SmarterDividends

Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for Passive Income

These are the best dividend stocks for passive income — companies with a long record of raising their dividend, payout ratios low enough to keep that dividend safe, and yields you can actually rely on. Every name is a confirmed dividend payer, ranked by growth streak and size.

Want to filter by yield, sector or safety yourself? Use the dividend screener, or build a portfolio and project your income on the dashboard.

Updated · 50 stocks · refreshed daily

Key facts: Best Dividend Stocks

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Oct 19, 2026, SmarterDividends' Best Dividend Stocks list includes 50 stocks.
  • Ranked first on SmarterDividends' Best Dividend Stocks list as of Oct 19, 2026 is Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), with a forward dividend yield of 2.10% and 55 consecutive years of dividend increases on record.
  • The median forward dividend yield of the 50 stocks on SmarterDividends' Best Dividend Stocks list is 2.70% as of Oct 19, 2026.
  • The highest-yielding stock on SmarterDividends' Best Dividend Stocks list as of Oct 19, 2026 is T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. (TROW), at 5.15%.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has the longest dividend-growth streak on SmarterDividends' Best Dividend Stocks list, at 55 consecutive years as of Oct 19, 2026.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "Best Dividend Stocks for Passive Income," updated Oct 19, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/best-dividend-stocks

#CompanyYieldGrowth Streak
1JNJJNJJohnson & JohnsonDividend history2.10%55 yr
2KOKOThe Coca-Cola CompanyDividend history2.26%55 yr
3PEPPEPPepsiCo, Inc.Dividend history4.50%53 yr
4CLCLColgate-Palmolive CompanyDividend history2.25%52 yr
5HTOHTOH2O AmericaDividend history3.05%45 yr
6EDEDConsolidated Edison, Inc.Dividend history3.16%44 yr
7PGPGThe Procter & Gamble CompanyDividend history2.73%42 yr
8ADPADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc.Dividend history2.35%42 yr
9TGTTGTTarget CorporationDividend history3.01%42 yr
10APDAPDAir Products and Chemicals, Inc.Dividend history2.42%42 yr
11BDXBDXBecton, Dickinson and CompanyDividend history2.19%42 yr
12ADMADMArcher-Daniels-Midland CompanyDividend history2.52%42 yr
13PPGPPGPPG Industries, Inc.Dividend history2.76%42 yr
14AFLAFLAflac IncorporatedDividend history2.03%41 yr
15ABMABMABM Industries IncorporatedDividend history2.27%41 yr
16SWKSWKStanley Black & Decker, Inc.Dividend history3.63%40 yr
17NCNCNACCO Industries, Inc.Dividend history3.06%40 yr
18TROWTROWT. Rowe Price Group, Inc.Dividend history5.15%39 yr
19MZTIMZTIThe Marzetti CompanyDividend history3.82%39 yr
20CVXCVXChevron CorporationDividend history3.16%38 yr
21ITWITWIllinois Tool Works Inc.Dividend history2.53%38 yr
22SYYSYYSysco CorporationDividend history2.68%38 yr
23BF-ABF-ABrown-Forman CorporationDividend history3.14%38 yr
24CSLCSLCarlisle Companies IncorporatedDividend history1.50%38 yr
25BF-BBF-BBrown-Forman CorporationDividend history3.20%38 yr
26RPMRPMRPM International Inc.Dividend history2.29%38 yr
27ORIORIOld Republic International CorporationDividend history3.18%38 yr
28UBSIUBSIUnited Bankshares, Inc.Dividend history3.26%38 yr
29FULFULH.B. Fuller CompanyDividend history1.91%38 yr
30MGEEMGEEMGE Energy, Inc.Dividend history2.81%38 yr
31SCLSCLStepan CompanyDividend history2.55%38 yr
32ATOATOAtmos Energy CorporationDividend history2.39%36 yr
33WABCWABCWestamerica BancorporationDividend history3.13%36 yr
34GDGDGeneral Dynamics CorporationDividend history1.85%34 yr
35WTRGWTRGEssential Utilities, Inc.Dividend history3.53%34 yr
36SONSONSonoco Products CompanyDividend history4.34%34 yr
37MGRCMGRCMcGrath RentCorpDividend history1.75%34 yr
38RTXRTXRTX CorporationDividend history1.51%33 yr
39AOSAOSA. O. Smith CorporationDividend history2.57%33 yr
40ATRATRAptarGroup, Inc.Dividend history1.54%32 yr
41BANFBANFBancFirst CorporationDividend history1.91%32 yr
42WLYWLYJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.Dividend history2.71%32 yr
43WLYBWLYBJohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.Dividend history2.72%32 yr
44MKCMKCMcCormick & Company, IncorporatedDividend history4.14%31 yr
45CFRCFRCullen/Frost Bankers, Inc.Dividend history2.66%31 yr
46ARTNAARTNAArtesian Resources CorporationDividend history3.79%31 yr
47IBMIBMInternational Business Machines CorporationDividend history2.91%30 yr
48NEENEENextEra Energy, Inc.Dividend history3.12%30 yr
49LOWLOWLowe's Companies, Inc.Dividend history2.53%30 yr
50CINFCINFCincinnati Financial CorporationDividend history2.20%30 yr

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best dividend stocks for passive income?

The strongest candidates combine a long history of consecutive dividend increases, a payout ratio low enough to keep the dividend sustainable, and a reasonable yield. This list ranks dividend payers with 10+ years of growth, covered payouts and dependable yields — household names like Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Realty Income frequently appear.

What makes a stock a good dividend stock?

Three things: (1) a durable, growing dividend (years of consecutive increases), (2) a sustainable payout ratio — generally under ~75% of earnings — so the dividend isn't at risk, and (3) a yield that compensates you without signalling distress. A very high yield (8%+) often indicates elevated risk rather than a bargain.

Are dividend stocks good for passive income?

Yes — dividend stocks are one of the most popular ways to build passive income because they pay you cash on a regular schedule (usually quarterly or monthly) regardless of share-price movement. Reinvesting those dividends compounds your income over time.

How often is this list updated?

Every day. SmarterDividends refreshes prices, yields, payout ratios and dividend history for the whole universe daily, so this ranking reflects current data.

Data is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Yields and figures refresh daily.