In an unpredictable market, dividends offer a safe harbour with potential long-term returns.
Need some examples?
Here are four Singapore-listed companies — Haw Par Corporation (SGX:H02), Singapore Technologies Engineering (SGX:S63) or ST Engineering, Singapore Exchange (SGX:S68) or SGX, and United Overseas Bank (SGX:U11) or UOB — that are positioned to be reliable dividend payers for the next 10 years.
Haw Par Corporation
Best known as the owner of Tiger Balm, Haw Par is a Singaporean manufacturing and investment company with interests in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, leisure, and property investments.
The company is a steady dividend payer with strong cash reserves and recurring dividend income from its stakes in United Overseas Bank (SGX: U11) and UOL Group (SGX: U14).
Specifically, its dividend per share (DPS) has grown at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.6% the last 10 years.
Currently, shares offer a dividend yield of 2.7% (excluding its special dividend), lower than the STI’s trailing 12 months (TTM) yield of around 4%.
That said, Haw Par has a relatively low payout ratio of around 35% over its TTM, while maintaining a large cash balance of nearly S$700 million.
In other words, there’s room for dividend increases in the future.
The company’s healthy financials allow it to consistently provide shareholders with a reliable stream of dividends.
ST Engineering
ST Engineering is a conglomerate with global exposure in the technology, defence, aerospace, and digital solutions industries.
The group has paid growing dividends over the past decade, supported by its strong order books and recurring contracts.
ST Engineering has guided for a dividend payout of S$0.18 per share in 2025, and will be rewarding shareholders with a special dividend of S$0.06 as well.
In addition, the company has revised its dividend policy to pay out one-third of its year-on-year increase in net profit as incremental dividends from 2026 onwards.
Since 2020, the Singaporean conglomerate has grown its earnings per share (EPS) at a compounded annual growth rate of around 9% and its operating profit by 13.4%.
Looking ahead, ST Engineering possesses an overall order book of S$32.6 billion, with S$14 billion in new contracts won in the first nine months of 2025 (9M2025).
Apart from that, nearly half of its 3Q2025 contracts are defence-related, giving it stability due to its numerous contracts with the Singapore government.
Singapore Exchange (SGX)
SGX is the only stock exchange operator in Singapore, operating equity, fixed income, currency, and commodity markets.
The company stands out as a dividend stalwart benefiting from recurring trading income, with strong margins and cash flow enabling stable or growing dividends, even during market volatility.
SGX’s dividend per share has grown by nearly 34% over the past 10 years, reaching S$0.375 per share for its fiscal year ending 30 June 2025 (FY2025).
Currently, its dividend yield is 2.2%.
As for its earnings, about 82.4% of SGX’s revenue comes from the Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities (FICC), Equities-Derivatives, and Equities-Cash segments, which are strong generators of revenue growth despite their volatility.
SGX also sports a high operating margin at 57.2%, an indication of its position as the sole bourse operator in Singapore.
United Overseas Bank (UOB)
UOB is one of three major banks in Singapore that pay a dividend, supported by stable earnings and its recent Southeast Asian expansion.
The local bank has a track record of keeping dividends stable even during periods of economic downturn.
In fact, its dividend per share has steadily increased since the pandemic, from S$0.78 in 2020 to S$2.30 in 2024 (including S$0.50 in special dividends).
For 1H2025, UOB paid out S$0.85.
Simultaneously, the local bank has been performing excellently in recent years, with a return on equity in 3Q2025 of 3.5%.
In terms of dividend sustainability, UOB has a capital position well above regulatory requirements, with a Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio of 14.6% in 3Q2025.
This figure was driven by strong earnings and robust internal capital generation despite high dividend payouts.
Combined with its strong capital base and expansion plans, UOB is a candidate for investors looking for a long-term dividend compounder.
What This Means for Investors
Good dividend stocks like Haw Par, ST Engineering, SGX, and UOB have steady cash flows, prudent management, and are resilient to market conditions.
Therefore, investors building a long-term dividend portfolio should consider the aforementioned four stocks, due to their ability to consistently create value for shareholders.
Get Smart: Pick Dependable Stocks
Haw Par Corporation, ST Engineering, SGX, and UOB are positioned to continuously grow profits in the following years due to their excellent financial positions relative to the market.
This characteristic makes them excellent dividend stocks to own in the long term, especially for investors who desire consistency and sustainable returns.
If you want to retire with a constant stream of dividends, these 5 stocks might be all you need. We’ve found 5 SG stocks that have kept paying (and growing) through inflation, rate hikes, and recessions. See what they are with our latest free report for SGX dividend investors. Click here to get instant access.
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Disclosure: Daniel does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.
