What is the term for a stock that pays consistent and increasing dividends over time?

A stock that consistently pays and increases its dividend over time is commonly called a dividend aristocrat. In the best-known formal usage, the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats are companies in the S&P 500 that have increased their regular dividends for at least 25 consecutive years.

The label signals a record of rising shareholder distributions, not a guarantee that the stock is safe or that its dividend will keep growing. Companies usually need durable earnings, cash flow and disciplined capital-allocation policies to maintain such a long streak. A business can lose the designation if it freezes, cuts or omits its dividend, depending on the index’s rules.

“Dividend aristocrat” is narrower than “blue chip,” which describes an established, financially prominent company but does not require a specific dividend record. A “value stock” is identified mainly by valuation measures, while a “growth stock” is associated with above-average growth expectations and may pay little or no dividend. Different providers sometimes use the phrase for broader groups, so the exact qualifying period should be checked.