2 ASX 200 dividend heavyweights to buy and hold until you retire

They might not quite be dividend aristocrats, but these two ASX shares come close.

a couple clink champagne glasses on board a private aircraft with gourmet food plates set in front of them. They are wearing designer clothes and looking wealthy.

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More

Key points

  • The US markets have dozens of dividend aristocrats – shares that have raised their dividends for 25 years straight
  • They even have a few dividend kings
  • But here are the closest things to a dividend aristocrat that the ASX has to offer...

A dividend aristocrat is a very special thing. It is typically defined as a dividend share that has increased its annual dividend payouts to investors every year for at least 25 years.

Such a long and steady track record shows that a company is financially stable and strong enough to fork out such a large volume of cash consistently.

Over on the US markets, there are many dividend aristocrats. Some you might have heard of include Caterpillar Inc (NYSE: CAT), Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: XOM), and McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD).

What's more, is that the US markets also boast quite a few dividend kings. These fabled royals of the share market have a 50-year streak of annually raising their dividends. This list is a lot smaller but includes Coca-Cola Co (NYSE: KO), Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL), and Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO).

Does the ASX offer any dividend aristocrats?

Unfortunately, here on the ASX, we have no dividend aristocrats by the US definition. Let alone dividend kings.

But we do have a couple of ASX dividend heavyweights that come close. And they are two shares that I think any investor could comfortably buy and hold for the long term.

The first is Brickworks Limited (ASX: BKW). Brickworks is a building and construction materials company. But it also has a few other earning streams, including from its lucrative property business.

Brickworks has a strong dividend track record. It hasn't raised its dividend for 25 consecutive years, so we can't call it an official dividend aristocrat.

But what it does have is a 45-year history of not cutting its dividends. In other words, Brickworks has either maintained or increased its annual dividends every year since 1976. Definity heavyweight material.

Soul Patts: 3 years to go

The second is Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co Ltd (ASX: SOL).

Soul Patts is the closest thing to a dividend aristocrat the ASX has. No, Soul Patts hasn't quite got to 25 years of annual dividend raises. But it has upped its annual dividend every year since 2000. That means it's only three years away from becoming the ASX's first dividend aristocrat.

Soul Patts is a rather interesting company. It functions more as a listed investment company (LIC) than a traditional ASX business, owning large chunks of other ASX shares in a massive investment portfolio.

This it runs for the benefit of its shareholders. Soul Patts' largest holdings include TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), New Hope Corporation Limited (ASX: NHC), and Brickworks itself.

But Soul Patts also owns a large and diversified portfolio of ASX 200 shares, thanks to the acquisition of ASX LIC Milton Corporation last year. These include your typical ASX holdings like BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA).

Both of these would-be ASX dividend aristocrats have a long history of delivering meaningful returns to their shareholders. And both boast unrivalled dividend records on the ASX, if not yet long enough to qualify for the 'dividend aristocrat' tag.

As such, Soul Pattss and Brickworks are two ASX dividend heavyweights that I would happily buy and hold until retirement and beyond.

Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now?

Before you buy Apple shares, consider this:

Motley Fool investing expert Scott Phillips just revealed what he believes are the 5 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Apple wasn't one of them.

The online investing service he’s run for over a decade, Motley Fool Share Advisor, has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

And right now, Scott thinks there are 5 stocks that may be better buys...

See The 5 Stocks *Returns as of 6 March 2025

Motley Fool contributor Sebastian Bowen has positions in Altria Group, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Washington H. Soul Pattinson And. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has positions in and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson And. The Motley Fool Australia's parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has recommended the following options: long January 2024 $47.50 calls on Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool Australia has positions in and has recommended Brickworks and Washington H. Soul Pattinson And. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended Tpg Telecom. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.

More on Dividend Investing

CSR share price rising asx share price represented my man in hard hat giving thumbs up
Dividend Investing

Buy 617 BHP shares for $1,000 of passive income

Looking for passive income? Here's what you need to do to generate a nice amount from this miner's shares.

Read more »

Green percentage sign with an animated man putting an arrow on top symbolising rising interest rates.
Dividend Investing

These buy-rated ASX dividend stocks are better than term deposits

Analysts expect these stocks to provide investors with big dividend yields.

Read more »

Man holding out Australian dollar notes, symbolising dividends.
Dividend Investing

21 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week

The value of stable and reliable dividends has been highlighted amid a 9% market dive over the past month.

Read more »

Two smiling work colleagues discuss an investment or business plan at their office.
Dividend Investing

Why BHP and this ASX dividend share are buys

Analysts think these shares could be top picks for income investors right now.

Read more »

Beautiful young woman drinking fresh orange juice in kitchen.
Dividend Investing

Down 20%! Analysts say these ASX dividend shares are top buys

Analysts think these beaten down shares could be top picks for income investors.

Read more »

Happy man holding Australian dollar notes, representing dividends.
Dividend Investing

Buy these ASX dividend shares for 5% to 7% yields

Analysts have good things to say about these income options.

Read more »

Woman and man calculating a dividend yield.
Bank Shares

Do the dividends from ANZ shares still come fully franked?

Let's take a look.

Read more »

Australian notes and coins symbolising dividends.
Bank Shares

NAB share price: Here's why the dividend yield just rocketed 24%

There's an upside to this falling bank stock.

Read more »