What Are UK Dividend Aristocrats?
The title of dividend aristocrat is bestowed upon companies within the S&P 500 index which have raised their annual dividends every year for at least 25 consecutive years. These dividend aristocrats form the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index
But is there something similar in the UK? In this article, we will examine the S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, examine FTSE 100 candidates that meet the criteria in 2026 and demonstrate how to invest in the index using ETFs.
The information in this article is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Table of Contents
The S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index
The S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index is composed of UK dividend stocks which are in the S&P United Kingdom BMI and trade on the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
To be eligible for the S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, amongst other requirements, stocks must meet the following criteria:
- Must have increased or maintained dividends every year for at least seven consecutive years.
- Have a float-adjusted market capitalisation of at least $1 billion ($800 million for current constituents).
- Have a maximum dividend yield of 10%
- New constituents must have a maximum dividend payout ratio of 100%. A dividend payout ratio is calculated by dividing dividend per share by Earnings per Share (EPS); in other words new constituents cannot have a dividend per share which is higher than their EPS.
- Existing constituents must have a non-negative dividend payout ratio. In other words, the company must have a positive EPS.
So, unlike dividend aristocrats on the other side of the Atlantic, UK dividend aristocrats only need to have raised or maintained dividends for seven consecutive years.
At the index rebalancing every stock which meets the eligibility requirements is ranked by annual dividend yield and the 40 highest ranking stocks are selected for the index, with the index consisting of a minimum of 30 dividend stocks.
FTSE 100 UK Dividend Aristocrat Candidates
In the list below, we've highlighted 15 FTSE 100 companies which currently meet the UK dividend aristocrat requirement of having increased or maintained dividends for at least seven years.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list nor does it take into account any of the other criteria for inclusion in the S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. It’s also important to bear in mind that future dividends are never guaranteed.
Data captured: 9 July 2026. Dividend streaks are calculated based solely on published dividend history from respective company websites and do not include special dividends. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.
UK Dividend Aristocrats ETF
It is not possible to invest directly in the S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. However, if investors want to gain exposure to the index, they can either build a portfolio based on the UK dividend aristocrats list above or invest in an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) which tracks the index, such as the SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF.
For those that want to invest in the SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF, you can follow these four steps:
- Register for an Invest.MT5 account, complete the onboarding process
- Log in to the Dashboard and open the Admirals Platform
- Search for the UK Dividend Aristocrats ETF and click the symbol in order to open the instrument page
- Enter the number of shares you wish to purchase on the right of the screen and hit ‘Buy’ to send the order to the market!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UK dividend aristocrat?
A UK dividend aristocrat is a company which is included in the S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index. Amongst other requirements, UK dividend aristocrats must have either increased or maintained their annual dividend for at least seven consecutive years.
How do UK dividend aristocrats differ from US dividend aristocrats?
Whilst UK dividend aristocrats need to have increased or maintained stable dividends for seven years, US dividend aristocrats must have increased their dividend every year for at least 25 years.
What is the dividend aristocrats fund UK?
The SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) which tracks the S&P UK High Yield Dividend Aristocrats Index, an index composed of some of the top UK dividend stocks.
How often does UKDV pay dividends?
The SPDR S&P UK Dividend Aristocrats UCITS ETF (UKDV) distributes dividends semi-annually (i.e. twice a year). However, please note that distribution policies are subject to change.
What are the risks of investing in dividend aristocrats?
Dividend aristocrat status is based primarily on a company’s dividend history rather than its share price or risk profile. These stocks can still fall in value, regardless of how many years they’ve paid dividends for. Furthermore, future payouts are never guaranteed; dividends can be cut or scrapped entirely during challenging periods.
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