10 Of The Right Retirement Stocks For Income Investors

Published on October 27th, 2025 by Bob Ciura

There are a nearly unlimited number of investable securities available on the market…

But only a tiny fraction of them make for reasonable investments for those in or planning for retirement.

The security choices you make will have a big impact (either positive or negative) on the safety and longevity of your retirement portfolio.

Retirees need a few key things from their investment portfolios. First, retirement investing is all about income.

That’s because in retirement your passive income stream needs to exceed your living expenses to create a truly sustainable retirement.

When your passive income from all sources (including social security and investment income) exceeds your living expenses, then you don’t have to sell your securities.

You can download your free full list of all high dividend stocks with 5%+ yields (along with important financial metrics such as dividend yield and payout ratio) by clicking on the link below:

But “just” income isn’t quite enough…

Safety and growth are important as well when choosing which securities to invest in for retirement.

Safety refers to safety of the income stream. The higher the probability your investment is likely to continue paying you over time, the better.

Growth is important due to the subtle but devastating effects of inflation. Inflation has averaged ~2.3% over the long run in the US.

The income from a retirement portfolio needs to grow at least at the rate of inflation (and preferably significantly higher) to preserve its purchasing power.

There’s a specific type of security that lines up well with the three retirement investing needs of income, safety, and growth: dividend growth stocks, and specifically, the Dividend Champions.

This article will provide a list of the right retirement stocks for income, safety, and growth. The 10 stocks all have at least 3% yields, 25+ consecutive years of dividend increases, and safe payouts.

The stocks are listed by current dividend yield, from lowest to highest.

Table Of Contents

The table of contents below provides for easy navigation of the article:

Retirement Stock #10: Polaris Inc. (PII)

Polaris designs, engineers, and manufactures snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles. In addition, related accessories and replacement parts are sold with these vehicles through dealers located throughout the U.S.

The company operates under 30+ brands including Polaris, Ranger, RZR, Sportsman, Indian Motorcycle, Slingshot and Transamerican Auto Parts. The global powersports maker, serving over 100 countries, generated more than $7 billion in sales in 2024.

On April 29th, 2025, Polaris reported first quarter results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenue fell 11.5% to $1.54 billion, but this was $10 million above estimates.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of -$0.90 compared unfavorably to $0.23 in the prior year, but this was $0.01 better than expected.

For the quarter, Marine sales decreased 7%, On-Road was lower by 20%, and Off-Road, the largest component of the company, declined 10%. As with previous quarters, decreases in all three businesses were mostly due to lower volumes.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on PII (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #9: Essex Property Trust (ESS)

Essex Property Trust was founded in 1971. The trust invests in West Coast multi-family residential proprieties where it engages in development, redevelopment, management and acquisition of apartment communities and a few other select properties.

Essex has ownership interests in several hundred apartment communities consisting of over 60,000 apartment homes. The trust has about 1,800 employees and produces approximately $1.6 billion in annual revenue.

Essex is concentrated on the West Coast of the U.S., including cities like Seattle and San Francisco.

On July 30, 2025, Essex Property Trust, Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Essex Property Trust Inc (ESS) reported strong Q2 2025 results, with core FFO per share $0.07 above guidance.

Same-store portfolio blended rate growth was 3%, and same-property revenue growth midpoint increased by 15 basis points to 3.15% for the year.

Same-property expense midpoint was reduced by 50 basis points to 3.25%, driven by lower property taxes, leading to a 40 basis point improvement in same-property NOI growth, now expected at 3.1% midpoint. Full-year core FFO per share guidance rose by $0.10 to $15.91, with Q3 forecasted at $3.94 midpoint.

Financially, net debt to EBITDA was 5.5 times, with $1.5 billion in available liquidity.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on ESS (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #8: Eversource Energy (ES)

Eversource Energy is a diversified holding company with subsidiaries that provide regulated electric, gas, and water distribution service in the Northeast U.S.

The company’s utilities serve more than 4 million customers. Eversource has delivered steady growth to shareholders for many years.

On July 31st, ES released its financial results for the second quarter ended June 30th, 2025. The company’s total operating revenue jumped 12% over the year-ago period to $2.84 billion in the quarter.

As has been the case in the past, base distribution rate increases and continued system investments powered this top-line growth during the quarter.

ES recorded $0.96 in non-GAAP EPS for the quarter, which was a 1.1% year-over-year growth rate. That came in $0.01 better than the analyst consensus in the quarter.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on ES (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #7: New Jersey Resources (NJR)

New Jersey Resources provides natural gas and clean energy services, transportation, distribution, asset management and home services through its five main subsidiaries. The company owns both regulated and non-regulated operations.

NJR’s principal subsidiary, New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG), owns and operates natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure serving over half a million customers.

NJR Clean Energy Ventures (CEV) invests in and operates solar projects, to provide customers with low-carbon solutions.

NRJ Energy Services manages a portfolio of natural gas transportation and storage assets, as well as provides physical natural gas services to customers in North America.

New Jersey Resources was founded in 1952 and has paid a quarterly dividend since. The company has increased its annual dividend for 28 consecutive years.

New Jersey Resources reported third quarter 2025 results on August 4th, 2025, for the period ending June 30th, 2025. Consolidated net financial earnings (NFE) amounted to $6.2 million, compared to net financial loss of $(8.9) million in Q3 2024 and NFE per share of $0.06 compared to $(0.09) per share one year ago.

Management narrowed its guidance for fiscal 2025, now seeing NFEPS in the range of $3.20 to $3.30 (from $3.15 to $3.30 at previous guidance).

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on NJR (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #6: Clorox Co. (CLX)

Clorox is a manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products, spanning a wide array of categories from charcoal to cleaning supplies to salad dressing.

More than 80% of its revenue comes from products that are #1 or #2 in their categories across the globe, helping Clorox produce more than $7 billion in annual revenue. The company also boasts an outstanding dividend increase streak of 48 consecutive years.

Clorox posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on July 31st, 2025, and results were quite good for the fourth quarter. Adjusted earnings-per-share came to $2.87, which was 66 cents ahead of estimates. Revenue was up 5.3% year-over-year to $2 billion, and beat estimates by $70 million.

The company noted it received a temporary benefit from retailer inventory build ahead of a shipping transition, as well as its divestiture of Better Health Vitamins.

The management team noted it’s been transitioning to a more efficient inventory management system, which prompted retailers to front-run orders before the switch. As a result, Q2 results are not fully representative.

The management team also noted “continued rapidly shifting consumer behaviors and broader market volatility” as the outlook for fiscal 2026 looks murky to say the least.

Sales are expected to be down 6% to 10% for fiscal 2026, while organic sales are expected to decline between 5% and 9%, including a 7% to 8% negative impact from the front-running by retailers.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on CLX (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #5: Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRT)

Federal Realty was founded in 1962. As a Real Estate Investment Trust, Federal Realty’s business model is to own and rent out real estate properties.

It uses a significant portion of its rental income, as well as external financing, to acquire new properties.

On August 1, 2025, Federal Realty Investment Trust reported results for the second quarter. The company reported net income available to common shareholders of $88.7 million, or $1.06 per diluted share, compared with $72.4 million, or $0.88 per share, in the prior year period.

Funds from operations were $172.5 million, or $1.61 per diluted share, up from $1.59 per share in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting rent growth, higher occupancy, and contributions from redevelopment projects.

Total revenue rose to $301.6 million from $288.9 million a year earlier, driven by contractual rent escalations and strong leasing spreads.

Same-property net operating income increased 3.6% year-over-year, with portfolio occupancy improving to 94.5% and comparable retail leasing spreads averaging 9.8% on new and renewal leases.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Federal Realty (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #4: Hormel Foods (HRL)

Hormel was founded back in 1891 in Minnesota. Since that time, the company has grown into a juggernaut in the food products industry with nearly $10 billion in annual revenue.

Hormel has kept with its core competency as a processor of meat products for well over a hundred years, but has also grown into other business lines through acquisitions.

Hormel has a large portfolio of category-leading brands. Just a few of its top brands include include Skippy, SPAM, Applegate, Justin’s, and more than 30 others.

Hormel posted third quarter earnings on August 28th, 2025, and results were very weak, including disappointing guidance for the fourth quarter.

Adjusted earnings-per-share came to 35 cents, which was six cents light of estimates. Revenue was up 4.5% year-over-year to $3.03 billion, beating estimates by $50 million. Organic net sales were up 6% year-over-year on volume gains of 4%, with price and mix comprising the other 2%.

The company also noted its cost savings program is working and helping save about $125 million annually. Gross profit was flat year-on-year, with inflationary headwinds offset by top line gains. The company noted 400 basis points of raw material cost inflation, a massive headwind to margins.

Cash flow from operations were $157 million, while capex was $72 million, and dividends paid were $159 million. Guidance for Q4 was for net sales of ~$3.2 billion, about $50 million light of consensus. Earnings are expected at ~39 cents.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on HRL (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #3: T. Rowe Price Group (TROW)

T. Rowe Price Group is one of the largest publicly traded asset managers. The company provides a broad array of mutual funds, sub-advisory services, and separate account management for individual and institutional investors, retirement plans and financial intermediaries.

T. Rowe Price had assets under management (AUM) of nearly $1.6 trillion as of June 30th, 2025.

On February 11th, 2025, T. Rowe Price raised its quarterly dividend 2.4% to $1.27, marking the company’s 39th year of increasing its payout.

On August 1st, 2025, T. Rowe Price announced second quarter results for the period ending June 30th, 2025. For the quarter, revenue declined 0.6% to $1.72 billion and missed estimates by $30 million.

Adjusted earnings-per-share of $2.24 compared unfavorably to $2.26 in the prior year, but this was $0.11 more than anticipated.

During the quarter, AUMs of $1.59 billion grew 3.6% year-over-year, but decreased 1.9% sequentially. Market appreciation of $125.4 billion was offset by net cash outflows of $14.9 billion.

Operating expenses of $1.23 billion increased 6.5% year-over-year and were up 6.6% quarter-over-quarter.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on TROW (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #2: Altria Group (MO)

Altria is a tobacco stock that sells cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, e-cigarettes, and more under a variety of brands, including Marlboro, Skoal, and Copenhagen, among others.

This is a period of transition for Altria. The decline in the U.S. smoking rate continues. In response, Altria has invested heavily in new products that appeal to changing consumer preferences, as the smoke-free category continues to grow.

The company also has a 35% investment stake in e-cigarette maker JUUL, and a 45% stake in the Canadian cannabis producer Cronos Group (CRON).

On July 30, 2025, Altria Group, Inc. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $1.44, surpassing the analyst estimate of $1.38 and rising 8.3% year over year.

Revenue came in at $6.1 billion, above the consensus estimate of $5.2 billion but down 1.7% compared to the same period last year. Net revenues were $6,102 million, with gross profit at $3,900 million and operating income at $3,200 million.

Net earnings stood at $2.4 billion, down from $3.8 billion in Q2 2024, impacted by a significant goodwill impairment in the e-vapor segment.

Domestic cigarette volumes declined 10.2%, but the smokeable products segment delivered solid adjusted operating companies income growth behind Marlboro’s strength.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Altria (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Retirement Stock #1: Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)

Enterprise Products Partners was founded in 1968. It is structured as a Master Limited Partnership, or MLP, and operates as an oil and gas storage and transportation company.

Enterprise Products has a large asset base which consists of nearly 50,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, and refined products pipelines.

It also has storage capacity of more than 250 million barrels. These assets collect fees based on volumes of materials transported and stored.

On July 28, 2025, Enterprise Products Partners L.P. reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2025. Distributable cash flow was $1.9 billion, up 7% from the prior year, with a coverage ratio of 1.6 times. Net income per common unit increased 3% to $0.66 from $0.64.

Adjusted cash flow from operations remained at $2.1 billion, and the company declared a distribution of $0.545 per common unit, a 3.8% increase year-over-year. EPD repurchased 3.6 million common units for $110 million and invested $1.3 billion in capital, including $1.2 billion for growth projects.

Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on EPD (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):

Final Thoughts 

The right retirement stocks have strong business models and durable competitive advantages. In turn, they can provide high dividend payouts to investors, and raise their dividends each year.

If you are interested in finding high-quality dividend growth stocks and/or other high-yield securities and income securities, the following Sure Dividend resources will be useful:

High-Yield Individual Security Research

Other Sure Dividend Resources