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3 Unstoppable Dow Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

July 18, 2025
08:00 AM
5 min read
AI Enhanced
economystockstechnologyhealthcaremarket cyclesseasonal analysismarket

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What's remarkable is The Dow Jones Industrial Average comprises 30 blue chip stocks that investors often regard as a xy for the overall economy. Moreover, Amidst that minence, all but...

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real estate

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Published

July 18, 2025

08:00 AM

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The Motley Fool

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Key Topics
economystockstechnologyhealthcaremarket cyclesseasonal analysismarket

What's remarkable is The Dow Jones Industrial Average comprises 30 blue chip stocks that investors often regard as a xy for the overall economy

Moreover, Amidst that minence, all but two of the 30 components return cash to holders, a move that tends to affirm that stability

Still, investors may also want stock growth potential along with a strong dividend

To that end, these Dow stocks are well-positioned to der rising payouts without commising potential returns from stock price growth

Meanwhile, Image source: Getty Images

On the other hand, Cisco Systems After years of slow revenue increases, growth is finally speeding up for Cisco Systems (CSCO -0

Coming off the networking giant's acquisition of Splunk, duct orders are up 20% year over year (or 9% if not including Splunk), in light of current trends

The data indicates that growth comes as companies work to integrate AI into security and network management

The rising orders should also bolster what has already served as a strong dividend (an important development)

Its payout has risen every year since the company began offering dividends in 2011. 64 per annually, Cisco now has a dividend yield of 2

Moreover, That compares well to the S&P 500's average yield of 1

More importantly, Cisco can ly sustain its dividend growth

In the first nine months of fiscal 2025 ( April 26), it generated $9. 3 billion in free cash flow, enough to cover the $4 (something worth watching), in today's market environment. 8 billion in dividend costs over that period (remarkable data)

Furthermore, Investors have begun to take notice of the stock in recent months

Nevertheless, Meanwhile, The stock is up by nearly 50% over the last year, and its P/E ratio of 28 sits at multi-year highs

Nevertheless, Despite that recent growth, that places the P/E ratio slightly under the S&P 500 average earnings multiple of 30, indicating there is ly still time to buy Cisco stock, in today's market environment

Furthermore, McDonald's Dividend investors may also find a lot to in McDonald's (MCD -1 (something worth watching)

Admittedly, that might not seem to be the case amid a sluggish economy and intense competition in the restaurant industry, and some investors may be leery of its 27 P/E ratio

However, since McDonald's actually fits from franchising, such challenges may have relatively little effect on its top line

McDonald's earns most of its revenue from franchising fees and restaurant rentals from its extensive real estate portfolio

Furthermore, While it also claims a percentage of the revenue driven from these restaurants, it also means that restaurant sales have less of an effect on the company than rivals such as Chipotle Mexican Grill

That stability contributes to the strength of its dividend, which has risen every year since its introduction in 1976, amid market uncertainty. 08 per annually, it yields 2

Nevertheless, Furthermore, the payout appears sustainable, as its more than $6 (an important development). 7 billion in free cash flow covered the dividend costs of $4. 9 billion in 2024

Additionally, the stock was up just over 20% over the last year

Conversely, When combining that with returns on the dividend, investors appear to have a surprisingly robust growth and income stock in McDonald's

UnitedHealth Group When it comes to Dow dividend stocks, investors may have a unique buying opportunity in health insurer UnitedHealth Group (UNH -1 (fascinating analysis)

However, The company offers health insurance to individuals, including Medicare and Medicaid recipients, as well as plans for employers

Moreover, Nonetheless, its stock has fallen by nearly 40%, as rising medical costs led to lower earnings guidance in the first quarter of 2025

The tragic shooting of CEO Brian Thompson also plagued the stock, given the current landscape

Moreover, investigations by the Department of Justice and The New York Times have called some of its practices into question

So severe was the drop in the stock price that the selling has wiped out almost all the stock's five-year gain

Moreover, Although such challenges tend to weigh on stocks, at least for a time, UnitedHealth should be positioned for recovery if it perly addresses those allegations

However, Additionally, the company's current stock price gives investors a tremendous incentive to take a position in the stock

Its P/E ratio has fallen to 13, its lowest point since 2013

The decline has also boosted its dividend yield to 2. 8%, close to all-time highs, in this volatile climate

Additionally, With that, it is worth noting that the payout has risen for 15 straight years and now pays holders $8 (an important development). 84 per annually

Furthermore, despite rising costs, UnitedHealth's nearly $21 billion in free cash flow enabled it to meet its $7

Nevertheless, 5 billion in dividend costs in 2024

Additionally, Hence, not only can UnitedHealth afford its generous, rising dividend, but investors also have a unique opportunity to buy this stock at an unusually low price

On the other hand, If one can tolerate its risks, the health insurance stock offers tremendous potential for growth

Will Healy has no position in any of the stocks mentioned

Furthermore, The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill and Cisco Systems, given the current landscape

Additionally, The Motley Fool recommends UnitedHealth Group and recommends the ing options: short June 2025 $55 calls on Chipotle Mexican Grill (an important development)

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.