The Source for Freedom and Self-Reliant Information[1]
Thomas Jefferson defined rightful liberty as “unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others—I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the right of an individual.”
SMART WEALTH MOVES FOR 2026
Businesses Built to Thrive Through Every Market Cycle
Financial freedom isn’t achieved through luck or perfect timing—it’s built by owning durable, cash-generating businesses that continue to perform and pay their shareholders no matter what the market throws at them. The S&P 500 is down from its recent highs near 7,000, along with the Dow Jones and Nasdaq. The decline is broad-based and not isolated to any one sector. The markets are reacting to macro shocks due to global geopolitical tensions affecting oil prices. Yet for disciplined, long-term DRIP investors, this environment is full of opportunity.
Some of the best businesses to buy aren’t the ones making headlines—they’re the ones quietly compounding value year after year. These companies generate reliable cash flow, reward shareholders with growing dividends, and possess the kind of economic resilience that turns temporary market declines into long-term growth.
This mindset is at the heart of DRIP (Dividend Reinvestment Plan) investing. DRIP investors don’t fear downturns; they welcome them. Lower prices mean higher yields, more shares purchased automatically, and greater compounding power over time. Market volatility becomes a tailwind rather than a threat.
In that spirit, The Best Kept Secret to Financial Freedom is a comprehensive approach to building wealth and achieving financial independence without relying on expensive financial advisors or risky speculation. In addition to buying Great Businesses that pay and raise their dividends annually, and reinvesting those dividends (DRIP strategy), you must do two other things to become financially independent, which can be achieved in 10-to-15 years. Everything is explained in The Best Kept Secret to Financial Freedom. You will learn to manage your own money, avoiding costly advisors and opaque products. In addition, there are no hidden fees, commissions, or complex structures. Your only one-time expense is the cost of a book!
This post highlights thirty-five standout businesses that embody the qualities that long-term DRIP investors prize most.
Dividend Champions – Paid & Raised Dividends Consecutively for 25-Years or Longer
1) Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) - $67.44, yield 3.13%, Paid & Raised 50-years
2) Bank OZK (OZK) - $45.09, yield 3.88%, Paid & Raised 29-years
3) Clorox Company (CLX) - $114.66, yield 4.36%, Paid & Raised 48-years
4) Coca-Cola Company (KO) - $77.04, yield 2.75%, Paid & Raised 63-years
5) Enbridge Inc (ENB) - $54.06, yield 5.28%, Paid & Raised 28-years
6) Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) - $37.57, yield 5.90%, Paid & Raised 28-years
7) Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM) - $151.21, yield 2.73%, Paid & Raised 43-years
8) Franklin Resources Inc (BEN) - $26.24, yield 4.90%, Paid & Raised 45-years
9) Hormel Foods Corp (HRL) - $24.42, yield 4.84%, Paid & Raised 59-years
10) Kimberly-Clark Corp (KMB) - $104.58, yield 4.94%, Paid & Raised 53-years
11) Matthews Int’l Corp (MATW) - $25.65, yield 3.96%, Paid & Raised 30-years
12) Medtronic PLC (MDT) - $90.90, yield 3.05%, Paid & Raised 48-years
13) PepsiCo Inc (PEP) - $159.03, yield 3.57%, Paid & Raised 53-years
14) Target Corp (TGT) - $120.79, yield 3.79%, Paid & Raised 58-years
15) T Rowe Price Group Inc (TROW) - $90.40, yield 5.65%, Paid & Raised 39-years
Dividend Contenders – Increased Dividends for 10 to 24 Consecutive Years
16) Arbor Realty Trust Inc (ABR) - $8.69, yield 13.97%, Paid & Raised 12-years
17) Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) - $25.16, yield 3.70%, Paid & Raised 14-years
18) Best Buy Co Inc (BBY) - $66.68, yield 5.85%, Paid & Raised 22-years
19) CubeSmart (CUBE) - $40.21, yield 5.23%, Paid & Raised 16-years
20) Gaming and Leisure Properties (GLPI) – $48.91, yield 6.32%, Paid & Raised 10-years
21) Haverty Furn Companies (HVT) - $22.90, yield 5.68%, Paid & Raised 12-years
22) The Hersey Company (HSY) - $224.99, yield 2.56%, Paid & Raised 15-years
23) HP Inc (HPQ) - $19.46, yield 6.20%, Paid & Raised 16-years
24) Johnson Outdoors Inc (JOUT) - $45.76, yield 2.82%, Paid & Raised 11-years
25) Main Street Capital Corp (MAIN) - $57.37, yield 5.38%, Paid & Raised 14-years
26) Manpower Group Inc (MAN) - $29.10, yield 5.02%, Paid & Raised 14-years
27) MPLX LP (MPLX) - $58.65, yield 7.34%, Paid & Raised 13-years
28) Nextstar Media Group (NXST) - $247.75, yield 2.93%, Paid & Raised 13-years
29) Phillips 66 (PSX) - $165.96, yield 3.05%, Paid & Raised 13-years
30) Prudential Financial Inc (PRU) - $97.12, yield 5.65%, Paid & Raised 17-years
31) Restaurant Brands Int’l (QSR) - $73.98, yield 3.55%, Paid & Raised 12-years
32) Texas Instrument (TXN) - $193.23, yield 2.87%, Paid & Raised 22-years
33) Tyson Foods Inc (TSN) - $61.43, yield 3.29%, Paid & Raised 14-years
Dividend Challengers – Increased Dividends for 5 to 9 Consecutive Years
34) Capital Southwest Corp (CSWC) - $22.18, yield 10.33%, Paid & Raised 9-years
35) Hess Midstream LP (HESM) - $39.26, yield 7.86%, Paid & Raised 8-years
Market cycles come and go, but the principles of building lasting wealth don’t change. The most successful investors aren’t the ones who try to outguess the next headline or time the perfect entry point. They’re the ones who consistently buy and own high-quality businesses, reinvest their dividends, and allow compounding to do the heavy lifting.
The companies highlighted in this post share a common thread: durable business models, strong balance sheets, and a commitment to rewarding shareholders. Whether the market is soaring or stumbling, these are the kinds of businesses that keep generating cash, keep paying dividends, and keep creating long-term value.
For DRIP investors, downturns aren’t setbacks—they’re accelerators. Every reinvested dividend buys more shares at lower prices, increasing future income and amplifying compounding. Volatility becomes an ally rather than an obstacle.
As you review the stocks listed above, think beyond the next quarter. Think about where these businesses could be in five, ten, or fifteen years. That’s how financial freedom is built: one smart decision, one reinvested dividend, one resilient business at a time.
As DRIP investors, you are buying an income stream—dividends—that will replace your wages or self-employment income within ten-to-fifteen years. And, if retired, the dividends will pay your everyday expenses and support your lifestyle without invading your principal, allowing you to pass on generational wealth.
If you want to take control of your financial future rather than rely on systems designed to profit from their confusion, your road to prosperity is mapped out in The Best Kept Secret to Financial Freedom (Second Edition).
Lean into the power of compounding. Your future self will thank you.
Dum Spiro Spero—While I breathe, I hope.
Slàinte mhath,
Robert (Mike) G. Beard Jr., C.P.A., C.G.M.A., J.D., LL.M.
[1] Each Jeffersonian Group, LLC (www.jeffersoniangroup.com) publication is intended solely for information purposes and is not intended nor does it purport to provide legal, tax, individual investment advice, estate planning advice, medical advice, insurance, or business advice. In addition, information and analysis is compiled from sources believed to be reliable but such accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Readers should do their own research and consult with expert medical, legal, tax, insurance, business, and financial counsel before taking any action. Copyright © 2026 Jeffersonian Group, LLC