
If you're looking for safe high yield dividend stocks for retirement income, you're in the right place. These types of stocks can provide a relatively stable source of income to help fund your golden years.
A key characteristic of safe high yield dividend stocks is their consistent dividend payments. For example, Johnson & Johnson has paid a dividend every year for over 50 years.
To achieve this level of reliability, these companies often have a strong track record of profitability and a solid financial foundation. Consider companies like Procter & Gamble, which has increased its dividend payout for 66 consecutive years.
Investing in safe high yield dividend stocks can provide a sense of security for your retirement income.
Stocks with High Yield
Stocks with high yields can be attractive, but it's essential to understand the potential risks. A high dividend yield can be a sign of a declining stock, making it a bad idea to chase yield. This is because a falling stock can make a dividend yield look great, but it's often a mathematical distortion of a declining stock.
For example, if a stock's price drops from $30 to $15, its dividend yield can double from 10% to 20%. However, this doesn't necessarily mean the stock is a good investment. In fact, it may take five years of $3 dividend payments just to break even on the stock loss.
Some stocks, like Verizon Communications (VZ) and Pfizer (PFE), have a long history of raising their dividends annually, making them more reliable options. Here are the top 15 S&P 500 stocks with the highest dividend yields:
Yields
High-yield stocks can be attractive to investors, but it's essential to understand the potential risks and rewards. Sometimes, stocks with the highest dividend yields can be fool's gold, especially if their share prices have come under stress.
Verizon Communications (VZ) is a notable exception, with a 20-year track record of annual dividend hikes. This consistency is a reassuring sign for investors.
Some stocks with high dividend yields are listed below, along with their forward dividend yields and analysts' consensus recommendations. Here's a list of the top 15 S&P 500 stocks with the highest dividend yields:
Annual Dividend/Share Price
The annual dividend/share price calculation might look appealing at first, but it's crucial to understand its limitations. A falling stock can make a dividend yield look great, even if the underlying situation is not as rosy as it seems.
For instance, if a stock crashes to $15 a share and the company holds the dividend the same, the stock's dividend yield doubles to 20%. This is because the same $3 dividend is now being divided by a lower stock price.
It's essential to consider the stock's overall performance, not just its yield. In the case of a declining stock, a higher yield might not necessarily be a good thing.
A stock that pays $3 a year in dividends and has a $30-a-share price might initially seem like a great investment, with a 10% annual dividend yield. However, if the stock crashes to $15 a share, the yield doubles, but the investor is worse off due to the stock loss.
T. Rowe Price Yield
T. Rowe Price offers a solid source of dividend yield, with shares yielding 3.5% above the market.
This stock has been a reliable performer, with shares up 94% over the past five years, outpacing the S&P 500 by 9%.
The company's earnings have grown at an impressive 23% annualized clip over the past three years, providing a stable foundation for its dividend payments.
T. Rowe Price has also consistently increased its dividend, boosting it by more than 27% over the past five years.
Full List of IBD Reliable Sources
If you're looking for reliable sources of high-yield stocks, you're in luck. IBD has compiled a list of top performers that have consistently beaten the S&P 500.
One stock that stands out is Medifast (MED), which boasts a 3.6% indicated yield and a 46% 3-year EPS growth rate. Its 5-year price change is a staggering 235%.
Rio Tinto Plc (RIO) is another high-yield stock with a 9.7% indicated yield and a 40% 3-year EPS growth rate. Its composite rating is a respectable 96.
Here's a list of the top 7 stocks from IBD's list, showcasing their impressive performance:
These stocks have consistently delivered strong performance, making them great options to consider for your investment portfolio.
Individual Stocks
Individual Stocks can be a great way to invest in safe high yield dividend stocks. Kinder Morgan, for instance, boasts a 6.12% yield.
Their uninterrupted dividend streak of 7 years is a testament to their commitment to shareholders. This stability is a result of their self-funding model and reduced debt.
Kinder Morgan's conservative payout ratio and fee-based contracts also contribute to their dividend reliability.
Basics of Payment
Dividends are typically paid in cash, but they can also be issued as shares of stock or other property. Companies with strong financials and a history of paying consistent dividends are often a good bet for investors.
Dividend-paying stocks can be paid out on a monthly, quarterly, or even special basis. For example, some stocks are paid out monthly, while others are paid out quarterly.

The frequency of dividend payments can vary greatly between companies. Some companies pay out dividends monthly, while others pay out quarterly or even on a special basis in response to exceptional earnings.
Companies with a long history of paying consistent dividends are often a good bet for investors. For example, Verizon Communications has raised its dividend annually for two decades, and Pfizer has a 15-year track record of consecutive hikes to its payout.
Some stocks with the highest dividend yields are listed below:
It's essential to keep in mind that high dividend yields don't always indicate a company's financial health. In some cases, high yields can be a sign of a company's financial struggles.
Yield Winner: Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a top dividend yield winner, boasting a lucrative 9.7% yield. This is a significant increase from 34% over the past five years.
The company's stock has seen impressive growth, rising nearly 4% in the past 52 weeks. This is a testament to its resilience in a fluctuating market.
Rio Tinto's financials are also a strong point. Earnings have grown over 50% in the past five years, and by 46% in the past three. This consistent growth demonstrates the company's stability and potential for future success.
Here are some key statistics that highlight Rio Tinto's impressive performance:
Rio Tinto's stability and growth make it an attractive option for investors seeking a reliable dividend.
Investment Strategies and Criteria
To find safe high yield dividend stocks, consider the stability of the sector a company operates in. Sectors like utilities and consumer staples tend to perform well across various economic conditions and feature safer dividend stocks.
High dividend yields are a good starting point, but don't stop there. Look for yields of 3% or more, which is significantly higher than the S&P's 1.3% yield.
Earnings growth and stability are also crucial. IBD looks for stocks with three- and five-year earnings growth of 10% or more, and earnings stability of 20 or better.
To narrow down the search, consider the following criteria:
- High dividend yields of 3% or more
- Three- and five-year earnings growth of 10% or more
- Earnings stability of 20 or better
- No cuts to the dividend
- At least kept pace with the S&P 500 over the past five years
- IBD Composite Rating of 65 or higher
Investing Key Terms
To start, let's define some key terms that are essential to understanding dividend investing.
Dividend Yield is a crucial metric that shows the ratio of a company's annual dividend to its share price, expressed as a percentage.
This helps us gauge the dividend as a return on our investment.
The Ex-Dividend Date is a critical deadline for investors, as they must buy stock before this date to receive the declared dividend.
The Record Date is when a company determines its shareholders, and only those registered on this date will receive the dividend.
The Payment Date is when the dividend payment is actually made to shareholders.
Here are the key terms summarized in a simple table:
Core Investment Criteria
To build a solid investment portfolio, you need to know what to look for in a stock. There are three key things to consider: financial health, dividend history, and sector stability.
Financial health is crucial, and there are several indicators to assess a company's financial stability. The payout ratio, for example, measures the proportion of earnings a company pays to shareholders as dividends. A sustainable payout ratio of 60% or less suggests a company can comfortably cover its dividend payments without putting itself in a compromising financial situation.
A low debt-to-equity ratio is also essential, as it indicates the company is not overly reliant on debt. This means the stock is less risky in times of economic uncertainty. Strong free cash flow is another sign of financial health, as it shows a company has enough liquidity to support dividend payments, invest in business growth, and manage unexpected expenses without worry.
The interest coverage ratio is another important metric to evaluate a company's ability to meet its interest obligations. A higher ratio indicates earning power comfortably exceeds interest expenses, which is crucial for long-term dividend safety.
Here are the key financial health indicators to consider:
- Payout Ratio: 60% or less
- Debt-to-Equity Ratio: Low
- Free Cash Flow: Strong
- Interest Coverage Ratio: High
In addition to financial health, dividend history is also crucial. A long history of dividend payments can be a good indicator of a company's commitment to shareholders and financial health going forward. Consistent increases in dividend payouts over the years signal a healthy, growing company and offer inflation protection for investors' income.
To find the safest dividend stocks, consider the following criteria:
- High dividend yields of 3%-plus
- Three- and five-year earnings growth of 10%-plus
- Earnings stability of 20 or better
- No cuts to the dividend (which will be harder to find after 2020)
- IBD Composite Rating of 65 or higher out of a possible 99
Sector stability is also essential to consider. Sectors that tend to perform well across various economic conditions, such as utilities or consumer staples, often feature safer dividend stocks. They're less sensitive to economic downturns as they're more essential.
Safe Investments and Approaches
VectorVest makes finding the safest dividend stocks a breeze with its 3 simple ratings that boil down complex technical data into clear insights. This app takes the guesswork out of investing, giving you a buy, sell, or hold recommendation for the 16,000+ stocks it tracks daily.
You can filter your search for opportunities by the "Top Dividend Stocks" or "Safest Stocks With a Buy Rating" using VectorVest's many filters. This ensures you're getting insights that align with your investment strategy.
To find the safest dividend-paying stocks, focus on companies with stable dividend histories, strong financial health indicators, and resilience in stable sectors.
The Best Now
The 7 Best High Yield Stocks Now is a resource that analyzes the top high-yielding securities in the Sure Analysis Research Database. It ranks stocks based on dividend yield, dividend risk scores, and location within the U.S.
These rankings are based on a tremendous amount of research, with the analyst team analyzing over 850 income securities every quarter. The team's approach is to "turn over the most rocks" and find the best opportunities, as investing legend Peter Lynch suggests.
The 7 best high-yield securities are listed below, ordered from lowest to highest dividend yield.
It's worth noting that a maximum of three stocks are allowed for any single market sector to ensure diversification.
The 50 Series
Financial health is a crucial aspect of safe dividend stocks. It's essential to look for companies with a strong financial foundation.
Dividend history is another key factor to consider. A company's ability to consistently pay dividends over time is a good sign of its financial stability.
Sector stability is also vital when evaluating safe dividend stocks. This includes considering the overall health of the industry and the company's position within it.
Dividend stocks can be a great way to generate supplemental income in retirement or to grow your portfolio over time. They can also be a good option for investors looking to preserve the value of their portfolio.
Sunoco LP is a master limited partnership that has reported strong financial results, including an 77% increase in adjusted EBITDA year over year.
To evaluate the safety of dividend stocks, consider the three key factors: financial health, dividend history, and sector stability.
The Reasoning Behind
Dividend stocks are particularly intriguing for investing after retirement as they can generate supplemental income while preserving or even growing the value of your portfolio for the long run.
Many companies use dividends as an investor sentiment tactic, as increasing payouts signal prosperity and can drive share prices higher.

Dividend payments are issued by companies as an incentive for current investors to remain loyal and to encourage new investors.
These payments are a percentage of the company's profits shared with shareholders, and they can be a good source of passive income.
Companies that issue dividends are in a stable financial position, with a track record of profitability and a clear policy of sharing profits with shareholders.
Here are the key characteristics of dividend stocks:
- High dividend yields of 3%-plus
- Three- and five-year earnings growth of 10%-plus
- Earnings stability of 20 or better
- No cuts to the dividend
Investing in dividend stocks can be a safer strategy compared to other investment approaches, particularly for those seeking stability and consistent returns.
However, no investment is without any risk, and learning how to find the safest dividend stocks is crucial.
Companies with stable dividend histories, strong financial health indicators, and resilience in stable sectors are a good starting point for finding safe dividend stocks.
To find the safest dividend stocks, consider the following:
- Financial health
- Dividend history
- Sector stability
By focusing on these key characteristics, you can increase your chances of finding safe and profitable dividend stocks.
Company Examples
Let's take a look at some examples of safe high yield dividend stocks. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) has a 25-year uninterrupted dividend streak, with a yield of 7.12%. Its business model is backed by long-term, fixed-fee contracts that protect cash flows from volatile commodity prices.
One of the key benefits of investing in a company with a long dividend history is the reduced risk of dividend cuts. This is evident in Enterprise Products' strong track record of dividend growth since its IPO in 1998.
Another example is Altria Group (MO), which has a dividend yield of 7.8%. Altria's solid third-quarter results were driven by the resilience of its smokeable products and the continued market momentum of its on! nicotine pouch brand.
Altria's revenue was $5.34 billion, a 1.3% year-over-year increase, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) reaching $1.38. The company has also reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance range of $5.07 to $5.15.
Here are some key statistics on these two companies:
Note that Altria's dividend streak is not as long as Enterprise Products', but its yield is higher. This highlights the importance of considering multiple factors when evaluating dividend stocks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dividend stocks does Warren Buffett own?
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns stakes in several dividend-paying stocks, including The Kraft Heinz Company (KHC), Chevron Corp. (CVX), and Bank of America (BAC), among others. These investments are part of Berkshire's diversified portfolio, which also includes other notable holdings.
Sources
- https://www.kiplinger.com/investing/stocks-with-the-highest-dividend-yields-in-the-sandp-500
- https://www.suredividend.com/high-dividend-stocks/
- https://www.vectorvest.com/blog/stockmarket/safest-dividend-stocks/
- https://www.investors.com/etfs-and-funds/personal-finance/high-dividend-stocks/
- https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/10-safe-dividend-stocks-with-high-yields-1017768/
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