Dividend increases this week: 11 companies are raising their dividend payouts. These announcements signal financial strength and management confidence.
Companies that regularly raise their dividends demonstrate financial strength and management’s confidence in future prospects. Dividend increases signal reliable cash flow generation and thoughtful capital allocation. This week’s selections all have a proven track record of annual dividend growth, with each company maintaining at least 5 years of consecutive increases.
A few highlights from this week’s list:
- Average dividend increase: 5.9% (median: 4.5%)
- Average dividend streak: 23.3 years (median: 17.0 years)
My strategy focuses on buying, holding, and adding to positions in companies that raise their dividends annually and have the potential to outperform relevant benchmarks over time.
Why Dividend Increases Matter
Furthermore, what makes dividend increases so compelling? They’re a tangible sign that a company generates real cash flow and management is confident about the future. Raising dividends requires balancing shareholder returns with growth investments—a challenge that separates strong management teams. Moreover, research shows dividend growers often beat the market long-term, and increasing payouts help your income keep pace with inflation. Tracking dividend increases this week helps income investors stay informed.
How I Create the Lists
The information presented here is the result of combining multiple data sources: the “U.S. Dividend Champions” spreadsheet provides the universe of companies I review, and then upcoming dividend announcements. This combination joins data on companies with a track record of consistent dividend growth and the timeliness of their dividend increases. It’s important to note that every company on this list has a minimum of 5 years of dividend growth history.
To be considered for this list, a company must offer higher total annual dividends. Although a company might not increase its dividend every calendar year, its overall annual dividend can still grow.
What Is the Ex-Dividend Date?
The ex-dividend date is when you must own shares to qualify for an upcoming dividend or distribution. To be eligible, you must have bought the shares by the end of the preceding business day. For instance, if the ex-dividend date is Tuesday, you must have acquired the shares by the market close on Monday. If the ex-dividend date falls on a Monday (or a Tuesday following a holiday on Monday), you must have purchased the shares by the previous Friday.
Dividend Streak Categories
Here are the definitions of the streak categories that I’ll use throughout the piece.
- King: 50+ years.
- Champion/Aristocrat: 25+ years.
- Contender: 10-24 years.
- Challenger: 5+ years.
| Category | Count |
| King | 2 |
| Champion | 2 |
| Contender | 2 |
| Challenger | 5 |
This Week’s Dividend Increases
The data is sorted by the ex-dividend date (ascending) and then by the streak (descending):
| Name | Ticker | Streak | Forward Yield | Ex-Div Date | Increase Percent | Streak Category |
| Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | ADM | 50 | 3.00 | 17-Feb-2026 | 1.96% | King |
| Chevron Corporation | CVX | 38 | 3.83 | 17-Feb-2026 | 4.09% | Champion |
| Consolidated Edison, Inc. | ED | 51 | 3.24 | 18-Feb-2026 | 4.47% | King |
| AFLAC Incorporated | AFL | 44 | 2.10 | 18-Feb-2026 | 5.17% | Champion |
| MarketAxess Holdings, Inc. | MKTX | 17 | 1.75 | 18-Feb-2026 | 2.63% | Contender |
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation – Class … | CTSH | 6 | 1.86 | 18-Feb-2026 | 6.45% | Challenger |
| CenterPoint Energy, Inc (Holding Co) | CNP | 5 | 2.24 | 19-Feb-2026 | 4.55% | Challenger |
| Oil-Dri Corporation Of America | ODC | 24 | 1.27 | 20-Feb-2026 | 13.89% | Contender |
| Park National Corporation | PRK | 8 | 2.55 | 20-Feb-2026 | 2.80% | Challenger |
| Jacobs Solutions Inc. | J | 7 | 1.01 | 20-Feb-2026 | 12.50% | Challenger |
| Royalty Pharma plc – Class A Ordinary Shares | RPRX | 6 | 2.17 | 20-Feb-2026 | 6.82% | Challenger |
Understanding the Data
Streak: Years of dividend growth history are sourced from the U.S. Dividend Champions spreadsheet.
Forward Yield: The payout rate is calculated by dividing the new payout rate by the current share price.
Ex-Dividend Date: This is the date by which you must own the stock to receive the dividend.
Increase Percent: The percent increase.
Streak Category: This is the company’s overall dividend history classification.
Show Me the Money
Here is a table that shows the new and old rates and the percentage increase. The table is sorted by ex-dividend day in ascending order and dividend streak in descending order.
| Ticker | Old Rate | New Rate | Increase |
| ADM | 0.51 | 0.52 | 1.96% |
| CVX | 1.71 | 1.78 | 4.09% |
| ED | 0.85 | 0.89 | 4.47% |
| AFL | 0.58 | 0.61 | 5.17% |
| MKTX | 0.76 | 0.78 | 2.63% |
| CTSH | 0.31 | 0.33 | 6.45% |
| CNP | 0.22 | 0.23 | 4.55% |
| ODC | 0.18 | 0.21 | 13.89% |
| PRK | 1.07 | 1.10 | 2.80% |
| J | 0.32 | 0.36 | 12.50% |
| RPRX | 0.22 | 0.24 | 6.82% |
Additional Metrics
Here are additional metrics related to these companies. Some data points include yearly pricing action and the P/E ratio. The table is sorted the same way as the table above.
| Ticker | Price | 52W Low | 52W High | PE Ratio | % Off Low | % Off High |
| ADM | 69.30 | 40.98 | 70.04 | 17.72 | 69% Off Low | 1% Off High |
| CVX | 185.82 | 132.04 | 186.53 | 0.00 | 41% Off Low | 0% Off High |
| ED | 109.87 | 93.52 | 114.87 | 18.52 | 17% Off Low | 4% Off High |
| AFL | 116.25 | 96.95 | 119.32 | 7.06 | 20% Off Low | 3% Off High |
| MKTX | 178.77 | 156.17 | 232.84 | 78.52 | 14% Off Low | 23% Off High |
| CTSH | 70.91 | 65.15 | 90.82 | 29.81 | 9% Off Low | 22% Off High |
| CNP | 41.05 | 31.96 | 41.20 | 0.00 | 28% Off Low | 0% Off High |
| ODC | 66.17 | 41.37 | 69.76 | 13.17 | 60% Off Low | 5% Off High |
| PRK | 172.60 | 137.97 | 179.48 | 15.90 | 25% Off Low | 4% Off High |
| J | 142.36 | 106.23 | 168.44 | 33.47 | 34% Off Low | 15% Off High |
| RPRX | 44.29 | 29.66 | 45.23 | 6.66 | 49% Off Low | 2% Off High |
Tickers by Yield and Growth Rates
I’ve organized the table in descending order, allowing investors to prioritize the current yield. Additionally, the table includes some historical dividend growth rates. I’ve also incorporated the “Chowder Rule,” which combines the current yield with the five-year dividend growth rate.
| Ticker | Yield | 1 Yr DG | 3 Yr DG | 5 Yr DG | 10 Yr DG | Chowder Rule |
| CVX | 3.83 | 4.9 | 6.4 | 5.7 | 4.8 | 9.6 |
| ED | 3.24 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 5.4 |
| ADM | 3.00 | 2.0 | 8.4 | 7.2 | 6.2 | 10.2 |
| PRK | 2.55 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 3.5 |
| CNP | 2.24 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 3.5 | -1.2 | 5.8 |
| RPRX | 2.17 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 24.0 | 26.2 | |
| AFL | 2.10 | 16.0 | 13.2 | 15.7 | 11.4 | 17.8 |
| CTSH | 1.86 | 3.3 | 4.7 | 7.1 | 8.9 | |
| MKTX | 1.75 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 4.8 | 14.3 | 6.6 |
| ODC | 1.27 | 11.7 | 6.8 | 5.6 | 5.0 | 6.9 |
| J | 1.01 | 10.3 | 11.6 | 11.0 | 12.0 |
Investment Considerations
Dividend Increases This Week: Top Picks
While all 11 companies in this week’s list demonstrate commitment to dividend growth, several stand out as particularly compelling investment opportunities for dividend-focused investors.
Oil-Dri Corporation Of America (ODC)
- Lifted the payout by 13.89%—one of the week’s biggest raises
- Contender status with 24 consecutive years of dividend increases
- Low 1.27% yield but strong dividend growth focus
- Reasonable valuation with P/E ratio of 13.17
Jacobs Solutions Inc. (J)
- Hiked the dividend 12.50%, topping this week’s increase list
- Building a 7-year track record of dividend growth
- Modest 1.01% yield, prioritizing dividend growth over current income
- 5-year dividend growth averaging 11.0% annually
Royalty Pharma plc – Class A Ordinary Shares (RPRX)
- Raised payouts by 6.82%
- Building a 6-year track record of dividend growth
- Provides 2.17% yield
- Trades at an attractive valuation with P/E of 6.66
- Strong 5-year dividend growth rate of 24.0%
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation – Class … (CTSH)
- Increased dividends by 6.45%
- Building a 6-year track record of dividend growth
- Modest 1.86% yield, prioritizing dividend growth over current income
AFLAC Incorporated (AFL)
- Raised dividends 5.17%
- Achieved Champion status through 44 consecutive years raising dividends
- Yielding 2.10%, balancing income and growth
- Trades at an attractive valuation with P/E of 7.06
- Strong 5-year dividend growth rate of 15.7%
CenterPoint Energy, Inc (Holding Co) (CNP)
- Increased dividends by 4.55%
- Building a 5-year track record of dividend growth
- Yielding 2.24%, balancing income and growth
- Trades at an attractive valuation with P/E of 0.00
Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED)
- Raised payouts by 4.47%
- Maintains an exceptional 51-year dividend growth streak, achieving King status
- Yielding 3.24%, attractive for income-focused investors
- Reasonable valuation with P/E ratio of 18.52
Chevron Corporation (CVX)
- Raised dividends 4.09%
- Champion with 38 years of consecutive dividend growth
- Provides 3.83% yield, appealing for dividend investors
- Trades at an attractive valuation with P/E of 0.00
Park National Corporation (PRK)
- Raised dividends 2.80%
- Building a 8-year track record of dividend growth
- Offers 2.55% yield
- Reasonable valuation with P/E ratio of 15.90
MarketAxess Holdings, Inc. (MKTX)
- Raised payouts by 2.63%
- Building a 17-year track record as a Contender
- Low 1.75% yield but strong dividend growth focus
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM)
- Increased dividends by 1.96%
- Maintains an exceptional 50-year dividend growth streak, achieving King status
- Offers 3.00% yield with solid income potential
- Reasonable valuation with P/E ratio of 17.72
For more detailed information about stock return calculations for these companies, you can use our Stock Return Calculator with SCHD (our benchmark) pre-loaded for a 10-year analysis. Part 1 includes SCHD and ADM, CVX, ED, AFL, MKTX, CTSH. Part 2 includes SCHD and CNP, ODC, PRK, J, RPRX.
Historical Returns
My investment strategy focuses on identifying stocks that consistently outperform the market and grow their dividend payouts over time. For broad exposure to U.S. equity markets, excluding the REIT sector, I recommend the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD).
SCHD features strong historical performance, offers a yield that exceeds that of the S&P 500, and consistently delivers increasing dividends. With over $70 billion in assets, it’s an incredibly popular dividend-growth ETF. The ten-year dividend growth rate is one of the four key factors that SCHD tracks in its index.
Note: The benchmark used in analysis may vary by week. Check the chart analysis sections for the specific benchmark used.
Group 1 Results
The first group compares the benchmark SCHD with Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), Chevron (CVX), Consolidated Edison (ED), AFLAC (AFL), MarketAxess (MKTX), and Cognizant (CTSH) over the maximum available period with dividends reinvested. The analysis runs from February 2016, when SCHD data first becomes available.
SCHD returned 191% total return as our benchmark. AFLAC (AFL) was the standout performer with an exceptional 420% total return, reflecting its strong execution and favorable market positioning. MarketAxess (MKTX) lagged the group with a 69% total return and a 71% maximum drawdown, underscoring the volatility that can come with individual names. The remaining names in the group (ADM, CVX, ED, CTSH) landed between these extremes; the chart shows how dividend growth alone does not guarantee the highest total return, so combining the calculator with your own due diligence is important.
The first group compares the benchmark SCHD with Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM), Chevron (CVX), Consolidated Edison (ED), AFLAC (AFL), MarketAxess (MKTX), and Cognizant (CTSH) over the maximum available period with dividends reinvested. The analysis runs from February 2016, when SCHD data first becomes available.
SCHD returned 191% total return as our benchmark. AFLAC (AFL) was the standout performer with an exceptional 420% total return, reflecting its strong execution and favorable market positioning. MarketAxess (MKTX) lagged the group with a 69% total return and a 71% maximum drawdown, underscoring the volatility that can come with individual names. The remaining names in the group (ADM, CVX, ED, CTSH) landed between these extremes; the chart shows how dividend growth alone does not guarantee the highest total return, so combining the calculator with your own due diligence is important.
Group 2 Results
The second group compares SCHD with CenterPoint Energy (CNP), Oil-Dri (ODC), Park National (PRK), Jacobs Solutions (J), and Royalty Pharma (RPRX). Because Royalty Pharma (RPRX) has a shorter history, the common period for this group starts in mid-2020, so the results cover a shorter but still meaningful horizon.
Oil-Dri (ODC) was the big winner with a 328% total return over that period. SCHD delivered the best drawdown and volatility metrics in the group, which is typical for a diversified ETF versus single stocks. The other names (CNP, PRK, J, RPRX) show a range of outcomes in the chart; diversification across the group would have smoothed volatility compared with concentrating in one or two names. When using the calculator, consider both total return and risk metrics (drawdown, volatility) to align choices with your goals.
Based on this analysis and further due diligence, I have included several companies in my portfolio and will sometimes make timely purchases of existing holdings. The charts below assume dividends are reinvested.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on my strategy, so feel free to share yours in the comments below! As always, do your due diligence before making any investment decisions.
