Quick Read – Four Dividend Kings beat the S&P 500’s 9% gain in 2026 by wide margins while delivering reliable dividends backed by 50+ consecutive years of increases. – Target (TGT) surged 32% in 2026 and still trades cheaply at a 3.56% yield, while Colgate-Palmolive (CL)…
tended its 63-year dividend growth streak with a big run. – Coca-Cola (KO) surged 16% extending its 64-year dividend streak, while Kimberly-Clark (KMB) yields 4.41% and pursues a massive Kenvue acquisition. – In 2026, the Dividend Kings have significantly outperformed the S&P 500 as investors rotate out of high-valuation growth stocks and into companies offering stable, reliable cash flows. This shift is clearly visible in fund flows: the equal-weighted NOBL Dividend Aristocrats ETF has outperformed market-cap-weighted growth funds during the 2026 rotation
Its equal-weight structure helps it avoid being dragged down by the heavy concentration in a handful of large-cap tech names that dominate many growth benchmarks. The Dividend Kings are the 56 companies that have raised their dividends for at least 50 years, a testament to their dependability and consistency. Those are two “must-have” items for investors who rely on passive income to supplement their overall income.
Unlike the Dividend Aristocrats, the Dividend Kings do not have to be members of the S&P 500. We screened the current Dividend Kings for companies that are outperforming the S&P 500, which is up 9% this year, and four of our favorite companies are significantly outperforming the venerable index. Of course, all four offer reliable passive income given their Dividend Kings status, but they also deliver big total returns to shareholders.