Investors looking for a good source of long-term dividend growth stocks should take a closer look at the industrials. This sector has a surprisingly large number of stocks with very long histories of raising dividends each year.

These 3 industrials stocks have raised their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, and have the ability to produce long-term growth through the full economic cycle.

ABM Industries (ABM)

ABM Industries is a leading provider of facility solutions, which includes janitorial, electrical & lighting, energy solutions, facilities engineering, HVAC & mechanical, landscape & turf, and parking.

The company employs about 124,000 people in more than 350 offices throughout the United States and various international locations, primarily in Canada.

ABM Industries reported its first quarter earnings results on March 12. The company announced that its revenues totaled $2.1 billion during the quarter, which was up 2% versus the previous year’s quarter and which beat estimates.

The revenue performance was weaker than during the previous quarter, in which revenues had been up 4% on a year-over-year basis. ABM Industries was able to keep its margins at the same level as during the previous year’s quarter, as its EBITDA margin remained at 5.9%.

ABM Industries was able to generate earnings-per-share of $0.87 during the first quarter, which beat the analyst consensus by $0.09. ABM Industries’ earnings-per-share were up slightly versus the previous year’s quarter on an adjusted basis.

ABM Industries’ earnings-per-share have compounded at 9% over the last decade, which is quite attractive, while profits have grown relatively consistently. Acquisitions have expanded ABM Industries’ regularly in the past, and we believe that the company will continue to grow its business both organically and via acquisitions in the future.

ABM has increased its dividend for 57 years.

Illinois Tool Works (ITW)

Illinois Tool Works is a diversified multi-industrial manufacturer with seven unique operating segments: Automotive, Food Equipment, Test & Measurement, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Construction Products and Specialty Products.

Last year the company generated $15.9 billion in revenue. The company is geographically diversified, with more than half of its revenue generated outside of the United States.

On April 30th, 2025, Illinois Tool Works reported first quarter 2025 results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenue came in at $3.8 billion, shrinking 3.4% year-over-year. Sales declined 3.7% in the Automotive OEM segment, the largest out of the company’s seven segments.

In fact, every single one of ITW’s segments experienced revenue declines year-over-year. Food Equipment, Test & Measurement and Electronics, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Construction Products and Specialty Products all saw revenue decline -0.7%, -6.3%, -0.9%, -0.8%, -9.2%, and -1.0% respectively.

Net income equaled $700 million or $2.38 per share compared to $819 million or $2.73 per share in Q1 2024. In the first quarter, ITW repurchased $375 million of its shares. Illinois Tool Works reaffirmed its 2025 guidance, still expecting full-year GAAP EPS to be $10.15 to $10.55.

Moving forward, the balance sheet is in good shape, allowing for some flexibility from a capital allocation standpoint. Moreover, attractive returns can be achieved without venturing outside Illinois Tool Works’ existing core competencies.

 Illinois Tool Works can continue to invest in its sales networks, R&D, and manufacturing capacity, while cost-cutting measures could continue to boost margins.

ITW has increased its dividend for 61 consecutive years.

Emerson Electric (EMR)

Emerson Electric was founded in Missouri in 1890 and since that time, it has evolved through organic growth, as well as strategic acquisitions and divestitures, from a regional manufacturer of electric motors and fans into a diversified global leader in technology and engineering.

Its global customer base and diverse product and service offerings afford it more than $18 billion in annual revenue.

Emerson posted second quarter earnings on May 7th, 2025, and results were better than expected on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue was up 1.1% year-over-year to $4.43 billion, beating estimates by $50 million.

The company consummated its acquisition of AspenTech during the quarter. Underlying sales were up 2% after adjusting for currency impacts.

Free cash flow was up 14% to $738 million, while operating cash flow climbed to $825 million. Adjusted segment earnings pretax rose by 200 basis points to 28% of revenue, a new quarterly record. Adjusted earnings were up 6% year-over-year.

Emerson expects AspenTech to generate about $100 million in cost savings by 2028. In addition, the company is keeping the Safety and Productivity business after the strategic review.

Emerson’s competitive advantage is in its many decades of experience in building customer relationships and engineering excellence. It has a global customer base that is seeing strong economic growth and that underlying sales tailwind should power results going forward.

EMR has increased its dividend for 68 consecutive years.

Disclosure: No positions in any stocks mentioned

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Bob Ciura has worked at Sure Dividend since October 2016. He oversees all content for Sure Dividend and its partner sites. Bob received a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from DePaul.