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Cincinnati Financial (Nasdaq: CINF) and RLI Corp. (NYSE: RLI) each reported more than 50 consecutive years of annual dividend increases in 2026. That history may make them worth researching, but it does not guarantee future increases or make either stock a buy at any price. Compare the companies’ regular dividends, insurance businesses, risks and current valuations before deciding whether either fits your portfolio.
Which insurance stocks have dividend streaks longer than 50 years?
The two companies are Cincinnati Financial and RLI Corp. Their streaks refer to annual increases in regular dividends—not a guarantee of future payments or a measure of whether their shares are attractively priced.
| Company | Exchange and ticker | Reported annual increase streak | Regular dividend announced in 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Financial | Nasdaq: CINF | 66 years, as of its January 2026 declaration, according to the company | $0.94 per share quarterly, declared January 30, 2026; the company said this was an 8% increase from $0.87 |
| RLI Corp. | NYSE: RLI | 51 consecutive annual increases, according to the company’s May 2026 announcement | $0.18 per share quarterly, announced May 14, 2026, after a 12.5% increase |
Company announcements establish the streaks and declared amounts; they do not establish that either stock is a suitable investment. Dividend declarations are board decisions, and past increases do not ensure future payouts.
How do their dividends differ?
Cincinnati Financial: a declared regular quarterly dividend
Cincinnati Financial declared a regular dividend of $0.94 per share for each of the first three 2026 quarterly declarations listed through August 21, according to its dividend announcements. The January declaration raised the amount from $0.87, an 8% increase. These are declared amounts, not a promise that future quarters will match them.
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RLI: keep the regular dividend separate from the special dividend
RLI’s May 14, 2026 announcement raised its regular quarterly dividend to $0.18 per share, a 12.5% increase, and separately announced a $2.00 special dividend. The special payment is distinct from the recurring quarterly dividend and should not be treated as assured income. In August 2026, RLI said the regular quarterly dividend remained $0.18 per share.
When estimating recurring income, use the regular dividend and a current share price, and verify the latest company declaration. Do not annualize a one-time special payment as though it were part of the regular payout.
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What businesses are behind the stocks?
Cincinnati Financial
Cincinnati Financial is an insurance company whose investment portfolio is also relevant to shareholders. The Motley Fool’s October 2, 2026 article characterized Cincinnati Financial as having higher equity exposure than RLI, but that comparison is not independently established by the company materials cited here. Portfolio holdings and allocation can change; consult current filings and company reporting rather than treating the characterization as a current portfolio percentage.
Cincinnati Financial reported $34.903 billion in consolidated cash and total investments at June 30, 2026. That balance-sheet figure gives context about the scale of its reported resources; by itself, it does not show that the shares are cheap or that a dividend increase is assured.
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RLI describes itself as a specialty insurer. Its stated markets include niche property, casualty and surety insurance, with subsidiaries serving commercial and personal lines. Specialty insurance can expose results to the particular risks of the markets and policies a company underwrites; investors should review current filings for the company’s exposures and risk disclosures.
What should you check before buying either stock?
A dividend streak is one input, not a complete investment case. Before buying, assess both companies on comparable, current information:
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- Recurring income: Check the latest regular dividend declaration and share price. A yield changes as the share price moves, and a quoted yield is not a guaranteed return.
- Special payouts: Exclude RLI’s $2.00 May 2026 special dividend from estimates of recurring income unless the company declares another special payment.
- Business and underwriting risk: Read each insurer’s recent annual and quarterly reports for underwriting results, exposures and risks. RLI’s May 2026 release specifically points readers to risks described in its SEC filings.
- Investment portfolio: Review current company disclosures rather than relying on an undated or article-reported comparison of equity exposure.
- Valuation: Compare share price and valuation measures using the same date and calculation method. The Motley Fool article’s yield, market-capitalization and price-to-book comparisons are tied to its publication context and are not verified as current here.
- Fit with your finances: Consider whether your goals, time horizon, diversification and ability to tolerate share-price swings and insurance-cycle risk support owning an individual insurer.
What the dividend record does—and does not—tell you
The 66-year and 51-year figures are company-reported histories of consecutive annual increases as of 2026. They document past board decisions. They do not establish that either insurer will keep increasing its dividend, that its share price will hold steady, or that it is a better choice than another investment. Cincinnati Financial’s and RLI’s executives have expressed confidence in their respective companies, but those statements are company views, not independent assessments of investment value.
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