This yr’s market swings have buyers turning to dividend-paying shares. Whereas the S & P 500 is within the inexperienced on Monday, the broad market index has now misplaced about 2% in 2026 because the Iran conflict led to a spike in oil costs. Fears about artificial-intelligence disruption have additionally broken sentiment this yr. That has led buyers to hunt out firms which can be regarded as resistant to such dangers, in what’s come to be generally known as the ” HALO ” — “heavy property, low obsolescence — commerce. A part of the technique can contain dependable earnings paid by dividend shares, which may help buyers journey out a bumpy market. Such firms are additionally typically thought-about defensive and subsequently much less unstable than the broader market. Actually, income-paying shares are outperforming the broader market this yr, together with dividend progress and excessive yield methods. Each the ProShares S & P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) and the Vanguard Excessive Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) have every gained about 4% thus far this yr — excluding their dividends. NOBL .SPX YTD line ProShares S & P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF vs. S & P 500 yr up to now Wolfe Analysis’s favourite option to play protection is thru so-called dividend aristocrats, or firms which have elevated their payouts in every of the previous 25 years. It is usually traditionally the perfect dividend theme in a rate-cutting cycle, chief funding strategist analyst Chris Senyek mentioned in a Feb. 23 notice. The Federal Reserve final minimize charges in December and the market anticipates it would resume slicing later this yr. To additional slim down names for its dividend purchase concepts, Senyek additionally screened for a lot of different components — together with for these shares within the second-highest quintile of dividend-yielding names. “These shares have carried out higher than the highest quintile yielding shares over the cycle, have extra room for potential dividend progress and fewer danger of a minimize,” he wrote. Listed below are a number of the dividend aristocrat names that fall into the second-highest quintile based mostly on dividend yield: Among the many shares outperforming the market is Colgate-Palmolive . The family merchandise firm is up about 14% and pays a 2.39% dividend yield. Final week, Colgate-Palmolive raised its quarterly dividend to 53 cents from 52 cents per share, a virtually 2% bump. New York-based Colgate has paid uninterrupted dividends since 1895. Whereas soap-and-toothpaste maker posted a fourth-quarter income and earnings beat in January, its 2026 steering for income progress upset. “As we start 2026, whereas we anticipate the tough working surroundings and slower class progress to proceed within the quick time period, we’re working from a place of energy and are assured that the adjustments we’re making will allow us to ship constant, compounded earnings per share progress and drive shareholder worth in the long run,” CEO Noel Wallace mentioned within the earnings launch. Colgate-Palmolive is ready to report first-quarter outcomes Might 1. Pharmaceutical large Johnson & Johnson additionally made it on to Wolfe’s display screen. The corporate, which final raised its payout in Might 2025, has a 2.15% dividend yield. Earlier this yr, Johnson & Johnson struck a take care of the Trump administration to chop drug costs for shoppers in trade for tariff exemptions. As a part of its dedication to offer direct drug entry, J & J just lately launched an internet site to promote a few of its merchandise to sufferers that do not have insurance coverage or who wish to pay out of pocket. The New Jersey-based firm has a large pipeline of potential new therapies, protecting illnesses from most cancers to Crohn’s Illness to melancholy. Simply final week, as an example, Johnson & Johnson introduced the Part 1 trial for its investigational bladder most cancers therapies demonstrated “full and sturdy responses” in sufferers. The corporate, which delivered sturdy gross sales and revenue steering for 2026 in January, is predicted to difficulty its first-quarter outcomes on April 14. The inventory is up about 17% yr up to now. Shares of Fastenal are additionally outperforming, gaining about 13% thus far this yr. It boasts a 2.11% dividend yield. The economic provider, a play on the manufacturing restoration within the U.S., is increasing its footprint. It just lately introduced it would start development on a brand new 900,000 square-foot operations and logistics hub in Carrollton, Georgia. Fastenal’s fourth-quarter earnings have been consistent with expectations, whereas income fell quick. Final week, the corporate reported a February web gross sales improve of 13.3%, versus the 12% progress it noticed in January. It’s scheduled to launch first-quarter outcomes on April 13.