Build Long-Term Wealth With Dividend Growth Stocks

Long-term wealth is created when one’s investments provide not only for themselves, but for their children, grandchildren, and beyond. Unfortunately, the skills that it takes to build and maintain a growing investment portfolio are typically not transferred with an inheritance.

The good news is that quality dividend growth stocks can build wealth that lasts through the generations. 

The following 3 dividend growth stocks have raised their dividends for over 25 years, and should continue to raise their dividends for decades to come. In this way, they will help shareholders create long-term wealth.

Cintas Corporation (CTAS)

Cintas Corporation is the U.S. industry leader in uniform design, manufacturing & rental. The company also offers first aid supplies, safety services, and other business-related services. Cintas was founded in 1968 and has grown to annual revenues of more than $10 billion. 

Cintas qualifies to be a member of the Dividend Aristocrats Index with an impressive 43 years of consecutive dividend increases. Cintas posted first quarter earnings on September 24th, 2025, and results were largely in line with expectations, including guidance. Earnings-per-share came to $1.20, which met expectations. Revenue was up 8.8% year-over-year to $2.72 billion, and beat estimates slightly. Organic revenue was up 7.8% in Q1, which excludes the impacts of acquisitions and forex translation. 

Cintas posted net income of $491 million, up 8.7% year-over-year, while net income on a per-share basis was up 9.1% thanks to share repurchases. Operating income was up 10% year-on-year to $618 million, as operating margin rose 30 basis points to 22.7% of revenue. Cintas repurchased $347 million in stock during the quarter, and paid $182 million in dividends. 

Cintas has compounded its earnings-per-share at a rate of about 16% annually since 2012. Over full economic cycles, we believe the company can deliver continued earnings growth in the range of 9% per year. 

Its two primary growth levers are higher organic revenue and higher margins. Cintas has proven it can grow revenue consistently over the years. It is also adept at removing cost redundancies, which drives operating margin higher over time.

T. Rowe Price (TROW)

T. Rowe Price Group is one of the largest publicly traded asset managers. The company provides a broad array of mutual funds, sub-advisory services, and separate account management for individual and institutional investors, retirement plans and financial intermediaries.

T. Rowe Price had assets under management (AUM) of nearly $1.6 trillion as of June 30th, 2025.

On February 11th, 2025, T. Rowe Price raised its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $1.27, marking the company’s 39th year of increasing its payout.

On August 1st, 2025, T. Rowe Price announced second quarter results for the period ending June 30th, 2025. For the quarter, revenue declined 0.6% to $1.72 billion and missed estimates by $30 million. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.24 compared unfavorably to $2.26 in the prior year, but this was $0.11 more than anticipated.

T. Rowe Price’s earnings, as well as its dividends, have grown over the last decade. Since 2015, the company has grown earnings-per-share by an average compound rate of 8.1% per year, though EPS is down slightly over the last five years. Asset managers like T. Rowe have low variable costs. As a result, higher revenues, driven primarily by increasing assets under management, allow for margin expansion and attractive earnings growth rates. 

Assets under management grow in two basic ways: increased contributions and higher underlying asset values. While asset values are finicky, the trend is upward over the long-term. On the contribution side, T. Rowe Price’s strong past performance is a key selling point and could attract customers going forward. In addition, T. Rowe has another growth lever in the way of share repurchases. 

Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

Abbott Laboratories, founded in 1888, is one of the largest medical appliances & equipment manufacturers in the world, comprised of four segments: Nutrition, Diagnostics, Established Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices. The company generated sales of $42 billion in 2024.

On December 13th, 2024, Abbott Laboratories raised its quarterly dividend 7.3% to $0.59, extending the company’s dividend growth streak to 53 years. ABT is a member of the Dividend Kings list.

On October 15th, 2025, Abbott Laboratories reported third quarter results for the period ending September 30th, 2025. For the quarter, the company generated sales of $11.4 billion (62.2% outside of the U.S.), which represented growth of 6.8%, but this was $20 million below estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.30 compared favorably to $1.21 in the prior year and was in-line with expectations. U.S. sales grew 2.3% while international was up 9.9%. 

Nutrition was up 4.0% organically during the quarter as this segment benefited from increased demand for Ensure and Glucerna. Diagnostics fell 7.8%, but this segment was actually higher by 0.4% when excluding Covid-19 tests. Established Pharmaceuticals improved 7.1% due to double-digit gains in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Medical Devices continues to post excellent results, with organic sales surging 12.5%. 

The U.S. grew 13.8% and international markets increased 11.3%. This growth was driven by high demand for products in Diabetes Care, Electrophysiology, Rhythm Management, Heart Failure, and Structural Heart. Abbott Laboratories again narrowed its prior guidance for 2025 as well, with the company now expecting adjusted earnings-per-share in a range of $5.12 to $5.18 for the year.

Earnings-per-share have a CAGR of 9.0% since 2015 and 7.1% since 2020. With its strong position in growth markets such as diagnostics, where Abbott Laboratories is the market leader in point-of care diagnostics - and cardiovascular medical devices, Abbott Laboratories should be able to generate attractive long-term growth.

Disclosure: No positions in any stocks mentioned