What's more rewarding than an ASX dividend share that pays passive income? I'd say it's one that increases its payout every year like clockwork.
The two businesses I'm highlighting today have the longest dividend growth streaks on the ASX. The consecutive annual dividend increases stretch back at least 20 years.
There are numerous large businesses on the ASX that can't even claim to have increased their dividend each year since 2019 (the year before COVID-19 impacted Australia).
No business can guarantee that dividend growth will last forever, but I believe it's likely that both of the following businesses will continue increasing their payouts to 2030.
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APA Group (ASX: APA)
APA has the second-longest dividend growth streak on the ASX – it has increased its distribution every year over the past 20 years.
The business is an integral part of the Australian energy market with its huge network of gas pipelines across Australia, as well as electricity transmission, wind farms, solar farms and various gas-related infrastructure.
It pays for its distribution from the cash flow that it generates each year. In FY25, its free cash flow rose slightly to $1.08 billion, which enabled a 1.8% increase of the annual distribution per security to 57 cents.
The ASX dividend share expects to increase its annual distribution by 1.75% to 58 cents per security, which translates into a forward distribution yield of 6.5% at the time of writing.
I'm expecting further distribution growth in the coming years as it invests in expanding its portfolio of energy assets, such as more pipelines and electricity transmission.
Washington H. Soul Pattinson and Co. Ltd (ASX: SOL)
The ASX dividend share with the longest dividend record is investment conglomerate Soul Patts, which has increased its annual ordinary payout every year since 1998.
One of the most appealing aspects of this company is its diversified portfolio that it owns across both listed and privately owned businesses.
It has investments in areas like telecommunications, mining, building products, industrial property, agriculture, financial services, swimming schools, electrification and more. Some of the investments include TPG Telecom Ltd (ASX: TPG), New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) and Macquarie Group Ltd (ASX: MQG).
The business receives investment cash flow from its portfolio of assets, which it uses to pay a larger dividend each year and make new investments, helping to fund future cash flow growth.
I appreciate how the ASX dividend share focuses on long-term investments, while ensuring the portfolio is defensive and largely uncorrelated.
I'm backing this business to deliver further annual dividend growth for the foreseeable future because of its growing portfolio and rising cash flow.
At the time of writing, it has a grossed-up dividend yield of 3.8%, including franking credits.
