12 Industrials Sector Dividend Kings For Long-Term Growth

• Dividend Growth Streak: 50 years

Automatic Data Processing is one of the largest business services outsourcing companies in the world. The company provides payroll services, human resources technology, and other business operations to more than 700,000 corporate customers. Automatic Data Processing produces annual revenue of about $20 billion.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 52 years

Gorman-Rupp began manufacturing pumps and pumping systems back in 1933. Since that time, it has grown into an industry leader with annual sales of about $680 million.

Gorman-Rupp is a focused, niche manufacturer of critical systems that many industrial clients rely upon for their own success. Gorman-Rupp generates about one-third of its total revenue from outside of the U.S.

Gorman-Rupp posted first quarter earnings on April 24th, 2025. Earnings came to 46 cents per share, while revenue was up 2.9% year-over-year to $164 million.

Sales were up $1.8 million in the municipal market, and up $3.2 million in the repair market. Sales were up $2.5 million in the OEM market. These were partially offset by declines of $2.7 million in construction, $0.9 million in agriculture, and $0.9 million in industrial markets.

Gross profit was $50.3 million in Q1, resulting in gross margin of 30.7% of revenue. These were better than $48.4 million and gross margin of 30.4% a year ago.

The increase in gross margin was primarily driven by the realization of selling price increases, partially offset by increased labor and overhead costs.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 53 years

Tennant Company is a machinery company that produces cleaning products and that offers cleaning solutions to its customers. In the US, the company holds the market leadership position in its industry, but the company also sells its products in more than 100 additional countries around the globe. Tennant was founded in 1870.

Tennant Company reported its first quarter earnings results in May. The company announced that it generated revenues of $290 million during the quarter, which was 7% less than the top line number from the previous year’s quarter.

This was worse than the recent trend, as revenue had grown during the last couple of quarters. Revenues were lower compared to what the analyst community had forecast.

Tennant Company generated adjusted earnings-per-share of $1.12 during the first quarter, which was less than what the analyst community had forecast, and was down compared to the previous year.

Management is forecasting that adjusted earnings-per-share will fall into a range of $5.70 to $6.20 in 2025, which means that earnings will decline this year. At the midpoint of the guidance range, $5.95, Tennant’s earnings-per-share would be down around 10%.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 54 years

W.W. Grainger, headquartered in Lake Forest, IL, is one of the largest business-to-business distributors of maintenance, repair, and operations (“MRO”) supplies in the world. The company was founded in 1927 and generated sales of $17.2 billion in 2024.

On April 30th, 2025, W.W. Grainger raised its dividend by 10% to a quarterly rate of $2.26.

On May 1st, 2025, W.W. Grainger posted its Q1 results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenues were $4.31 billion, up 1.7% on a reported basis and up 4.4% on a daily, constant currency basis compared to last year.

Net income equaled $479 million, up 0.2% compared to Q1-2024. Net income was driven by a 30 basis point expansion in the gross margin to 39.7%, though the operating margin declined by 20 basis points to 15.6%.

Favorable product mix and supplier funding benefit in High-Touch, along with margin improvement at Zoro, contributed to gross margin gains. Earnings-per-share came in at $9.86, 2.5% higher year-over-year, and were aided by a lower share count.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 55 years

MSA Safety Incorporated, formerly Mine Safety Appliances, was founded in 1914. Today, it develops and manufactures safety products.

Customers come from a variety of industrial markets, including oil & gas, fire service, construction, mining, and the military.

MSA Safety’s major products include gas and flame detection, air respirators, head protection, fall protection, air purifying respirators, and eye protection gear.

On April 29th, 2025, MSA released its Q1 results. For the quarter, revenue came in at $421.3 million, up 2% compared to Q1-2024.

More specifically, the Americas segment’s sales were down 1% while the International segment’s sales rose by 9%.

MSA’s adjusted operating margin declined slightly by 50 basis points to 20.8% compared to last year. Adjusted EPS improved by 4% to $1.68.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 57 years

Stanley Black & Decker is a world leader in power tools, hand tools, and related items. The company holds the top global position in tools and storage sales. Stanley Black & Decker is second in the world in the areas of commercial electronic security and engineered fastening.

On April 30th, 2025, Stanley Black & Decker reported first quarter results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenue fell 3.4% to $3.74 billion, but this was $20 million ahead of estimates. Adjusted earnings-per-share of $0.75 compared favorably to $0.56 in the prior year and was $0.08 more than expected.

Company-wide organic growth improved 1% for the quarter, but this was offset by currency exchange and divestitures. Organic sales for Tools & Outdoor, the largest segment within the company, had organic growth of 1%.

North America improved 2%, Europe was unchanged, and the rest of the world declined 3%. Gains for DEWALT, Outdoor and Aerospace were offset by weaker results in Consumer and Auto Production.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 57 years

ABM Industries is a leading provider of facility solutions, which includes janitorial, electrical & lighting, energy solutions, facilities engineering, HVAC & mechanical, landscape & turf, and parking.

The company employs about 124,000 people in more than 350 offices throughout the United States and various international locations, primarily in Canada.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 61 years

Illinois Tool Works is a diversified multi-industrial manufacturer with seven unique operating segments: Automotive, Food Equipment, Test & Measurement, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Construction Products and Specialty Products.

Last year the company generated $15.9 billion in revenue. The company is geographically diversified, with more than half of its revenue generated outside of the United States.

On April 30th, 2025, Illinois Tool Works reported first quarter 2025 results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenue came in at $3.8 billion, shrinking 3.4% year-over-year. Sales declined 3.7% in the Automotive OEM segment, the largest out of the company’s seven segments.

In fact, every single one of ITW’s segments experienced revenue declines year-over-year. Food Equipment, Test & Measurement and Electronics, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Construction Products and Specialty Products all saw revenue decline -0.7%, -6.3%, -0.9%, -0.8%, -9.2%, and -1.0% respectively.

Net income equaled $700 million or $2.38 per share compared to $819 million or $2.73 per share in Q1 2024. In the first quarter, ITW repurchased $375 million of its shares. Illinois Tool Works reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, still expecting full-year GAAP EPS to be $10.15 to $10.55.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 61 years

Nordson was founded in 1954 in Amherst, Ohio by brothers Eric and Evan Nord, but the company can trace its roots back to 1909 with the U.S. Automatic Company.

Today the company has operations in over 35 countries and engineers, manufactures, and markets products used for dispensing adhesives, coatings, sealants, biomaterials, plastics, and other materials, with applications ranging from diapers and straws to cell phones and aerospace.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 68 years

Emerson Electric was founded in Missouri in 1890 and since that time, it has evolved through organic growth, as well as strategic acquisitions and divestitures, from a regional manufacturer of electric motors and fans into a diversified global leader in technology and engineering.

Its global customer base and diverse product and service offerings afford it more than $18 billion in annual revenue.

Emerson posted second quarter earnings on May 7th, 2025, and results were better than expected on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue was up 1.1% year-over-year to $4.43 billion, beating estimates by $50 million.

The company consummated its acquisition of AspenTech during the quarter. Underlying sales were up 2% after adjusting for currency impacts.

Free cash flow was up 14% to $738 million, while operating cash flow climbed to $825 million. Adjusted segment earnings pretax rose by 200 basis points to 28% of revenue, a new quarterly record. Adjusted earnings were up 6% year-over-year.

Emerson expects AspenTech to generate about $100 million in cost savings by 2028. In addition, the company is keeping the Safety and Productivity business after the strategic review.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 69 years

Parker-Hannifin is a diversified industrial manufacturer specializing in motion and control technologies. The company generates annual revenues of $20 billion.

Parker-Hannifin has increased the dividend for 69 consecutive years.

• Dividend Growth Streak: 69 years

Dover Corporation is a diversified global industrial manufacturer with annual revenues approaching $8 billion.

Dover is composed of five reporting segments: Engineered Systems, Clean Energy & Fueling, Pumps & Process Solutions, Imaging & Identification, and Climate & Sustainability Technologies.

On April 24th, 2025, Dover reported first quarter results the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenue fell 10.8% to $1.87 billion, which was $10 million below estimates.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.05 compared favorably to $1.95 in the prior year and was $0.07 more than expected.

For the quarter, organic revenue and bookings both grew 1% year-over-year. Organic sales declined 8% for the Engineered Products segment as gains in fluid dispensing were more than offset by weaker volumes in vehicle services and the timing of shipments in aerospace and defense.

Dover provided updated guidance for 2025 as well, with the company now expecting adjusted earnings-per-share in a range of $9.20 to $9.40 for the year. At the midpoint, this would represent 12.2% growth from 2024. Organic revenue growth is projected to be in a range of 2% to 4%.