As market volatility and shifting economic conditions test investor resolve, high-quality dividend payers remain a cornerstone for long-term growth and income.
Josh Brown – the chief executive of Ritholtz Wealth Management – recently highlighted a trio of industry-leading insurance firms as top dividend stocks to own in 2026: The Travelers Companies, Chubb, and Aflac.
Known for their disciplined underwriting, resilient balance sheets, and decades-long track records of steadily growing payouts, these powerhouse names offer defensive stability paired with reliable income generation.
Here is a closer look at why these three insurance giants stand out in Brown’s vision for a winning dividend strategy.
The Travelers Companies (TRV)
Travelers has recently validated the bullish thesis with blockbuster Q2 earnings – delivering core EPS of $10.04, nearly double the consensus estimate set at $5.39.
A 14% year-on-year pop in investment income and reduced catastrophe losses resulted in a nearly 46% increase in the company’s quarterly net income to $2.2 billion.
Beyond rate dynamics, efficiency gains from its proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) underwriting platform, “Travis,” expanded underlying insurance margins.
Brown also recommends owning TRV stock because it is approaching “dividend aristocrat” status, with 22 consecutive years of payout increases.
He sees the post-earnings pop as proof of a self-funding growth engine, recommending long positions with raised stop-loss levels at $325.
Note that Travelers has also retired some 70% of its outstanding shares since 2006 – which makes it even more attractive to own in the back half of 2026.
Chubb Ltd (CB)
As the largest US commercial insurer, Chubb leverages immense global scale across 54 countries to write profitable premium volume.
In Q1, the company’s operating earnings soared 85% on a year-over-year basis to $6.82 per share, while net income has nearly doubled from $5.3 billion in FY22 to $10.3 billion in FY25.
Crucially, the NYSE-listed firm’s $173 billion investment portfolio generates accelerating returns as maturing fixed-income assets are redeployed at higher interest rates.
Backed by 33 consecutive years of dividend hikes and a $4.08 annual dividend payout, CB shares show strong structural momentum.
Josh Brown also highlighted a rapid bullish gap-reversal pattern on the chart – noting that holding technical support above the $320 range positions the carrier for a breakout.
Aflac Inc (AFL)
Aflac stock delivers defensive cash flow through its dominant supplemental health presence in the US and Japan, with Q1 sales coming in up 25.5% alongside margins expanding to 35%.
Generating up to $3 billion in annual free cash flow, the company consistently directs capital into share repurchases and cash payouts.
AFL has raised dividend payments for 43 straight years – the longest streak among Brown’s picks. At the time of writing, it yields nearly 2% and is hovering around an all-time high of $125.
Brown characterized Aflac’s chart as a clean, rising uptrend, pointing to solid technical support at its 50-day moving average ($117) and key trendline floor at $110 for long-term positioning.
That said, Wall Street currently rates AFL at Hold only, with the mean price target of roughly $116 indicating potential “downside” from current levels.
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