Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. Merck, Black Hills, and Virtus Investment Partners have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of around 4-6%.

Merck

Merck (NYSE:MRK) is a healthcare company that manufactures pharmaceutical products to treat various conditions in many therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic disease, cancer and infections.

Don't Miss:

Deloitte's fastest-growing software company partners with Amazon, Walmart & Target – Many are rushing to grab 4,000 of its pre-IPO shares for just $0.26/share! Are you rich? Here’s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.

Merck has raised its dividends every year for the last 14 years. According to its most recent dividend hike announcement on Nov. 19, the company increased the quarterly payout from $0.77 to $0.81 per share, equal to an annual figure of $3.24 per share. The current dividend yield on the stock is 4.09%.

Merck’s annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $64.17 billion. In its Q4 2024 earnings report on Feb. 4, it posted revenues of $15.62 billion and EPS of $1.72. Both figures beat the Street estimates.

Trending: It’s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — this alternative asset has outpaced the S&P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here’s how everyday investors are getting started.

Black Hills

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE:BKH) operates as an electric and natural gas utility company in the U.S.

Black Hills has raised its dividends every year for the last 55 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Jan. 24, it increased the quarterly payout from $0.65 to $0.676 per share, which is equal to an annual figure of $2.70 per share. Currently, the dividend yield on the stock is 4.63%.

Black Hills’ annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $2.13 billion. As per the company’s Q4 2024 earnings release on Feb. 5, it posted revenues of $597.10 million, missing the consensus of $944 million, while EPS of $1.37 came in above the consensus estimate of $1.34.

How to put $100 in your retirement fund each month with Black Hills stock? Check out this article by Benzinga to learn more.

See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now.

Virtus Investment Partners

Virtus Investment Partners (NYSE:VRTS) is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to individual and institutional clients.

Story Continues

Virtus has raised its dividends consecutively for the past seven years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Aug. 15, the company's board increased its quarterly payout by 18% to $2.25 per share, which is equal to $9 per share annually. More recently, in its dividend announcement on Feb. 27, the company maintained the payout at the same level. The current dividend yield on the stock is 5.95%.

Its annual revenue as of Dec. 31 stood at $902.82 million. In its most recent earnings release on Jan. 31, the company posted Q4 2024 revenues of $233.49 million and EPS of $7.50. Both figures came in above the consensus estimates.

Merck, Black Hills, and Virtus Investment Partners are good choices for investors seeking reliable passive income. Their dividend yields of around 4-6% and long history of consistent hikes make them attractive to income-focused investors.

Check out this article by Benzinga for three more stocks offering high dividend yields.

Read Next:

With shares starting at $1.52, this could be your chance to invest in the future of healthcare. ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.

Image: Shutterstock

Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market.

Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga?

APPLE (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report TESLA (TSLA): Free Stock Analysis Report

This article Why Merck, Black Hills, And Virtus Investment Partners Are Winners For Passive Income originally appeared on Benzinga.com

© 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

View Comments