Social Safety COLA averaged 2% yearly with excessive volatility starting from 0% to eight.7% between 2010 and 2023.
5 dividend aristocrats delivered 4.5% to 7.2% compound annual dividend development over 10 years.
Procter & Gamble elevated dividends for 68 consecutive years with a 60% payout ratio supporting future development.
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The Social Safety Administration introduced in October that beneficiaries will obtain a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2026, following a 2.5% improve in 2025. Whereas these changes assist shield buying energy for 71 million People, dividend development shares have traditionally delivered considerably greater annual will increase. 5 blue-chip corporations with multi-decade dividend development streaks have persistently outpaced Social Safety’s typical 2-3% annual changes.
Latest COLA historical past reveals important volatility: 8.7% in 2023 throughout peak inflation, 3.2% in 2024, and now 2.5% for 2025 and a pair of.8% for 2026. Over the long run, COLAs have averaged round 2% yearly, with three years (2010, 2011, and 2016) seeing no improve. The next dividend aristocrats have constructed observe data of beating these changes by constant, compounding dividend development.
Caterpillar (NYSE:CAT) has delivered a 10-year compound annual dividend development price of seven.2%, greater than tripling typical COLA will increase. The commercial tools producer raised its quarterly dividend 7.1% to $1.51 in December 2025, marking its thirty second consecutive yr of will increase.
Caterpillar’s annual dividend has surged from $1.84 in 2012 to a projected $6.04 in 2026, a 228% improve over 14 years. The corporate generated $3.7B in working money circulation in Q3 2025 and returned $1.1B to shareholders. Latest quarterly income development of 10% demonstrates continued momentum regardless of cyclical business headwinds.
With a revenue margin of 14.3% and return on fairness of 46.3%, Caterpillar maintains a conservative payout ratio of roughly 30%, leaving substantial room for future will increase. The present dividend yield of 0.93% might seem modest, however the development price persistently outperforms inflation changes by 4-5 proportion factors yearly.
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) has raised its dividend for 62 consecutive years, delivering a 10-year compound annual development price of 4.5%. The beverage big elevated its quarterly dividend 5.2% to $0.51 in 2025.
From 1999 to 2025, Coca-Cola’s quarterly dividend tripled from $0.16 to $0.51, a 219% improve representing regular compounding that has persistently outpaced Social Safety changes. The corporate maintained and elevated its dividend even by the 2008 monetary disaster, elevating it from $0.34 in 2007 to $0.38 in 2008.
Coca-Cola’s present dividend yield of two.92% offers instant earnings whereas the expansion price delivers inflation safety. The corporate paid $2.108B in dividends throughout Q3 2025, supported by 30% EPS development and robust market share good points. With a P/E ratio of 23x and defensive enterprise mannequin, Coca-Cola gives dependable dividend development for conservative traders looking for COLA-beating earnings.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) has elevated its dividend for 62 consecutive years, matching Coca-Cola’s streak. The healthcare big has delivered a 10-year compound annual dividend development price of roughly 6.5%, persistently doubling or tripling typical COLA will increase.
From 1999 to 2025, Johnson & Johnson’s quarterly dividend surged from $0.25 to $1.30, a 420% improve. The corporate raised its dividend 4.8% in 2025, growing from $1.24 to $1.30 per quarter. Over the previous decade, JNJ’s annual dividend has elevated from $3.00 in 2015 to $5.20 in 2025, a 73% acquire.
The corporate paid $3.132B in dividends throughout Q3 2025 with 91% EPS development year-over-year. Johnson & Johnson’s revenue margin of 27.3% and return on fairness of 33.6% reveal distinctive operational effectivity. With a payout ratio of roughly 49%, the corporate maintains ample capability for future will increase whereas providing a present yield of two.42%.
PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) has raised its dividend for 52 consecutive years, delivering a 10-year compound annual development price of seven.1%. The meals and beverage conglomerate elevated its quarterly dividend to $1.4225 in 2025, sustaining its observe file of beating Social Safety changes by 4-5 proportion factors yearly.
PepsiCo’s annual dividend has grown from $2.15 in 2012 to $5.55 in 2025, a 158% improve demonstrating regular, dependable development by a number of financial cycles. The corporate paid $1.949B in dividends throughout Q3 2025, supported by $4.5B in working money circulation and reaffirmed 2025 steering.
With a present dividend yield of three.73%, PepsiCo gives the best instant earnings amongst these 5 dividend growers whereas sustaining robust development momentum. Latest dividend will increase embody 7.0% in 2022, 10.0% in 2023, and seven.8% in 2024, persistently outpacing inflation. The corporate’s five-year compound annual development price of seven.5% has delivered roughly thrice the standard COLA adjustment.
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) claims the highest spot with an unmatched 68-year consecutive dividend improve historical past, the longest streak amongst these 5 corporations. The buyer merchandise big has delivered constant annual dividend development averaging 5-7%, reliably outpacing Social Safety changes by practically seven many years of financial cycles.
Procter & Gamble presently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.0568, distributing $2.549B to shareholders in Q1 2026 alone. The corporate’s dividend yield of two.93% combines with sustainable development supported by a 60% payout ratio, leaving substantial room for future will increase. Robust fundamentals embody a revenue margin of 19.7%, return on fairness of 31.9%, and 21% EPS development.
With 70.2% institutional possession and analyst worth targets suggesting 18% upside potential, Procter & Gamble gives each dividend reliability and capital appreciation potential. The corporate’s defensive enterprise mannequin in family and private care merchandise has confirmed recession-resistant, enabling uninterrupted dividend development since 1957. For traders looking for reliable earnings development that persistently outpaces Social Safety changes, Procter & Gamble’s practically seven-decade observe file stands unmatched.
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