Companies that have had an increase in dividends for 25 consecutive years. The S&P Dividend Aristocrats index tracks the performance of these companies. A dividend aristocrat tends to be a large blue-chip company. Watch: Dividend Taobiz explains S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats The recession of 2008/2009 caused many financial institutions, such as the Bank of America, to be removed from the list. Dividend aristocrats tend to be some of the most well-known companies, such as McDonald's, Coca Cola and Procter & Gamble. Companies can also be removed from the S&P Dividend Aristocrats index if they fail to increase their dividends from the previous year.