Investing in companies with a strong history of paying dividends and consistently increasing them is a smart move for income-focused investors. Avista, Regions Financial, and Duke Energy are three such companies that have been rewarding their shareholders for years and have recently announced dividend increases, with dividend yields of up to 5%.
Avista Corp. (NYSE: AVA) is an electric and natural gas utility company in the U.S. The company has a track record of increasing dividends for the past 22 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Feb. 12, Avista raised its quarterly payout from $0.475 to $0.49 per share, equating to an annual figure of $1.96 per share. The current dividend yield on the stock is an attractive 5.03%. Despite missing Street expectations with Q2 2025 revenues of $411 million and EPS of $0.17, Avista remains a reliable choice for passive income investors.
Regions Financial Corp. (NYSE: RF) offers various banking and related products and services to individual and corporate customers. The company has consecutively raised its dividends for the last 12 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on July 16, Regions Financial increased its quarterly payout by 6% to $0.265 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $1.06 per share. With a current dividend yield of 4.37% and Q3 2025 revenues of $1.94 billion and EPS of $0.63, exceeding expectations, Regions Financial is a solid choice for income-focused investors.
Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) is an energy holding company that provides electricity and natural gas services to millions of customers in the eastern U.S. Duke Energy has increased its dividends annually for the past 18 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on July 15, the company raised its quarterly payout from $1.045 to $1.065 per share, equaling an annual figure of $4.26 per share. With a dividend yield of 3.34% and Q2 2025 revenues of $7.51 billion and EPS of $1.25, beating consensus estimates, Duke Energy is a reliable option for investors seeking passive income.
In conclusion, Avista, Regions Financial, and Duke Energy are top choices for investors looking for consistent dividend income. With dividend yields of up to 5% and a long history of increasing dividends, these companies offer stability and growth potential for income-focused investors. To read more about these companies and their dividend strategies, check out the original article on Benzinga.com.
