Why OKE Is One of My Favorite Dividend Growth Stocks Right Now

In a market where everyone’s chasing the next big thing, I’m staying focused on one of the most reliable wealth builders out there: dividend growth.

It’s not flashy. It doesn’t make headlines. But year after year, it works.

And right now, one of my favorite examples is ONEOK (OKE) — a standout name in my Dividends Forever Portfolio.

Since we added OKE back in February 2024, it’s delivered a total return of 23%, which absolutely smokes the 11% return from SPY over the same stretch.

That’s more than double the benchmark — and it’s not just about the stock price.

A big part of that performance comes from OKE’s generous dividend — and more importantly, the company’s track record of growing it.

Here’s why that’s so powerful…

When a company increases its dividend over time, it creates what I like to call a “paycheck snowball.” Your yield on cost improves. Your income keeps climbing. And if you’re reinvesting those dividends? You’re buying even more shares — which means more income down the road.

It’s a simple cycle that leads to serious compounding.

And in a market like this — where the headlines are chaotic and short-term direction is tough to call — that steady, growing income stream becomes even more valuable.

That’s why I love names like OKE. It gives you exposure to energy infrastructure (a long-term tailwind), it throws off a healthy yield, and it rewards shareholders year after year.

Bottom line? You don’t need to predict every market twist and turn.

If you want to build real wealth with less stress, owning strong companies that grow their dividends — like OKE — is one of the best places to start.

— Nate Tucci

P.S. FITB is just one of the names we hold in the Dividends Forever portfolio. Click here to see the full list and learn how we’re using dividend growth to stay ahead — no matter what the market throws at us.