TSI’s Scott Clayton has pinpointed six standout North American dividend-paying companies whose recent C-suite changes have sparked investor optimism — and could signal sustained income growth ahead. As featured in our Globe and Mail exclusive, we applied our in-depth 12-point Dividend Sustainability Rating System to spotlight stocks with the right mix for resilient portfolios: consistent and growing payouts, financial strength, and dependable earnings — now backed by new executive leadership.
These high-potential names span industries from banking and insurance to motorcycles, tools, and global restaurant brands. Whether it’s a world-leading insurer, a powerhouse in fast food, or an iconic manufacturer, each company combines marketplace strength with fresh strategic direction.
Our screening process began with dividend-paying stocks, then zeroed in on companies where a new CEO announcement has energized markets. Positive reception by investors signals confidence in these leaders’ ability to steer through economic uncertainty while maintaining - and even growing - dividends.
TSI’s Dividend Sustainability Rating System scores each company on vital factors: dividend history (with bonus points for longer and increasing streaks), management’s commitment to payouts, resilience to economic cycles, low currency or political risks, solid balance sheets, ample cash flow, and proven earnings power. We award top marks for industry leadership too. That ensures only the strongest, most sustainable dividend payers make our cut.
Excerpt from theglobeandmail.com, August 14, 2025
What are we looking for?
Sustainable dividends from stocks spurred by a recent C-level change.
The screen
News that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has tapped company veteran Harry Culham to succeed Victor Dodig as its president and CEO continues to help drive the stock higher.
The market likely views Culham’s institutional knowledge—and that of other newly named executives for the bank—as key to ensuring continuity at CIBC as it navigates economic uncertainty. Still, the appointment is just one of several recent C-suite moves, across various industries, that have lifted investor expectations and spurred share prices.
Our analysts at The Successful Investor point out that CEO announcements often bolster goodwill in the short term. Still, it’s only the best of them that spur long-term gains while deepening dividend sustainability.
We started this search with an extensive list of dividend-paying stocks, before singling out those with recent top executive changes that have attracted positive market reaction. We then applied our Dividend Sustainability rating system, which awards points to a stock based on key factors:
One point for five years of continuous dividend payments – two points for more than five
- Two points if it has raised the payment in the past five years
- One point for management’s commitment to dividends
- One point for operating in non-cyclical industries
- One point for limited exposure to foreign currency rates and freedom from political interference
- Two points for a strong balance sheet, including manageable debt and adequate cash
- Two points for a long-term record of positive earnings and cash flow sufficient to cover dividend payments
- One point for an industry leader
Companies with 10 to 12 points have the most secure dividends, or the highest sustainability. Those with seven to nine points have above average sustainability; average sustainability, four to six points; and below average sustainability, one to three points.
More about TSI Network
TSI Network is the online home of The Successful Investor Inc. – the group of widely followed Canadian investment newsletters by editor and publisher Pat McKeough. They include our award-winning flagship newsletter, The Successful Investor, and the TSI Dividend Advisor. TSI Network is also affiliated with Successful Investor Wealth Management.
Number Cruncher Stocks: 6 sustainable dividend plays with powerful new CEOs
What we found
Our TSI Dividend Sustainability Rating System generated six stocks:
Toronto-based Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (with a 3.8% yield) – now with an heir for Dodig – is Canada’s fifth-largest bank by market cap.
Harley-Davidson Inc. (2.6%), headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is a maker of heavyweight custom and touring motorcycles and related products. On August 4, it appointed Artie Starrs as its new chief executive.
Connecticut-based Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (4.4%) is one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools. In addition to brands Stanley and Black & Decker, it offers top-selling brands DeWalt, Lenox, Irwin and Craftsman. Christopher Nelson will take over the role of CEO on October 1.
Yum! Brands Inc. (2.0%), headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, operates over 61,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries. Its main banners are KFC (fried chicken), Pizza Hut and Taco Bell (Mexican food). Incoming CEO Chris Turner assumes the post on October 1.
Winnipeg-based Great-West Lifeco Inc. (4.6%) is a top life insurer in Canada and the U.S. but also the U.K. and Europe. Effective July 1, David Harney became the company’s new CEO. He succeeds Paul Mahon, who was CEO for 12 years.
And finally, another leading Canadian insurer, Manulife Financial Corp. (4.2%), headquartered in Toronto, gained a new leader on May 1 when Phil Witherington became CEO.
We advise investors to do additional research on investments we identify here.
Scott Clayton, MBA, is senior analyst for TSI Network and associate editor of TSI Dividend Advisor.
