Dividend Stocks for Decades: PG, EPD, and ARCC Lead the Way

For retirees looking to build a sustainable income stream, three dividend stocks stand out for their impressive track records and defensive strategies. Procter & Gamble (PG), Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), and Ares Capital (ARCC) are the chosen ones.

Procter & Gamble boasts an unparalleled 136-year history of consecutive dividend payments, with 70 straight years of raises under its belt. The company's recent quarterly payout is $1.0885 per share, up from $1.0568, with a yield of 2.92%. CEO Shailesh Jejurikar frames the year as 'a year of foundation building while continuing to grow sales and profit and return high levels of cash to shareowners.' However, P&G faces a $1 billion after-tax headwind from commodity costs in FY27.

Enterprise Products Partners is another stalwart, with 27 years of distribution growth. The company just raised its quarterly payout to $0.56 per unit, translating to a yield near 5.67%. EPD's fee-based cash flow model provides stability, as CEO Jim Teague notes: 'Enterprise reported strong volumes, earnings and cash flow for the second quarter of 2026.' However, EPD comes with its own set of risks, including K-1 complexity and $34.2 billion in debt.

Ares Capital is a business development company offering a 10.3% dividend yield on a $0.48 quarterly payout. The company has maintained 17 consecutive years of stable or increasing regular dividends, earning it a bullish sentiment score of 72 among investors. CEO Kort Schnabel highlights the underwriting discipline: 'We reported solid second quarter results, supported by consistent Core Earnings.'