks: The S&P 500's Shiller CAPE ratio is nearing its highest level since the dot-com bubble burst, indicating that market valuations are high, which necessitates caution from investors regarding potential market corrections.
- Inflation-Protected ETF: The Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) focuses on short-term U.S. Treasury bonds, delivering only a 3.15% return over the past decade, yet effectively safeguards investors' purchasing power during market downturns, with an annual expense ratio of just 0.03%.
- Consumer Staples ETF Performance: The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) holds 104 consumer staples stocks and has historically outperformed the overall market during downturns, finishing 2022 down only 4%, significantly better than the S&P 500's 19% and Nasdaq's 33% declines.
- Dividend Growth ETF: The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG) tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index with 338 stocks, although it carries sell-off risks during market volatility, it has historically outperformed the S&P 500 and has a low annual expense ratio of 0.04%.
See More
The Iran Conflict May Persist: Current Investment Opportunities for Success.
- Current Market Status: The Nasdaq is currently in a correction, having dropped over 10% from its recent highs.
- Bear Market Concerns: There are increasing fears that the Nasdaq may soon enter a bear market, defined as a decline of 20%.
- Wall Street Perspective: Despite the downturn, there is a common belief on Wall Street that opportunities for profit exist in other sectors.
- Market Sentiment: The overall sentiment reflects anxiety about the tech-heavy index's performance amidst potential further declines.
See More
