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.
