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.
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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: 76.050
Low
71.00
Averages
79.33
High
85.00
Current: 76.050
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 Plans $1 Billion Investment in Africa
- Investment Plan: Coca-Cola has announced a $1 billion investment in South Africa by 2030, aiming to expand its operations in Africa, reflecting the company's confidence in the region's economic potential.
- Collaborative Approach: The investment will be made in partnership with regional bottling partners, aligning with its asset-light franchise strategy, and is expected to enhance product production capabilities and distribution networks.
- Economic Value: Coca-Cola stated that its larger system in South Africa generated R51.2 billion in economic value in 2024, and the new investment will further build on this foundation.
- Future Outlook: The company also plans to initiate a $1.2 billion investment starting in 2025, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the African market, particularly in South Africa, which serves as a key platform for future expansion.
See More
Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF Annual Reconstitution
- Annual Reconstitution Overview: The Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF removed 22 stocks and added 25 during its annual reconstitution, reducing its energy stock allocation from 23.5% to 16.3%, while increasing consumer staples' weighting to 19.4%, indicating a strategic shift towards this sector for income generation.
- New Consumer Staples Additions: Procter & Gamble and Marzetti were added with allocations of 3.8% and 0.08%, respectively; Procter & Gamble boasts a 135-year dividend payment history and a 69-year streak of increases, qualifying it as a Dividend King, thus providing a reliable income source for the fund.
- Stability of Consumer Staples: Consumer staples stocks maintain strong demand during recessions due to their essential nature, allowing the Schwab ETF to offer stable and steadily rising dividend income throughout economic cycles, which enhances investor confidence.
- Dividend Yield Comparison: Procter & Gamble's current dividend yield of 3% is nearly triple that of the S&P 500's 1.2%, showcasing its competitiveness among high-yield stocks and adding appeal to the Schwab ETF's investment portfolio.
See More
Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF Reconstitution Alters Sector Focus
- Energy Stock Reduction: The Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF reduced its energy stock allocation from 23.5% to 16.3% during its annual reconstitution, resulting in consumer staples becoming the fund's top sector with a 19.4% weighting, indicating a shift in market confidence away from energy stocks.
- New Additions: The fund added Procter & Gamble and Marzetti, with Procter & Gamble receiving a 3.8% allocation, placing it in the top ten, while Marzetti has a 0.08% weighting, reflecting a strategic shift towards stable dividend income sources.
- Dividend King Status: Procter & Gamble has paid dividends for 135 consecutive years and increased them for 69 years, qualifying as a Dividend King, while Marzetti has a 63-year history of dividend increases, showcasing stability and appeal in the consumer staples sector.
- Resilience of Consumer Staples: Consumer staples stocks maintain strong demand during economic downturns as their products are essential for daily life, enhancing the Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF's portfolio resilience and providing stable, rising dividend income throughout economic cycles.
See More
Investment Comparison: Coca-Cola vs. PepsiCo
- Industry Giants Comparison: Both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are among the largest consumer staples companies globally, possessing iconic brands and industry-leading distribution, marketing, and innovation capabilities, showcasing strong market competitiveness.
- Dividend Kings Status: Both companies are Dividend Kings, having increased dividends for over 50 years, demonstrating robust business models and stability during economic fluctuations, appealing to dividend investors.
- Business Model Differences: PepsiCo focuses on diversification across beverages, salty snacks, and packaged foods, but its snack segment struggles with changing consumer buying habits, potentially limiting overall growth.
- Coca-Cola's Advantage: Coca-Cola's exclusive focus on beverages presents risks, yet it excels when beverage sales are strong, evidenced by a 5% organic sales increase in 2025, significantly outperforming PepsiCo's 1.7% growth.
See More
Coca-Cola vs. PepsiCo: Investment Comparison
- Performance Metrics: Coca-Cola's organic sales rose by 5% in 2025, significantly outperforming PepsiCo's 1.7% growth, indicating Coca-Cola's strong position in the beverage market, while PepsiCo's diversification strategy faces challenges due to changing consumer buying habits in its snack segment.
- Dividend Yield: Coca-Cola offers a dividend yield of 2.7%, above the market's 1.1%, while PepsiCo's yield stands at 3.7%, reflecting Coca-Cola's stronger business performance, although its price-to-earnings ratio is slightly below its five-year average, suggesting reasonable pricing.
- Market Positioning: Coca-Cola's exclusive focus on beverages poses risks during weak sales periods, yet it allows for superior performance when the beverage market thrives, making it an attractive option for investors seeking industry-leading companies.
- Investment Consideration: Although Coca-Cola was not included in The Motley Fool Stock Advisor's current top investment stocks, its status as a reasonably priced, well-performing industry leader makes it a noteworthy investment choice.
See More
Top Five Blue Chip Dividend Stocks for Steady Returns
- Coca-Cola's Stability: Coca-Cola (KO) has increased its dividend for 64 consecutive years, currently yielding 2.8%, with an expected annual growth of 7% over the next 3-5 years, providing investors with stable cash flow and long-term growth potential.
- McDonald's Resilience: McDonald's (MCD) excels during economic slowdowns with over 45,000 locations and a 2.4% dividend yield, while analysts project an 8% annual earnings growth, ensuring continued returns for shareholders.
- Procter & Gamble's Brand Loyalty: Procter & Gamble (PG) has demonstrated resilience with 69 years of dividend increases and a current yield of 3%, with expected annual earnings growth of 4%, ensuring the sustainability of its dividends during economic downturns.
- Walmart's Market Advantage: Walmart (WMT), the world's largest retailer, boasts a 53-year history of dividend growth, currently yielding 0.8%, with a projected annual growth of 9%, providing strong market adaptability and growth potential for investors.
See More
Coca-Cola Plans $1 Billion Investment in Africa
- Investment Plan: Coca-Cola has announced a $1 billion investment in South Africa by 2030, aiming to expand its operations in Africa, reflecting the company's confidence in the region's economic potential.
- Collaborative Approach: The investment will be made in partnership with regional bottling partners, aligning with its asset-light franchise strategy, and is expected to enhance product production capabilities and distribution networks.
- Economic Value: Coca-Cola stated that its larger system in South Africa generated R51.2 billion in economic value in 2024, and the new investment will further build on this foundation.
- Future Outlook: The company also plans to initiate a $1.2 billion investment starting in 2025, demonstrating its long-term commitment to the African market, particularly in South Africa, which serves as a key platform for future expansion.
See More
Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF Annual Reconstitution
- Annual Reconstitution Overview: The Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF removed 22 stocks and added 25 during its annual reconstitution, reducing its energy stock allocation from 23.5% to 16.3%, while increasing consumer staples' weighting to 19.4%, indicating a strategic shift towards this sector for income generation.
- New Consumer Staples Additions: Procter & Gamble and Marzetti were added with allocations of 3.8% and 0.08%, respectively; Procter & Gamble boasts a 135-year dividend payment history and a 69-year streak of increases, qualifying it as a Dividend King, thus providing a reliable income source for the fund.
- Stability of Consumer Staples: Consumer staples stocks maintain strong demand during recessions due to their essential nature, allowing the Schwab ETF to offer stable and steadily rising dividend income throughout economic cycles, which enhances investor confidence.
- Dividend Yield Comparison: Procter & Gamble's current dividend yield of 3% is nearly triple that of the S&P 500's 1.2%, showcasing its competitiveness among high-yield stocks and adding appeal to the Schwab ETF's investment portfolio.
See More
Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF Reconstitution Alters Sector Focus
- Energy Stock Reduction: The Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF reduced its energy stock allocation from 23.5% to 16.3% during its annual reconstitution, resulting in consumer staples becoming the fund's top sector with a 19.4% weighting, indicating a shift in market confidence away from energy stocks.
- New Additions: The fund added Procter & Gamble and Marzetti, with Procter & Gamble receiving a 3.8% allocation, placing it in the top ten, while Marzetti has a 0.08% weighting, reflecting a strategic shift towards stable dividend income sources.
- Dividend King Status: Procter & Gamble has paid dividends for 135 consecutive years and increased them for 69 years, qualifying as a Dividend King, while Marzetti has a 63-year history of dividend increases, showcasing stability and appeal in the consumer staples sector.
- Resilience of Consumer Staples: Consumer staples stocks maintain strong demand during economic downturns as their products are essential for daily life, enhancing the Schwab U.S. Dividend ETF's portfolio resilience and providing stable, rising dividend income throughout economic cycles.
See More
Investment Comparison: Coca-Cola vs. PepsiCo
- Industry Giants Comparison: Both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo are among the largest consumer staples companies globally, possessing iconic brands and industry-leading distribution, marketing, and innovation capabilities, showcasing strong market competitiveness.
- Dividend Kings Status: Both companies are Dividend Kings, having increased dividends for over 50 years, demonstrating robust business models and stability during economic fluctuations, appealing to dividend investors.
- Business Model Differences: PepsiCo focuses on diversification across beverages, salty snacks, and packaged foods, but its snack segment struggles with changing consumer buying habits, potentially limiting overall growth.
- Coca-Cola's Advantage: Coca-Cola's exclusive focus on beverages presents risks, yet it excels when beverage sales are strong, evidenced by a 5% organic sales increase in 2025, significantly outperforming PepsiCo's 1.7% growth.
See More
Coca-Cola vs. PepsiCo: Investment Comparison
- Performance Metrics: Coca-Cola's organic sales rose by 5% in 2025, significantly outperforming PepsiCo's 1.7% growth, indicating Coca-Cola's strong position in the beverage market, while PepsiCo's diversification strategy faces challenges due to changing consumer buying habits in its snack segment.
- Dividend Yield: Coca-Cola offers a dividend yield of 2.7%, above the market's 1.1%, while PepsiCo's yield stands at 3.7%, reflecting Coca-Cola's stronger business performance, although its price-to-earnings ratio is slightly below its five-year average, suggesting reasonable pricing.
- Market Positioning: Coca-Cola's exclusive focus on beverages poses risks during weak sales periods, yet it allows for superior performance when the beverage market thrives, making it an attractive option for investors seeking industry-leading companies.
- Investment Consideration: Although Coca-Cola was not included in The Motley Fool Stock Advisor's current top investment stocks, its status as a reasonably priced, well-performing industry leader makes it a noteworthy investment choice.
See More
Top Five Blue Chip Dividend Stocks for Steady Returns
- Coca-Cola's Stability: Coca-Cola (KO) has increased its dividend for 64 consecutive years, currently yielding 2.8%, with an expected annual growth of 7% over the next 3-5 years, providing investors with stable cash flow and long-term growth potential.
- McDonald's Resilience: McDonald's (MCD) excels during economic slowdowns with over 45,000 locations and a 2.4% dividend yield, while analysts project an 8% annual earnings growth, ensuring continued returns for shareholders.
- Procter & Gamble's Brand Loyalty: Procter & Gamble (PG) has demonstrated resilience with 69 years of dividend increases and a current yield of 3%, with expected annual earnings growth of 4%, ensuring the sustainability of its dividends during economic downturns.
- Walmart's Market Advantage: Walmart (WMT), the world's largest retailer, boasts a 53-year history of dividend growth, currently yielding 0.8%, with a projected annual growth of 9%, providing strong market adaptability and growth potential for investors.
See More
