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I think the UK stock market is a great place for dividend investors looking for shares to consider buying. And there are a few names that have very impressive track records.
Decades of consistent dividend growth doesn’t guarantee higher returns in future. But it also doesn’t come about by accident and it’s something investors might want to pay attention to.
Croda International
Croda International (LSE:CRDA) has increased its dividend per share each year for over 34 consecutive years. That’s an outstanding record and it’s fair to say the company has seen it all.
The last three decades have included the dot-com bubble, the subprime mortgage crisis, and Covid-19. And through all of this, the firm has kept its dividend growing.
This is impressive for any business, but arguably even more more so for a cyclical operation. But Croda makes specialty chemicals, where demand can wax and wane depending on end markets.
Investors, though, seem to think this impressive record is under threat. The dividend yield has reached almost 4.5%, which is its highest level for the last 10 years by some margin.
The concern might well be that the firm’s free cash flow in the last 12 months hasn’t covered its dividend. Croda can bridge the gap in the short term, but this isn’t sustainable indefinitely.
Part of this was the result of higher working capital requirements, though, which I expect to stabilise over time. So, as it’s at an unusual cheap price, I think it’s worth a look.
FW Thorpe
FW Thorpe (LSE:TFW) is a much smaller company. It focuses on industrial lighting for things like airports, tunnels, and hospitals, where lighting is critical and often has to meet specific requirements.
That means operating in this sector requires high levels of technical expertise, which creates a barrier to entry for potential competitors. And this gives the company a degree of pricing power.
FW Thorpe has managed to increase its dividend per share for 22 consecutive years. While the yield is only 2.2%, the £11m distribution is more than covered by free cash flows of £38m.
Investors looking at the stock should think about the outlook for UK construction. And one of the best forward indicators for this is the UK Construction Purchasing Managers Index (PMI).
UK Construction PMI June 2023 – July 2025
Source: Trading Economics
The latest reading (from July) came in at 44.3. That’s a concern because (a) a number below 50 indicates contraction in the sector and (b) it’s the lowest the index has been in the last three years.
That’s a risk investors should pay attention to. But for those with a long-term perspective, it might mean FW Thorpe represents an under-the-radar opportunity to be greedy where others are fearful.
Track records
Around 66% of businesses fail within their first 10 years. But at the other end of the scale, there are those that can generate higher and higher returns for shareholders each year for decades.
Croda International and FW Thorpe both have outstanding records of dividend growth. And this is the result of each having an extremely strong competitive position.
Despite the possibility of temporary disruptions, I expect both companies to do well over the long term. And I think dividend investors looking for opportunities should take note.
