Dividend Aristocrats Offer Safety in Market Storms. Buy These 2 Top-Rated Stocks Now.
Dividend Aristocrats, firms with over 25 years of annual dividend growth, show their resilience through recessions, periods of sticky inflation, and market downturns, rewarding investors with reliable income and long-term stability. These stocks are battle-tested shelters, and two compelling options right now could be Coca-Cola (KO) a beverage titan, and West Pharmaceutical Services (WST), a key player in drug delivery systems.
Both stocks have decades of dividend growth behind them and solid momentum ahead.
To that end, investors should consider grabbing these top-rated defensive gems now.
Dividend Aristocrat Stock #1: Coca-Cola
Valued at a market cap of $296 billion, the beverage stock is up 9.6% over the past 52 weeks and 11.1% in 2025 alone. Even when the markets wobble, Wall Street keeps betting on its timeless charm – Coke just keeps bubbling to the top.
Coca-Cola is not just refreshing thirst, it is refreshing portfolios. KO, a proud Dividend King, has raised its dividend for 63 straight years, proving loyalty to its investors. In 2024 alone, it poured out $8.4 billion in dividends, pushing total payouts since 2010 to an astounding $93.1 billion.
Coca-Cola's annualized dividend of $2.04 per share, translating to a forward yield of 2.89%, easily tops the SPDR S&P 500 ETF's (SPY) 1.21%.
Coca-Cola unveiled its Q1 earnings results on April 29, proving once again that its 'all-weather strategy' is more than just a catchphrase. Revenue dipped 2% year over year to $11.1 billion, mostly due to currency headwinds and changes in how it reports its bottling biz, but its bottom line still sparkled. EPS rose 5% to $0.77, and comparable EPS edged up 1% to $0.73, beating expectations. Coca-Cola's superpower is still its global reach.
Looking ahead, Coca-Cola isn't backing down. The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 outlook, targeting organic revenue growth of 5% to 6%, despite a 2% to 3% currency drag. Comparable currency-neutral EPS for 2025 is expected to increase 7% to 9% year over year. This outlook shows Coca-Cola's steady hand in stormy markets. Plus, management envisions an adjusted free cash flow of $9.5 billion for fiscal 2025, including $11.7 billion in cash flow from operations.
Analysts are buying the story, forecasting $2.96 EPS in fiscal 2025, up 2.8% year over year, with the next year's bottom line anticipated to grow by another 8.1% annually to $3.20 per share.
Overall, KO has a solid 'Strong Buy' consensus rating. Out of the 23 analysts in coverage, 21 recommend a 'Strong Buy,' one advises a 'Moderate Buy,' while the remaining one is playing it safe with a 'Hold' rating.
KO stock might be gearing up for a refresh. With analysts setting a mean price target of $79.48, the stock could rally as much as 14% from the current price levels.
Dividend Aristocrat Stock #2: West Pharmaceutical
West Pharmaceutical Services (WST) has quietly become a cornerstone of the global pharmaceutical supply chain. The Pennsylvania-based company engineers sophisticated containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products, serving clients across the Americas, EMEA, and Asia Pacific.
The stock has fallen 42% from its 52-week high of $358.52. Over the past year, it has slipped 42%, with a 37% decline on a YTD basis.
Despite recent stock struggles, West Pharmaceutical has stayed loyal to its long-term investors. The company has increased dividends for over three decades, and just last month, it declared a payout of $0.21 per share, payable to the shareholders on Aug. 6.
Plus, it kept its annual payout at $0.84 with a modest 0.41% yield. While the yield may not grab headlines, the low 12.2% payout ratio underscores West's conservative approach to capital allocation. In Q1 alone, West Pharmaceutical returned $15.2 million in dividends and repurchased over half a million shares for $133.5 million.
On April 24, West Pharmaceutical Services delivered a steady yet strategically strong Q1 performance, reporting $698 million in revenue, flat year over year, but still topping expectations by 1.5%. Adjusted EPS landed at $1.45, blowing past estimates by 18.9%, signaling that the company's operational discipline is paying off despite top-line stagnation.
Historically, West Pharmaceutical has ranked among the more profitable healthcare players, averaging an operating margin of 22.7% over the past five years. In Q1, adjusted operating profit hit $125 million, with margins climbing to 17.9%, reflecting improved efficiency even in a more complex macro environment. Cash flow also impressed. Operating cash flow rose 9.5% year over year to $129.4 million, while FCF more than doubled to $58.1 million.
The company continues to lean into areas of strength, with a clear focus on capital discipline, margin improvement, and stakeholder value. West Pharmaceutical raised its full-year 2025 guidance, estimating net sales to be between $2.945 billion and $2.975 billion, while adjusted EPS is projected between $6.15 and $6.35.
Analysts predict the medical device company's EPS to be $6.27 in fiscal 2025, rising by 14.4% annually to $7.17 in fiscal 2026.
WST stock has a consensus 'Strong Buy' rating overall. Out of the 12 analysts covering the stock, 11 suggest a 'Strong Buy,' and one recommends a 'Hold.'
The mean price target of $293.50 suggests that the stock has upside potential of 42% from current prices.
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