McDonald's and Becton Dickinson Highlighted for Strong Dividend Growth

McDonald's Corp. (MCD) has raised its dividend for 49 consecutive years, putting it one year shy of the "Dividend King" status. The stock has fallen about 20% from its February peak, trading near a 2.8% forward dividend yield. Management cites inflationary pressure on customers and a challenging economic backdrop, but notes the franchise model and rent income support the dividend streak.

Becton Dickinson (BDX), a U.S. medical‑device maker, has increased its dividend for 54 straight years. It offers a 2.7% yield and has grown dividends at an average 10.5% annually over the past five years. Share buybacks have boosted the total shareholder return to an effective 8.3% yield, while the company trades at low price‑to‑earnings and price‑to‑sales multiples relative to its five‑year averages.