We recently published a list of 15 Dividend Zombies to Invest in. In this article, we are going to take a look at where General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) stands against other dividend zombies to invest in.
The broader market has posted consecutive annual gains of 25%, largely fueled by growth stocks and companies capitalizing on the rising demand for artificial intelligence. Despite this, dividend stocks remain a key part of a strong investment strategy. Over time, dividends play an increasingly significant role in returns, and historical data shows that from 1987 through the end of 2023, reinvested dividends accounted for roughly 55% of the market’s total gains.
While recent market gains have largely been driven by a few non-dividend-paying companies, the landscape is evolving. Several major tech firms introduced dividend policies last year, emphasizing their commitment to returning capital to shareholders. They view dividends as a valuable complement to share buybacks. Although initial dividend yields from tech stocks remain modest, the total payout is substantial, with just three companies expected to distribute an estimated $17 billion over the next year, as reported by J.P. Morgan.
This shift sends a significant signal to the market. The report highlighted that the best opportunities in dividend stocks come from “Compounders”—companies with a strong history of consistently increasing dividends. Nearly half of the strategy focuses on these firms, which are supported by steady earnings growth. Compounders not only ensure reliable income but also provide a solid foundation for generating long-term portfolio outperformance.
Dividend zombies are a lesser-known category within dividend investing. These companies have consistently paid dividends to shareholders for 100 years or more. Some have even increased their payouts over time, earning a place among the elite dividend aristocrats. Their ability to sustain such a long track record is largely due to strong cash flows and solid financial health. This strong financial position makes these stocks appealing to investors.
According to a report by Nuveen, dividend growth stocks have historically delivered a strong mix of earnings expansion, cash flow stability, and well-managed dividend policies. They have demonstrated solid performance in rising markets while also offering resilience during downturns and periods of market volatility. Over time, companies that consistently increase or initiate dividends have outperformed those that merely maintain payouts, do not pay dividends, or reduce them. In addition, they have achieved these returns with lower risk, as reflected in their lower standard deviation.
Dividend stocks are also appealing today from a valuation perspective. The market’s heavy concentration in a few stocks and the excitement around AI have led to historically low relative valuations for dividend-paying companies. This creates an opportunity for investors to tap into a long-term trend that combines income generation with growth by investing in businesses with solid fundamentals and a track record of steady dividend increases. Historically, this segment has provided downside protection, making it a strategic option for adding stability and diversification to an equity portfolio.
Our Methodology
For this list, we selected companies that have paid dividends for over 100 years and also have strong dividend growth histories. Some of these companies are dividend kings, which means that they have raised their payouts for 50 years or more. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the consecutive years of dividend payments.
At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).
A worker in a production facility packaging arbitrary food products, reflecting the company’s commitment to comprehensive production standards.
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS)
Consecutive Years of Dividend Payments: 126VAR
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) is an American multinational company, headquartered in Minnesota. The company specializes in branded processed consumer foods that are sold through retail stores. It is a leading player in the food industry, recognized for its diverse range of brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, and Betty Crocker. With operations spanning over 100 countries, the company strengthens its market presence through a broad product portfolio and continuous innovation. Recently, its focus has been on boosting sales volume and expanding market share, both critical to its growth strategy.
In fiscal Q3 2025, General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) delivered mixed financial results. Revenue came in at $4.8 billion, reflecting a 5% decline from the previous year. Organic net sales also fell by 5%, with approximately four percentage points attributed to retailer inventory reductions and the expected reversal of certain favorable timing factors from the second quarter. Despite these challenges, the company continued to gain market share in its Pet, Foodservice, and International segments. In addition, the Pillsbury refrigerated dough and Totino’s hot snacks categories saw performance improvements, benefiting from increased investments in the prior quarter.
General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) also maintained a solid cash position. Over the first nine months of fiscal 2025, operating cash flow reached $2.3 billion, while capital expenditures totaled $405 million. During this period, the company returned $1 billion to shareholders through dividends. Its quarterly dividend stands at $0.60 per share, offering a 4.09% yield, as of March 23. With a history of consistent dividend payments spanning 126 years, GIS is one of the best dividend zombies on our list.
Overall, GIS ranks 8th on our list of dividend zombies to invest in. While we acknowledge the potential of GIS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than GIS but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
