The highest yield is only part of it when finding the best dividend stocks. Income investors know there’s no substitute for regular dividend increases over the long haul.

Dividend Kings are a unique class of stock that offers investors a phenomenal track record of annual dividend increases.

These elite members of the Dividend Aristocrats, which are companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index that have raised payouts once a year for 25 years running, have far more extensive track records. Specifically, Dividend Kings must have at least 50 consecutive years of uninterrupted annual dividend hikes.

Dividend Kings’ appeal should be evident after 2020’s COVID-19 outbreak. Many dividend stocks cut or even suspended their payouts amid uncertainty and disruptions. Income investors who had hoped these companies were lower risk simply because they paid dividends received a rude awakening, as the payout cuts often came along with deep share price declines.

With half a century of increasing distributions, however, Dividend Kings have an excellent track record that adds a layer of stability in an otherwise uncertain market environment. Nothing is ever certain on Wall Street, but these are 15 of the best stocks for dividend growth. The names featured here are all longtime leaders who exhibit more than 55 years of increases – including one pick with a track record of 69 straight dividend hikes – making them a bit more trustworthy than your typical income investment.