12 Best Dividend Kings to Buy For Safe Dividend Growth

6. S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI)

5-Year Average Annual Dividend Growth Rate: 10.11%

S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) is a New York-based company that offers services in financial information and analytics. The company relies heavily on a subscription-based revenue model, with over 75% of its income generated from recurring sources. This setup offers strong financial stability, even during times of market volatility—particularly in the debt issuance space, where its credit ratings division remains a core revenue driver. Additional contributions from its Market Intelligence unit, which provides financial data and analytics, along with its Indices and Commodity Insights segments, help support a steady stream of income.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) posted a 14% year-over-year increase in revenue, while adjusted earnings per share rose by 20% to $3.77. The company also bolstered investor confidence with an optimistic outlook for the year ahead and the announcement of a new share repurchase program. Revenue from its Ratings segment jumped 31% year-over-year, reflecting a broader push beyond traditional investment-grade and high-yield debt into other loan categories and structured finance products—further enhancing revenue diversification.

S&P Global Inc. (NYSE:SPGI) also reported a strong liquidity position. For the full year, operating cash flow climbed to $5.7 billion from $3.7 billion in 2023, while free cash flow surged to $5.27 billion from $3.2 billion the previous year. This solid cash performance enabled the company to return $1.1 billion to shareholders through dividends. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.96 per share and offers a dividend yield of 0.85%, as of April 4. With 53 consecutive years of dividend increases, SPGI is one of the best dividend kings to invest in.