Wolf Research has published a focused screen of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats and identified ten names that meet a combination of dividend-quality metrics and financial-stability tests. The screen isolates companies exhibiting above-market dividend growth, falling in the second quintile for dividend yield or demonstrating regular share-repurchase programs, while explicitly excluding firms with elevated leverage or indicators of dividend cut risk.
The Dividend Aristocrats group is composed of S&P 500 companies that have increased their cash dividend for at least 25 consecutive years. Wolf Research applied additional filters to that universe to narrow the list to firms the team views as having attractive dividend characteristics without obvious balance-sheet stressors.
Top 10 names from Wolf Research's screen
- Genuine Parts Co (NYSE:GPC) - Topping Wolf Research’s list is the automotive and industrial parts distributor. The company reported a fourth-quarter 2025 miss on both earnings per share and revenue. In the wake of that reporting, Raymond James upgraded the stock’s rating while UBS trimmed its price target.
- McCormick & Co (NYSE:MKC) - The spices and seasonings manufacturer ranks second in the screen. McCormick disclosed fourth-quarter EPS that fell short of analyst expectations, which the company attributed to higher-than-anticipated costs.
- Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) - The oral and personal-care products maker is third on the list. Colgate-Palmolive posted fourth-quarter EPS that exceeded analyst expectations, and several firms, including Morgan Stanley and Evercore ISI, raised price targets thereafter.
- Church & Dwight Co. (NYSE:CHD) - Placing fourth, the household and personal-care company reported fourth-quarter earnings per share above consensus. The beat coincided with stock rating upgrades from Rothschild Redburn and JPMorgan.
- Walmart (NYSE:WMT) - The retail and e-commerce leader appears in the fifth position. Walmart has received price target increases from analysts such as Evercore ISI and UBS, with those firms pointing to the company’s strength in digital and e-commerce growth.
- FactSet Research Systems Inc. (NYSE:FDS) - The financial data and software provider is sixth on the list. Recent analyst activity includes BofA Securities reinstating coverage with an underperform rating and BMO Capital lowering its price target.
- Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) - Ranked seventh, Abbott received shareholder approval for its proposed acquisition of Exact Sciences Corporation and declared its 409th consecutive quarterly dividend.
- Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) - The healthcare products and pharmaceutical manufacturer holds the eighth spot. J&J secured European Commission approval for a new subcutaneous dosing regimen for its cancer therapy Rybrevant and is reportedly preparing to divest its orthopedics unit.
- Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) - Cardinal Health is ninth after raising its fiscal 2026 guidance. The company now expects non-GAAP diluted EPS of at least $10.00 for fiscal 2026, a revision that prompted analysts including Morgan Stanley and Evercore ISI to lift price targets.
- Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (NYSE:ADP) - Rounding out the top ten, ADP reported fiscal second-quarter 2026 results with both earnings and revenue above analyst expectations. After a meeting with company executives, Stifel lowered its price target, citing the firm’s assessment of AI’s potential impact.
Methodology and emphasis
Wolf Research’s screen places emphasis on dividend dynamics and corporate financial health. Companies were selected for exhibiting one or more of these traits: dividend growth that exceeds the market, yields in the second quintile (which typically balance income with capital appreciation potential), or high consistency in share-repurchase activity. At the same time, the screen excludes names with high leverage ratios or other indicators suggesting the dividend could be at risk.
The resulting list crosses several sectors, with a concentration in consumer-focused names - including consumer staples and household goods - as well as healthcare, retail, industrial distribution and business services. Each company on the list has a recent corporate or analyst development noted alongside its rank, reflecting how recent operational and market responses map to dividend quality judgments.
Summary takeaways
The screen presents a curated subset of Dividend Aristocrats that combine long-term dividend increases with present-day metrics Wolf Research views as supportive of sustainable payouts. While some firms on the list reported quarter-to-quarter operational pressures, others reported earnings beats or regulatory approvals that coincide with positive analyst responses.
This article presents Wolf Research’s screening results and the company-specific notes tied to recent quarterly reports, analyst actions or corporate decisions as reported. It does not attempt to infer outcomes beyond those reported in each company’s disclosed and cited updates.