Dividend growth stocks have a longstanding reputation for performing better than other kinds of stocks. They provide a steady stream of income as a hedge against rising prices.

Dividend-paying stocks also offer security and guaranteed income in volatile markets. Even when stocks are down in general, dividend stocks are more likely to rise back up because they usually continue to generate income.

There are dividend stocks that pay high yields for income growth, but there are also dividend stocks that pay lower yields with a potential for dramatic payout increases. Although the yields don’t seem as high, there is the promise of healthy rapid growth in payouts annually.

Here are seven top growing dividend stocks that help strengthen your financial management plans:

1. Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) — The toy maker has a record of dividend increases for 10 years, hiking its dividend 14 percent each year on average and raising its quarterly dividend by 12 percent at the start of 2017, according to Bob Ciura at Smarter Analyst. It’s expansion in the international market indicates huge growth potential.
2. Sysco Corp. (SYY) — The international food distributor boasts of 48 consecutive years of dividend growth, according to Simply Safe Dividends. The company maintains a safe payout ratio and consistent cash flow for low-risk investors to watch for increasing dividends.
3. Home Depot (HD) — The home improvement retailer has a dividend yield of 2.3 percent, but it has increased its payout by 25 percent each year for the past five years, according to research analyst Brian Bollinger of Simply Safe Dividends. With its reputation and an expanding home improvement market, Home Depot holds the promise of continued growth in earnings.
4. Boeing (BA) — The aerospace company has a dividend yield of 2.7 percent, but it also has an impressive record of growth payout increases. Bollinger noted that it increased its dividend by 26 percent annually during the past five years with a 30-percent increase this year.
5. Verizon Communications (VZ) — The telecommunications company has had consistent yield increases, raising its dividend 24 times since 1985, reported Nick McCullum in Sure Dividend. Its current rate is above 5 percent and it has a long-term yield at 4.6 percent.
6. AT&T (T) — The largest telecommunications company in the U.S. has maintained high yields and continued growth in payouts, increasing its yearly dividend payments for 33 consecutive years. Its dividend yield consistently stays above 5 percent.
7. Air Products and Chemicals (APD) — The industrial gas company is another safe bet for long-term growth and has been in business since 1940. With a dividend yield of 2.5 percent, Air Products has increased its dividend every year for the past 35 years, according to Kiplinger.

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