Fast-Growing Dividends

Best Dividend Growth Stocks 2026

Lower yields today, but dividends growing 10-25% annually. Your income doubles every 3-7 years instead of 20+ years.

Growth vs Yield: The Math

High-Yield Approach

Year 1: $10,000 @ 6% = $600/year

Year 10: $643/year (3% growth)

Year 20: $867/year

Takes 24 years to double income

Dividend Growth Approach

Year 1: $10,000 @ 2% = $200/year

Year 10: $518/year (15% growth)

Year 20: $3,273/year (!)

Income doubles every 5 years

Key insight: By year 15, the dividend growth stock pays more annually despite starting at 1/3 the yield. By year 25, it's paying 5x more per year!

Top 10 Dividend Growth Stocks

1. Broadcom (AVGO)

Semiconductor & infrastructure software

18.5% Growth

Current Yield

1.8%

5-Yr Growth

18.5%

Years Paying

14 years

Payout Ratio

48%

Leading semiconductor company with dominant position in data center networking and wireless chips. Acquired VMware for software diversification. Dividend has grown from $0.23/quarter in 2019 to $0.59/quarter in 2024. Your income triples in 7 years at this pace.

Income Projection (per $10,000 invested):

Year 1: $180 | Year 5: $367 | Year 10: $951 | Year 15: $2,461

2. Visa (V)

Global payments network

17% Growth

Current Yield

0.8%

5-Yr Growth

17.0%

Years Paying

16 years

Payout Ratio

21%

Processes billions of transactions globally. Earns a small fee on each swipe. Extremely low payout ratio (21%) means massive room for growth. As world moves to digital payments, Visa profits grow. 15-year track record of double-digit dividend increases.

3. Mastercard (MA)

Digital payments & data analytics

16% Growth

Current Yield

0.6%

5-Yr Growth

16.0%

Years Paying

13 years

Payout Ratio

18%

Similar model to Visa—earns fees on transactions. Ultra-low payout ratio (18%) enables aggressive dividend growth. Every year, more cash transactions convert to digital, growing MA's revenue. Perfect for 30+ year holding period.

4. Costco (COST)

Membership warehouse retail

13% Growth

Current Yield

0.6%

5-Yr Growth

13.0%

Years Paying

21 years

Payout Ratio

28%

Membership fees ($120-130/year) provide predictable revenue. 93% renewal rate = sticky customers. Paid special $10-15/share dividends several times (on top of regular dividend). If you shop at Costco, you understand why it wins.

5. Lowe's (LOW)

Home improvement retail

15% Growth

Current Yield

2.0%

5-Yr Growth

15.0%

Years Paying

62 years

Payout Ratio

35%

Aging housing stock (median U.S. home is 40+ years old) drives renovation demand. Dividend aristocrat with 62 years of payments. Better value than Home Depot currently with similar growth profile. 2% starting yield sweetens the deal.

Quick Reference: Top 10 Growth Champions

StockYield5Y GrowthSector
Broadcom (AVGO)1.8%18.5%Technology
Visa (V)0.8%17.0%Financials
Mastercard (MA)0.6%16.0%Financials
Lowe's (LOW)2.0%15.0%Consumer
Home Depot (HD)2.3%14.0%Consumer
Costco (COST)0.6%13.0%Consumer
Microsoft (MSFT)0.8%10.2%Technology
Apple (AAPL)0.5%7.8%Technology
Stryker (SYK)1.1%9.5%Healthcare
TJX Companies (TJX)1.3%11.0%Retail

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Who Should Focus on Dividend Growth?

Perfect For:

  • Ages 20-50: Time for compounding to work its magic
  • High earners: Don't need income today, building for future
  • Roth IRA investors: Tax-free growth amplifies compounding
  • Long-term holders: Patient investors who won't sell in downturns

Not Ideal For:

  • ✗Retirees needing income now: 0.5-2% yields won't cover bills
  • ✗Short-term traders: Need 10+ years to see full benefits
  • ✗Income-focused investors: Current cash flow matters more than future growth
  • ✗Impatient investors: Want to see results immediately

Sample $50K Dividend Growth Portfolio

Broadcom (AVGO)$10,000 | 18.5% growth
Visa (V)$8,000 | 17.0% growth
Mastercard (MA)$8,000 | 16.0% growth
Lowe's (LOW)$7,000 | 15.0% growth
Home Depot (HD)$7,000 | 14.0% growth
Costco (COST)$5,000 | 13.0% growth
Microsoft (MSFT)$5,000 | 10.2% growth

Income Projection:

Year 1

$650

Year 5

$1,312

Year 10

$3,288

Year 15

$8,235

Assumes 15% average dividend growth with DRIP enabled. Does not include stock price appreciation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are the yields so low?

Companies paying 0.5-2% yields are reinvesting profits into growth. As the business grows, dividends grow too. Think of it like planting a tree—small today, but massive in 20 years. High-yield stocks (6-10%) often lack growth because they pay out everything.

How long until growth stocks "catch up" to high-yield stocks?

Typically 7-12 years. A stock growing dividends 15% annually doubles income every 5 years. After 10-15 years of compounding, the total income received can exceed a 6% yielder. Use our calculator to model your specific scenario.

Can I mix growth and high-yield stocks?

Absolutely! Many investors do 60% dividend growth (for future) + 40% high-yield (for current income). This balances long-term wealth building with near-term cash flow. Adjust ratios based on your age.

Start Building Your Growth Portfolio

If you're under 50 and don't need income today, dividend growth stocks are your best path to financial independence. Start with 3-5 of these companies and hold for decades.

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