In a market where growth stocks often steal the spotlight, reliable income still matters, especially during periods of uncertainty. High-yield dividend stocks with solid business models and steady cash flows continue to earn Wall Street’s confidence, offering investors a blend of income and stability.
Here are three high-yield dividend stocks Wall Street still trusts to deliver dependable income, even when markets turn volatile.
Valued at $170.7 billion, Verizon Communications (VZ) is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the United States, providing wireless, broadband, and enterprise connectivity services. The company’s core strength lies in its wireless business, which generates consistent, recurring revenue from millions of subscribers. This stability supports Verizon’s attractive dividend, making it a favorite among income-focused investors looking for consistency rather than quick growth.
Verizon pays a high dividend yield of 6.8% and maintains a healthy payout ratio of 57.6%, which leaves room for dividend growth as well as business expansion. It also has been paying and increasing dividends for the past 20 years, backed by steady cash generation from essential communication services. Verizon expects to generate free cash flow between $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion for the full year; that should help it continue the payouts.
Overall, Wall Street rates VZ stock as a “Moderate Buy.” Of the 28 analysts that cover the stock, eight rate it a “Strong Buy,” three recommend a “Moderate Buy,” and 17 suggest a “Hold.” Based on the average target price of $47.22, the stock has an upside potential of 16.6% from current levels. Its Street-high estimate of $58 further implies VZ stock can go as high as 43.3% in the next 12 months.
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AT&T (T) remains a high-yield dividend stock that Wall Street continues to trust, thanks to its essential role in U.S. communications infrastructure. Valued at $177.1 billion, AT&T is one of the country’s largest telecom providers, delivering wireless, broadband, and enterprise connectivity services to millions of customers nationwide. AT&T’s wireless segment provides mobile voice and data services to consumers and businesses, generating steady, recurring revenue that allows it to pay consistent dividends.
AT&T’s dividend yield is 4.5%, which is significantly higher than the communications sector average of 2.6%. Its healthy payout ratio of 50% is supported by consistent cash flows from critical communication services. The company intends to generate free cash flow in the low-to-mid $16 billion range for the full year 2025, leaving the door open for dividend increases.
Overall, Wall Street rates AT&T stock as a “Moderate Buy.” Of the 28 analysts that cover the stock, 15 rate it a “Strong Buy,” three say it is a “Moderate Buy,” and 10 rate it a “Hold.” Based on the average target price of $29.68, the stock has an upside potential of 19.8% from current levels. Its Street-high estimate of $34 further implies the stock can go as high as 37.2% in the next 12 months.
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Altria Group (MO) is one of Wall Street’s most trusted high-yield dividend stocks, built on decades of steady cash generation and disciplined capital returns. Best known for owning the iconic Marlboro brand in the U.S., Altria dominates the domestic tobacco market and has long been a cornerstone holding for income-focused investors.
Valued at $96.7 billion, Altria sells cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products, generating highly predictable revenue thanks to strong brand loyalty and pricing power. Even as cigarette volumes decline industry-wide, Altria has consistently offset this trend through regular price increases, protecting margins and cash flow. That resilience underpins one of the most reliable dividend profiles in the market. Altria’s high dividend yield of 7.4% is higher than the consumer staples average of 1.9%. Altria has earned the title of a Dividend King by increasing its dividend 60 times in the past 56 years, reassuring its status as one of the most reliable dividend profiles in the market.
Overall, on Wall Street, Altria stock is a “Hold.” Of the 14 analysts covering the stock, four rate it a “Strong Buy,” eight rate it a “Hold,” one says it is a “Moderate Sell,” and one rates it a “Strong Sell.” Based on the average target price of $61.45, the stock has an upside potential of 6.6% from current levels. Its Street-high estimate of $72 further implies the stock can go as high as 25% in the next 12 months.
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On the date of publication, Sushree Mohanty did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
Some companies excel at generating cash. They operate mature businesses that produce significantly more profit than they need to support their continued expansion. That gives them lots of money to pay dividends.
Here are four top money-printing dividend stocks.
Image source: Getty Images.
Coca-Cola(NYSE: KO) owns an iconic portfolio of soft drinks, water, teas, and other beverage brands that generate substantial cash. Last year, the company produced $10.8 billion in free cash flow, $8.5 billion of which it paid out in dividends. Over the last 15 years, it has distributed nearly $100 billion in cash dividends to shareholders.
The company’s durable and growing cash flows have enabled it to steadily increase its dividend payment. Coca-Cola raised it by 5.2% earlier this year, the 63rd straight year it has increased its payout. That puts the beverage giant in the elite group of Dividend Kings, companies with at least 50 years of consecutive annual dividend increases.
The company expects to produce even more cash in the future. Its long-term target is to organically grow its revenue by 4% to 6% annually, which should drive annual growth in earnings per share in the mid to high single digits. Coca-Cola plans to convert 90% to 95% of its growing earnings into free cash flow, which should support continued dividend increases.
ExxonMobil(NYSE: XOM) runs a large-scale global energy business that consistently produces significant cash flows. Last year, Exxon generated $55 billion in cash flow from operations, marking its third-best year in a decade, even though oil and gas prices were around their historical averages.
The company produced $36.2 billion in free cash flow and returned $36 billion to shareholders via dividends ($16.7 billion) and share repurchases ($19.3 billion). Those cash returns led the oil sector and ranked as the fifth-highest among S&P 500 companies.
The oil giant expects to invest $165 billion into major growth projects and its Permian Basin development program through 2030. These high-return investments should grow its annualized cash flows by $30 billion by 2030, assuming stable oil prices.
That has it on pace to produce a huge gusher of $165 billion in cumulative surplus cash over the next five years, which should support continued payout increases. With 42 straight years of dividend growth, Exxon has reached a level that only 4% of companies in the S&P 500 have achieved.
Johnson & Johnson(NYSE: JNJ) is a global healthcare leader that produced $20 billion in free cash flow last year. That’s after spending over $17 billion in research and development, which made it one of the world’s top R&D investors.
The company used its free cash flow to pay $11.8 billion in dividends in 2024 and strengthen its fortresslike balance sheet (it’s one of only two companies with a AAA credit rating). It has also deployed over $32 billion into strategic acquisitions over the past year and a half.
Heavy investments should support continued earnings and cash flow growth. That should enable Johnson & Johnson to extend its streak of dividend increases. It matched Coca-Cola’s 63rd annual dividend hike earlier this year, which also qualifies it as a Dividend King.
Kinder Morgan(NYSE: KMI) owns extensive natural gas infrastructure assets that generate stable and predictable cash flow. Take-or-pay agreements and hedging contracts lock in 69% of its annual revenue, while fee-based frameworks provide income visibility for another 26% of earnings.
The pipeline company expects to produce $5.9 billion in cash flow from operations this year. That easily covers its anticipated dividend outlay of around $2.6 billion.
This will provide Kinder Morgan with added excess free cash flow to invest in its large expansion projects. The company currently has over $9.3 billion of growth capital projects in its backlog, which it expects to complete through 2030.
Those projects will provide it with incremental sources of cash flow as they enter commercial service. That will give Kinder Morgan the fuel to continue increasing its dividend, which it has done for eight straight years.
Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, Johnson & Johnson, and Kinder Morgan all print tons of cash each year. That gives them the money to reinvest in growing their business while also paying attractive dividends that steadily grow. These cash machines are great foundational companies to anchor any portfolio.
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Matt DiLallo has positions in Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
