2 Top Healthcare Dividend Stocks to Buy and Hold Forever

Bristol Myers Squibb and Medtronic offer robust businesses and impressive dividend programs.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The article highlights two healthcare companies, Bristol Myers Squibb and Medtronic, as top dividend stocks worth holding onto for the long term. Both companies have strong underlying businesses and attractive dividend programs that have consistently rewarded shareholders.

Why it matters

Finding stocks that can withstand the test of time and continue performing well for decades is a challenge, but the healthcare sector offers some promising options. Bristol Myers Squibb and Medtronic stand out as two such companies that combine business resilience with shareholder-friendly dividend policies.

The details

Bristol Myers Squibb is a leading drugmaker with a diverse product portfolio, including several blockbuster medicines. While it faces patent cliffs for some of its top-selling drugs, the company is preparing with new formulations and a pipeline of promising therapies. Medtronic is a medical device leader known for innovative products, including a robotic-assisted surgery system. The company is also making strategic changes, such as separating its diabetes care unit, to boost long-term performance.

  • Bristol Myers Squibb will face patent expirations for key drugs like Eliquis and Opdivo by the end of the decade.
  • Medtronic recently earned clearance for its Hugo robotic-assisted surgery system in urologic procedures.

The players

Bristol Myers Squibb

A leading drugmaker with a vast portfolio of products across several therapeutic areas, particularly in oncology.

Medtronic

A medical device leader with a portfolio spanning several areas, including innovative products like its pulsed field ablation technology and robotic-assisted surgery system.

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The takeaway

Bristol Myers Squibb and Medtronic stand out as healthcare companies with the potential to deliver consistent returns and dividend growth for long-term investors, even as they navigate industry challenges like patent cliffs and market competition.