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Income investors are likely familiar with the Dividend Aristocrats, which are some of the highest-quality stocks to buy and hold for the long term. We recommend long-term investors focus on high-quality dividend stocks.

To that end, we view the Dividend Aristocrats as among the best dividend stocks to buy-and-hold for the long run. The Dividend Aristocrats have a long history of outperforming the market when it comes to risk-adjusted returns.

This article will discuss 3 of the cheapest Dividend Aristocrats.

Eversource Energy (ES)

Eversource Energy is a diversified holding company with subsidiaries that provide regulated electric, gas, and water distribution service in the Northeast U.S. The company’s utilities serve more than 4 million customers. Eversource has delivered steady growth to shareholders for many years.

On July 31st, ES released its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30th, 2025. The company’s total operating revenue jumped 12% over the year-ago period to $2.84 billion in the quarter.

As has been the case in the past, base distribution rate increases and continued system investments powered this top-line growth during the quarter. ES recorded $0.96 in non-GAAP EPS for the quarter, which was a 1.1% year-over-year growth rate. That came in $0.01 better than the analyst consensus in the quarter.

Over the past decade, ES has compounded its non-GAAP EPS by almost 6% annually. Over the next five years, we believe the company can grow its non-GAAP EPS by 6% each year off an expected 2025 base of $4.75. ES has divested itself of its commercial-scale offshore wind facility in the U.S. That reorients the company as a pure-play regulated utility.

Thanks to healthy economic development prospects, ES anticipates that it will invest $24.2 billion in upgrading and expanding its infrastructure from 2025 through 2029. The utility also notes that there is the potential for incremental investments of between $1.5 billion and $2 billion for this period. As a result, ES still thinks that it can generate 5% to 7% annual non-GAAP EPS growth for the period.

ES also has the balance sheet needed to fund its ambitious five-year capital spending program. This is backed up by a BBB credit rating from S&P with a stable outlook. That affords the company a low cost of capital. The regulated utility’s dividend is also reasonably sustainable, with the payout ratio set to be in the low-60% range for 2025. This should help it build on its 25-year dividend growth streak in the future.

Factset Research Systems (FDS)

FactSet Research Systems, a financial data and analytics firm founded in 1978, provides integrated financial information and analytical tools to the investment community in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

The company provides insight and information through research, analytics, trading workflow solutions, content and technology solutions, and wealth management.

On June 23rd, 2025, FactSet Research Systems announced Q3 2025 results, reporting non-GAAP EPS of $4.27 for the period, beating market consensus by $0.03, while revenue rose 5.9% to $585.5 million.

It delivered a steady third quarter for fiscal 2025, reporting GAAP revenues of $585.5 million, up nearly 6% year-over-year, driven by strong demand from wealth and institutional buy-side clients.

Organic annual subscription value (ASV) climbed 4.5% to $2.3 billion, highlighting the company’s stickiness in recurring revenue.

However, operating margins faced some pressure, with the GAAP figure slipping to 33.2% and adjusted margins down to 36.8%, impacted by higher compensation costs and acquisitions. Even so, the company continues to generate solid cash, posting free cash flow of $228.6 million for the quarter.

FactSet returned value to shareholders through $80.7 million in share repurchases and increased its quarterly dividend for the 26th straight year.

Becton Dickinson & Co. (BDX)

Becton, Dickinson & Co. is a global leader in the medical supply industry. The company was founded in 1897 and has 75,000 employees across 190 countries. The company generates about $20 billion in annual revenue, with approximately 43% of revenues coming from outside of the U.S.

Becton, Dickinson & Co., or BD, is a global leader in the medical supply industry. The company generates almost $22 billion in annual revenue, with approximately 43% of revenues coming from outside of the U.S.

On August 7th, 2025, BD announced results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended June 30th, 2025. For the quarter, revenue improved 10.4% to $5.5 billion, which was $10 million more than expected.

On a currency neutral basis, revenue increased 8.5%. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $3.68 compared favorably to $3.50 in the prior year and was $0.28 more than anticipated.

For the quarter, U.S. grew 10% while international was up 11% on a reported basis. Excluding currency exchange, international was higher by 9.8%. Organic growth was higher by 3% for the period.

BD partially reaffirmed its outlook for fiscal year 2025 as well. Revenue is still projected to be in a range of $21.8 billion to $21.9 billion, compared to $21.7 billion to $21.9 billion previously. Adjusted earnings-per-share is expected to be in a range of $14.30 to $14.45.

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