3 Dividend Kings You Can Buy and Never Sell

NVDA +0.84% WEN +1.90% When I think about investing in dividend stocks, the first thing that comes to mind is security. I want a dividend stock I know will be there through thick and thin -- I'm not interested in companies like Wendy's, which just slashed its dividend in half.

The better choice is to look for dividend payers with a long history of growth. Enter the list of Dividend Kings, which comprises companies that have increased their dividend payouts for 50 or more consecutive years.

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To make the Dividend King list, companies must display disciplined management and a commitment to rewarding investors. And that's what I'm looking for when I think about creating a long-term dividend portfolio.

Here are three that have proven to be in it for the long haul: Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT), and Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED). These are great Dividend Kings that you should buy and never sell.

I've been a big fan of Coca-Cola for a long time because it's managed to maintain market share dominance in North America while also expanding its international reach. Coca-Cola ranked No. 1 in a 2025 study of soft drinks by U.S. sales volume, with another one of the company's brands, Sprite, in third place.

Coca-Cola increased its concentrate sales and revenue across all geographic areas, with Asia Pacific leading the way with an 11% sales gain. North American sales jumped 3%, while Latin America and the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) segments both grew 1%.

Part of Coca-Cola's success comes from its broad portfolio of products. Sparkling flavored drinks were particularly popular in Asia-Pacific, management said, while water products saw strong growth in Latin America and EMEA. Sales of sports drinks increased by 5% thanks to growth in North America, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific.

Coca-Cola stock is up 27% this year and provides a dividend yield of 2.4%. The dividend has increased for 64 consecutive years.

Real estate investment trusts are great dividend vehicles, so if I'm building a dividend portfolio, I'm certainly going to include one. My favorite is actually Realty Income because I love the idea of getting a monthly dividend instead of a quarterly one. But unfortunately, Realty Income only has 31 consecutive years of dividend growth, so it's not considered a Dividend King.

That brings me to Federal Realty Investment Trust, which is the only REIT to achieve Dividend King status. The company focuses on retail properties, including grocery-anchored shopping centers and large-scale mixed-use properties with office or residential areas, in 11 urban markets, including Boston, New York, Miami, Philadelphia, Chicago, Phoenix, and Southern California.

The company reported 93.8% occupancy in the second quarter, up 20 basis points from a year ago. Revenue was $335.7 million, up from $311.5 million a year ago. Funds from operations available to shareholders were $1.88 per share, up 6.8% from a year ago.

Federal Realty stock is up 16% this year, and the dividend yield is nearly 4%. The company has increased its dividend for 59 consecutive years.

I think utility companies are an interesting pick right now. Power companies are under the gun as the growth of artificial intelligence and data centers is threatening to strain the system. Grand View Research estimates that the global power generation market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 8.1% through 2033.

Utilities like Consolidated Edison are often popular dividend picks because they have a steady, predictable cash flow. Con Ed's role is to provide electricity and gas in New York and New Jersey. Net income for the second quarter was $308 million and $0.83 per share, up from $246 million and $0.68 per share a year ago.

Consolidated Edison stock is up nearly 10% this year, and it pays a dividend yield of 3.3%. Management has increased the dividend for 52 consecutive years.

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Patrick Sanders has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Consolidated Edison and Realty Income. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.