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Most are familiar with Dividend Aristocrats, companies that have increased dividend payouts for at least 25 consecutive years.

However, a step above that is the elite Dividend Kings group, which consists of companies that have boosted their payouts for a minimum of 50 consecutive years.

These companies have shown incredible resilience historically, surviving through many economic periods while also continuously increasingly rewarding shareholders.

For those seeking a steady income stream, several members of the club, including Genuine Parts (GPC - Free Report), Procter & Gamble (PG - Free Report), and Emerson Electric (EMR - Free Report), could all be considered. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Genuine Parts Upgrades Outlook
 

Genuine Parts, a current Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), distributes automotive and industrial replacement parts and materials. The company has been benefiting nicely from an aging fleet of vehicles, with consumers holding onto their cars for longer periods at a historically high rate.

Analysts have adjusted their earnings expectations, painting a bullish near-term picture for the company.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The company’s shareholder-friendly nature is illustrated below, which tracks dividends paid for the last 25 years. Shares currently yield a solid 2.9% annually, with the company’s 43% payout ratio remaining sustainable.

Please note that the last value is on a trailing twelve-month basis.

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Growth is expected to remain positive, with consensus expectations for its current fiscal year suggesting 6% EPS growth on 3% higher sales. The company has been performing nicely overall, reaffirming its 2024 sales guidance while also upping its EPS outlook into a band of $9.80 - $9.95 per share (previously $9.70 - $9.90 per share).

Analysts’ positive revisions reflect the guidance upgrade.

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Procter & Gamble Flexes Defensive Capabilities
 

Procter & Gamble, also commonly known as P&G, is a branded consumer products company with an extensive product portfolio. The stock presently sports a favorable Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), with the revisions trend positively stable for its current fiscal year up nearly 4% to $6.55 per share over the last year.

Positive revisions have also hit the tape for its next fiscal year (FY25).

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The company has long been a favorite among income-focused investors thanks to its defensive nature, which allows it to generate consistent demand in many economic situations. Its established nature provides an ability to consistently increasingly reward shareholders, as its high-growth days are in the rearview.

Shares presently yield 2.4% annually, beating out the S&P 500’s current yield of 1.3%.

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Emerson Electric Expected to See 23% Annual Earnings Growth
 

Emerson Electric is a global technology and engineering company providing innovative solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and residential markets. Like PG, the earnings estimate revisions trend has been bullish for its current fiscal year, up 20% to $5.47 per share over the last year and suggesting 23% year-over-year growth.

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EMR’s latest set of quarterly results were positive, leading it to update its FY24 outlook. Notably, free cash flow saw a considerable boost, improving 32% year-over-year alongside margin expansion. Improved cash-generating abilities allow the company to keep its dividend payouts coming, with shares currently yielding 2% annually.

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It’s worth noting that shares have recently broken out of a multi-year range and are now trading near all-time highs. Stocks making new highs tend to make even higher highs, particularly when positive earnings estimate revisions hit the tape.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Bottom Line
 

While the Dividend Aristocrats group is a favorite among income-focused investors, a step above is the elite Dividend Kings group, a club reserved for companies with a minimum of 50+ years of higher payouts.

For income-focused investors seeking reliability, all three members of the club above – Genuine Parts, Procter & Gamble, and Emerson Electric – have displayed precisely that.

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