Recession-proof brands paying reliable dividends. People buy toothpaste, soda, and food regardless of the economy—perfect for defensive income.
Dividend king | 68 years of increases
Market Cap
$385B
Div History
68 years
Payout Ratio
55%
Brands
65+
The gold standard of consumer staples investing. 68 consecutive years of dividend increases (dividend king). Owns iconic brands: Tide, Pampers, Gillette, Crest, Bounty, Charmin, Dawn, Febreze. People need these products in good times and bad. Never cut dividend—even during 2008 crisis. Pricing power allows passing inflation to customers. Perfect for conservative dividend investors wanting safety and steady growth.
Dividend aristocrat | 62 years of increases
Market Cap
$265B
Div History
62 years
Daily Servings
1.9B
Countries
200+
World's largest beverage company serving 1.9 billion drinks daily across 200+ countries. 62 years of dividend increases. Warren Buffett's largest holding since 1988. Owns Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Dasani, Minute Maid, Powerade, Smartwater. Global recession-proof business with unmatched distribution. Higher yield than PG with similar safety profile.
Dividend aristocrat | Snacks + beverages
More diversified than Coca-Cola with snacks (Frito-Lay, Quaker, Doritos) generating 55% of revenue. Beverages include Pepsi, Gatorade, Tropicana, Mountain Dew. 51 consecutive years of dividend increases. Snacks provide better margins and growth than beverages. Less cyclical than pure beverage play. Growing dividend faster than KO in recent years.
| Stock | Yield | Category | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procter & Gamble (PG) | 2.4% | Household | 68 |
| Coca-Cola (KO) | 3.0% | Beverages | 62 |
| PepsiCo (PEP) | 2.8% | Snacks/Beverages | 51 |
| Colgate-Palmolive (CL) | 2.3% | Household | 61 |
| Kimberly-Clark (KMB) | 3.5% | Paper Products | 52 |
| Mondelez (MDLZ) | 2.4% | Snacks | 12 |
| General Mills (GIS) | 3.6% | Packaged Foods | 124 |
| Kraft Heinz (KHC) | 4.5% | Packaged Foods | 5 |
| Clorox (CLX) | 3.2% | Cleaning | 47 |
| Hormel Foods (HRL) | 3.1% | Meat/Packaged | 57 |
People buy toothpaste, toilet paper, and food regardless of economy. Consumer staples sales barely decline in recessions. PG revenue grew during 2008 crisis.
Track Record:
Strong brands command premium prices. Customers pay extra for Tide vs generic detergent. Allows companies to pass inflation to customers without losing sales.
Brand Examples:
Consumer staples dominate dividend aristocrats and kings lists. General Mills has paid for 124 consecutive years. PG for 68 years. Reliability you can count on.
Aristocrats/Kings:
Lower current yields (2-2.5%) but premium quality and steady dividend growth (6-8% annually). Best for long-term growth investors.
Top Picks:
These are dividend kings/aristocrats with fortress balance sheets. Own them forever.
Higher current yields (3.5-4.5%) but slower growth or turnaround stories. Best for retirees needing income now.
Top Picks:
Higher risk but income starts immediately. Good for supplementing Social Security.
$25K investment | 2.8% average yield
Portfolio Stats:
Annual Income
$700
Avg Yield
2.8%
Expected Growth
5-7%/yr