Three Top Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 18 2026
0mins
Source: Fool
- Automatic Data Processing: Automatic Data Processing (ADP) has raised its per-share dividend for the 51st consecutive year, with a current yield of 2.97%, indicating strong performance in cash flow and shareholder returns, particularly as its diverse HR management services continue to attract investor interest amid the rise of artificial intelligence.
- Digital Realty Trust: Digital Realty Trust (DLR), structured as a REIT with over 300 data centers, may not yet have a strong dividend growth record, but its structure allows for most rental profits to be passed to shareholders, offering a forward-looking yield of 2.7%, making it an appealing option for income-seeking investors.
- NextEra Energy: NextEra Energy (NEE) has raised its dividend annually for 31 years, currently yielding 2.44%, and its investments in renewable energy position it favorably in the future energy market, ensuring ongoing cash flow and shareholder returns as electricity demand continues to rise.
- Market Outlook: These three companies demonstrate significant market potential in their respective fields, with ADP diversifying its HR services, DLR leveraging its data center leasing model, and NEE investing in renewables, all providing investors with confidence for long-term holdings, especially amid increasing economic uncertainty.
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Analyst Views on ADP
Wall Street analysts forecast ADP stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
7 Hold
3 Sell
Hold
Current: 216.270
Low
230.00
Averages
276.83
High
332.00
Current: 216.270
Low
230.00
Averages
276.83
High
332.00
About ADP
Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is a provider of cloud-based human capital management (HCM) solutions. Its segments include Employer Services and Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Its Employer Services segment serves clients ranging from single-employee small businesses to large enterprises with tens of thousands of employees around the world, offering a range of technology-based HCM solutions, including its cloud-based platforms, and human resource outsourcing (HRO) (other than PEO) solutions. Its offerings include Payroll Services, Benefits Administration, Talent Management, HR Management, Workforce Management, Compliance Services, Insurance Services and Retirement Services. Its PEO business, called ADP TotalSource, provides clients with guidance, technology, comprehensive employee benefits, risk management, safety, and workers’ compensation program. Its compensation management software supports the compensation planning needs.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Market Rebounds as ADP Employment Data Exceeds Expectations
- Strong Employment Data: The ADP report indicates that private payrolls increased by 63,000 in February, surpassing the Dow Jones estimate of 48,000, which suggests a robust recovery in the labor market and alleviates concerns about economic slowdown.
- Services PMI Rebound: The Institute for Supply Management's Services PMI rose to 56.1 in February, the highest level since July 2022, indicating a rebound in economic activity, while the drop in prices paid by service organizations suggests potential easing of inflationary pressures.
- Oil Market Volatility: Despite ongoing conflict in Iran, oil prices saw their first decline on Wednesday, reflecting market concerns over rising energy prices, and comments from the Treasury Secretary may influence the oil market and overall market sentiment.
- Apple's New Product Launch: Apple introduced the new MacBook Neo with a starting price of $599, significantly lower than other models, appealing to budget-conscious consumers and expanding its share in the lower-priced laptop market.
See More
ADP Report: Private Sector Adds 63,000 Jobs in February
- Job Growth Overview: According to the ADP report, the private sector added a seasonally adjusted 63,000 jobs in February, a significant improvement from the revised 11,000 in January and surpassing the Dow Jones estimate of 48,000, indicating resilience in the labor market.
- Sector Contribution Analysis: The education and health services sector led job creation with 58,000 new positions, while construction added 19,000, although most other sectors showed stagnant growth, highlighting the breadth issue in employment gains.
- Wage Growth Trends: Wage growth for job stayers remained steady at 4.5%, while the increase for job switchers fell to 6.3%, indicating that the incentive to change jobs has dropped to the lowest level since ADP began tracking this metric, potentially affecting future job mobility.
- Small Business Performance: Job gains were primarily concentrated in small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, which added 60,000 jobs, while large firms (500 or more employees) only added 10,000, reflecting the relative dynamism of small businesses in the current economic environment.
See More
February 2026 U.S. Private Sector Employment Report
- Significant Job Growth: In February 2026, the U.S. private sector added 63,000 jobs, marking the best employment growth since July 2025, particularly in construction and education and health services, indicating positive signs of economic recovery.
- Stable Wage Growth: Pay for job-stayers remained at a 4.5% year-over-year growth, while pay growth for job-changers slowed to 6.3%, reflecting that despite stable overall wage growth, the pay premium for switching jobs has hit a record low, potentially affecting employee mobility.
- Industry and Regional Variations: By industry, goods-producing sectors added 16,000 jobs, while service-providing sectors saw an increase of 47,000 jobs, with the South region experiencing the most significant growth at 37,000 jobs, highlighting differentiated economic performance across regions.
- Impact of Establishment Size: Small establishments contributed 60,000 new jobs, while medium establishments saw a decrease of 7,000 jobs, indicating that small businesses remain a primary driver of job growth in the current economic climate, reflecting the varying impacts of establishment size on the labor market.
See More
February Job Growth Surges with 63,000 New Positions
- Job Growth Surge: In February, companies added 63,000 workers, a significant increase from the downwardly revised 11,000 in January and surpassing the consensus estimate of 48,000, indicating a recovery in the labor market.
- Sector Concentration Issue: Job creation was heavily concentrated in education and health services, which added 58,000 positions, and construction, which contributed 19,000, while most other sectors experienced stagnation or declines, highlighting a lack of breadth in employment growth.
- Wage Growth Trends: Pay for job stayers grew by 4.5%, unchanged from January, while wage gains for job switchers fell to 6.3%, indicating a reduced incentive for changing jobs to the lowest level since ADP began tracking this metric, potentially affecting future labor mobility.
- Small Business Dominance: The majority of new jobs came from small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, which added 60,000 positions, while large firms added only 10,000, demonstrating the resilience of small enterprises in the current economic climate.
See More
U.S. Employment Growth and Wage Increase in February
- Significant Job Growth: In February 2026, the U.S. private sector added 63,000 jobs, marking the best hiring performance since July 2025, particularly in construction and education/health services, indicating a strong economic recovery momentum.
- Stable Wage Growth: Pay for job-stayers remained at a 4.5% annual increase, while job-changers saw a decline to 6.3%, suggesting that despite increased hiring, wage competitiveness has weakened, potentially affecting employee mobility.
- Industry Performance Variance: Among the new jobs, the service sector contributed 47,000 positions, with notable growth in education and health services, while manufacturing lost 5,000 jobs, highlighting structural changes across industries.
- Regional Employment Disparities: The South added 37,000 jobs, becoming the primary driver of growth, while the Midwest saw a decrease of 4,000 jobs, reflecting uneven economic recovery across regions, which may influence policymakers' decisions.
See More
U.S. ADP Reports February Nonfarm Employment Change at 63K, Surpassing Expectations of 50K
- Employment Change in February: The U.S. ADP nonfarm employment change for February was reported at 63,000 jobs added.
- Exceeding Expectations: This figure surpassed the expected increase of 50,000 jobs and was significantly higher than the previous month's value of 22,000 jobs.
See More
Market Rebounds as ADP Employment Data Exceeds Expectations
- Strong Employment Data: The ADP report indicates that private payrolls increased by 63,000 in February, surpassing the Dow Jones estimate of 48,000, which suggests a robust recovery in the labor market and alleviates concerns about economic slowdown.
- Services PMI Rebound: The Institute for Supply Management's Services PMI rose to 56.1 in February, the highest level since July 2022, indicating a rebound in economic activity, while the drop in prices paid by service organizations suggests potential easing of inflationary pressures.
- Oil Market Volatility: Despite ongoing conflict in Iran, oil prices saw their first decline on Wednesday, reflecting market concerns over rising energy prices, and comments from the Treasury Secretary may influence the oil market and overall market sentiment.
- Apple's New Product Launch: Apple introduced the new MacBook Neo with a starting price of $599, significantly lower than other models, appealing to budget-conscious consumers and expanding its share in the lower-priced laptop market.
See More
ADP Report: Private Sector Adds 63,000 Jobs in February
- Job Growth Overview: According to the ADP report, the private sector added a seasonally adjusted 63,000 jobs in February, a significant improvement from the revised 11,000 in January and surpassing the Dow Jones estimate of 48,000, indicating resilience in the labor market.
- Sector Contribution Analysis: The education and health services sector led job creation with 58,000 new positions, while construction added 19,000, although most other sectors showed stagnant growth, highlighting the breadth issue in employment gains.
- Wage Growth Trends: Wage growth for job stayers remained steady at 4.5%, while the increase for job switchers fell to 6.3%, indicating that the incentive to change jobs has dropped to the lowest level since ADP began tracking this metric, potentially affecting future job mobility.
- Small Business Performance: Job gains were primarily concentrated in small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, which added 60,000 jobs, while large firms (500 or more employees) only added 10,000, reflecting the relative dynamism of small businesses in the current economic environment.
See More
February 2026 U.S. Private Sector Employment Report
- Significant Job Growth: In February 2026, the U.S. private sector added 63,000 jobs, marking the best employment growth since July 2025, particularly in construction and education and health services, indicating positive signs of economic recovery.
- Stable Wage Growth: Pay for job-stayers remained at a 4.5% year-over-year growth, while pay growth for job-changers slowed to 6.3%, reflecting that despite stable overall wage growth, the pay premium for switching jobs has hit a record low, potentially affecting employee mobility.
- Industry and Regional Variations: By industry, goods-producing sectors added 16,000 jobs, while service-providing sectors saw an increase of 47,000 jobs, with the South region experiencing the most significant growth at 37,000 jobs, highlighting differentiated economic performance across regions.
- Impact of Establishment Size: Small establishments contributed 60,000 new jobs, while medium establishments saw a decrease of 7,000 jobs, indicating that small businesses remain a primary driver of job growth in the current economic climate, reflecting the varying impacts of establishment size on the labor market.
See More
February Job Growth Surges with 63,000 New Positions
- Job Growth Surge: In February, companies added 63,000 workers, a significant increase from the downwardly revised 11,000 in January and surpassing the consensus estimate of 48,000, indicating a recovery in the labor market.
- Sector Concentration Issue: Job creation was heavily concentrated in education and health services, which added 58,000 positions, and construction, which contributed 19,000, while most other sectors experienced stagnation or declines, highlighting a lack of breadth in employment growth.
- Wage Growth Trends: Pay for job stayers grew by 4.5%, unchanged from January, while wage gains for job switchers fell to 6.3%, indicating a reduced incentive for changing jobs to the lowest level since ADP began tracking this metric, potentially affecting future labor mobility.
- Small Business Dominance: The majority of new jobs came from small businesses with fewer than 50 employees, which added 60,000 positions, while large firms added only 10,000, demonstrating the resilience of small enterprises in the current economic climate.
See More
U.S. Employment Growth and Wage Increase in February
- Significant Job Growth: In February 2026, the U.S. private sector added 63,000 jobs, marking the best hiring performance since July 2025, particularly in construction and education/health services, indicating a strong economic recovery momentum.
- Stable Wage Growth: Pay for job-stayers remained at a 4.5% annual increase, while job-changers saw a decline to 6.3%, suggesting that despite increased hiring, wage competitiveness has weakened, potentially affecting employee mobility.
- Industry Performance Variance: Among the new jobs, the service sector contributed 47,000 positions, with notable growth in education and health services, while manufacturing lost 5,000 jobs, highlighting structural changes across industries.
- Regional Employment Disparities: The South added 37,000 jobs, becoming the primary driver of growth, while the Midwest saw a decrease of 4,000 jobs, reflecting uneven economic recovery across regions, which may influence policymakers' decisions.
See More
U.S. ADP Reports February Nonfarm Employment Change at 63K, Surpassing Expectations of 50K
- Employment Change in February: The U.S. ADP nonfarm employment change for February was reported at 63,000 jobs added.
- Exceeding Expectations: This figure surpassed the expected increase of 50,000 jobs and was significantly higher than the previous month's value of 22,000 jobs.
See More
