In this article we discuss top 5 dividend kings of 2021. To see a comprehensive list of dividend kings, go to 30 Dividend Kings of 2021 (Part III).
5. Northwest Natural Holding Co (NYSE: NWN)
Dividend Yield: 4.26%
Northwest Natural provides natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The company also operates a segment that invests in natural gas pipeline projects. At the end of the third quarter, 14 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in NWN. The total value of these stakes is $18.27 million.
In November, the company posted Q3 GAAP EPS of -$0.59, beating the Street’s estimate by $0.09. Revenue in the quarter jumped 3.3% to $93.29 million, missing the consensus by about $4 million.
The company has increased its dividend for 65 consecutive years.
4. National Fuel Gas Co. (NYSE: NFG)
Dividend Yield: 4.35%
National Fuel Gas is a New York-based energy company with $6.2 billion in assets. The company’s board in June 2020 approved a 2.3% dividend increase. This was the 50th consecutive annual dividend hike by the company, making it a dividend king of 2021.
A total of 16 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on NFG at the end of the third quarter.
Related Article: Is NFG A Good Stock To Buy Now?
3. Federal Realty Investment Trust (NYSE: FRT)
Dividend Yield: 4.69%
FRT ranks 3rd on the list of 30 dividend kings of 2021. Federal Realty is a real estate investment trust that specializes in ownership, management and redevelopment of retail and mixed-use properties located in affluent communities. The company increased its dividend in August 2020 for the 53rd consecutive year. In its Q3 results, the company said that leasing volumes are expected to rebound to pre-COVID levels. The company’s revenue in the third quarter came in at $208.2 million, versus the consensus of $206.6 million.
Related Article: Is FRT A Good Stock To Buy Now?
2. Universal Corp (NYSE: UVV)
Dividend Yield: 6.47%
Virginia-based tobacco company Universal is one of the top 30 dividend kings of 2021. The company announced its 50th consecutive annual dividend hike in May 2020. Universal primarily sells flue-cured and burley tobacco. It has a significant stake in oriental leaf tobacco company Socotab LLC.
A total of 12 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long UVV at the end of the third quarter.
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1. Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO)
Dividend Yield: 8.09%
Topping the list of 30 dividend kings of 2021 is Altria, one of the biggest cigarette and tobacco products companies in the world. The company is behind the famous Marlboro brand. It also owns stakes in ABInBev and e-cigarette maker JUUL Labs. Altria has increased its dividend consistently over the last 51 years. In January 2021, Altria said its smokeable product volume was up 3.3% in the fourth quarter, crushing past the estimates of -2.1%.
Hedge funds are also showing interest in Altria. At the end of the third quarter, 47 hedge funds were long MO shares, down from 43 funds a quarter earlier.
Artko Capital said the following about Altria in their Q2 Investor Letter:
“Altria Group (MO) – We made an 9% Core Portfolio investment in Altria group at sub $40.00 in 2019 with the view that it was a good place to park cash at an 8%+ dividend yield with liquidity and a 15- 25% annual IRR upside. When the stock reached $50+ in early 2020 we took half of our position off the table and took the rest off back at $40 in the spring 2020 as we are positioning our portfolio to have significantly higher upside in the nanocap space as the economy and the small cap markets recover over the next few years. We may come back to MO in the future as it is a solid dividend yielding investment, but as we mentioned earlier, our strategy does involve off-the-beaten-path companies with an opportunity to get repriced on growth of revenues and earnings and Altria Group’s low growth was not going to get us the returns we seek given the repricing of the value segment of the small cap markets.”
You can also read Top 10 Sin Stocks to Buy Now and 15 Biggest Outsourcing Companies In The World.
You can also go to 30 Dividend Kings of 2021 (Part I).
