Best Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

Here are the 100 dividend stocks that have the highest average rating among equities research analysts in the last 12 months. A score of 4.00 represents 100% "strong buy" ratings. Conversely, a score of 1.00 represents receiving 100% "sell" ratings. To qualify for this list, a company has to have received at least five ratings within the last 12 months and have a dividend yield of at least 2%. Learn how important stock ratings are when choosing dividend stocks.

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Market Cap
Consensus Rating
RankCompanyShare PriceConsensus Rating ScoreConsensus Price TargetPossible UpsideNumber of RatingsDividend Yield
1
Energy Transfer LP stock logo
ET
Energy Transfer
$11.70
+0.2%
3.13$16.4340.4%810.43%
2
Targa Resources Corp. stock logo
TRGP
Targa Resources
$67.52
+1.0%
3.08$97.9145.0%152.07%
3
Pan American Silver Corp. stock logo
PAAS
Pan American Silver
$18.01
+0.3%
3.00$27.3051.6%82.22%
4
HCI Group, Inc. stock logo
HCI
HCI Group
$54.21
+1.7%
3.00$75.3339.0%52.95%
5
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited stock logo
AEM
Agnico Eagle Mines
$51.68
+1.1%
3.00$70.5036.4%103.10%
6
UMH Properties, Inc. stock logo
UMH
UMH Properties
$14.34
+2.0%
3.00$21.7551.7%85.72%
7
Runway Growth Finance Corp. stock logo
RWAY
Runway Growth Finance
$12.15
+3.5%
3.00$14.3017.7%513.17%
8
Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP stock logo
KRP
Kimbell Royalty Partners
$14.49
+2.5%
3.00$21.7550.1%513.25%
9
Wintrust Financial Co. stock logo
WTFC
Wintrust Financial
$70.90
+1.8%
3.00$106.7050.5%112.26%
10
Seacoast Banking Co. of Florida stock logo
SBCF
Seacoast Banking Co. of Florida
$24.19
+1.6%
3.00$32.7535.4%52.81%
11
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. stock logo
FNF
Fidelity National Financial
$33.32
+0.9%
3.00$49.0047.1%65.40%
12
Perrigo Company plc stock logo
PRGO
Perrigo
$33.85
+1.6%
3.00$48.0041.8%53.22%
13
Oaktree Specialty Lending Co. stock logo
OCSL
Oaktree Specialty Lending
$18.31
+1.5%
3.00$22.2021.2%612.02%
14
Capital Product Partners L.P. stock logo
CPLP
Capital Product Partners
$12.70
+0.6%
3.00$18.5045.7%54.72%
15
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. stock logo
HEES
H&E Equipment Services
$42.26
-0.9%
3.00$58.0037.2%52.60%
16
AFC Gamma, Inc. stock logo
AFCG
AFC Gamma
$12.27
+1.8%
3.00$19.7060.6%618.26%
17
Ares Capital Co. stock logo
ARCC
Ares Capital
$17.54
+2.0%
3.00$20.7118.1%910.95%
18
CTO Realty Growth, Inc. stock logo
CTO
CTO Realty Growth
$16.54
+2.2%
3.00$22.4035.4%79.19%
19
TriCo Bancshares stock logo
TCBK
TriCo Bancshares
$42.95
+3.5%
3.00$57.4033.6%62.79%
20
Modiv Inc. stock logo
MDV
Modiv
$10.85
-1.4%
3.00$18.9074.2%610.60%
21
NiSource Inc. stock logo
NI
NiSource
$26.75
+2.9%
3.00$29.179.0%83.74%
22
Great Ajax Corp. stock logo
AJX
Great Ajax
$6.43
+2.6%
3.00$12.3892.5%615.55%
23
Banner Co. stock logo
BANR
Banner
$54.46
+2.7%
3.00$67.6024.1%63.53%
24
Chatham Lodging Trust stock logo
CLDT
Chatham Lodging Trust
$9.87
+2.7%
3.00$15.6758.7%58.51%
25
Stewart Information Services Co. stock logo
STC
Stewart Information Services
$38.72
+2.3%
3.00$62.0060.1%54.65%
26
CTO Realty Growth, Inc. stock logo
CTO
CTO Realty Growth
$16.54
+2.2%
3.00$22.4035.4%79.19%
27
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. stock logo
GLPI
Gaming and Leisure Properties
$49.52
+2.0%
3.00$56.6014.3%115.82%
28
MVB Financial Corp. stock logo
MVBF
MVB Financial
$21.25
+1.2%
3.00$33.2556.5%53.20%
29
Eagle Bulk Shipping Inc. stock logo
EGLE
Eagle Bulk Shipping
$47.60
+1.8%
3.00$74.7157.0%95.04%
30
Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. stock logo
PINE
Alpine Income Property Trust
$16.35
+2.7%
3.00$22.2536.1%56.73%
31
Capital Southwest Co. stock logo
CSWC
Capital Southwest
$17.21
+0.8%
3.00$21.8827.1%612.32%
32
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. stock logo
CALM
Cal-Maine Foods
$54.46
+1.1%
3.00$58.507.4%59.92%
33
Farmland Partners Inc. stock logo
FPI
Farmland Partners
$10.02
+1.7%
3.00$15.2552.2%52.40%
34
Halliburton stock logo
HAL
Halliburton
$29.60
+0.6%
3.00$48.4463.7%202.16%
35
Royalty Pharma plc stock logo
RPRX
Royalty Pharma
$35.43
+1.8%
3.00$53.8652.0%92.26%
36
Viper Energy Partners LP stock logo
VNOM
Viper Energy Partners
$26.77
-0.6%
3.00$37.1138.7%123.74%
37
Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. stock logo
TSLX
Sixth Street Specialty Lending
$17.61
+1.6%
3.00$21.0019.3%810.45%
38
Herc Holdings Inc. stock logo
HRI
Herc
$105.89
-2.8%
3.00$164.6055.4%62.39%
39
Cabot Co. stock logo
CBT
Cabot
$73.34
+1.2%
3.00$96.0030.9%62.02%
40
International Game Technology PLC stock logo
IGT
International Game Technology
$24.99
+0.2%
3.00$37.2048.9%63.20%
41
FTAI Aviation Ltd. stock logo
FTAI
FTAI Aviation
$24.35
+1.1%
3.00$29.7922.3%84.93%
42
Starwood Property Trust, Inc. stock logo
STWD
Starwood Property Trust
$16.85
+1.9%
3.00$25.0748.8%811.39%
43
Prologis, Inc. stock logo
PLD
Prologis
$117.03
+2.5%
3.00$144.8523.8%212.97%
44
Atlantic Union Bankshares Co. stock logo
AUB
Atlantic Union Bankshares
$35.01
+2.9%
3.00$44.3326.6%53.43%
45
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. stock logo
SBLK
Star Bulk Carriers
$21.31
+0.9%
3.00$30.3342.3%511.26%
46
Crescent Point Energy Corp. stock logo
CPG
Crescent Point Energy
$6.44
-1.9%
3.00$14.75129.0%64.50%
47
Nordic American Tankers Limited stock logo
NAT
Nordic American Tankers
$4.04
+0.2%
3.00$5.2530.0%514.85%
48
American Software, Inc. stock logo
AMSWA
American Software
$12.22
-0.2%
3.00$21.7578.0%53.60%
49
Rogers Communications Inc. stock logo
RCI
Rogers Communications
$45.69
+0.2%
3.00$74.3162.6%133.22%
50
Genco Shipping & Trading Limited stock logo
GNK
Genco Shipping & Trading
$15.63
+1.5%
3.00$23.2048.4%812.80%
51
Saratoga Investment Corp. stock logo
SAR
Saratoga Investment
$24.29
+1.9%
3.00$27.6313.7%511.36%
52
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. stock logo
NOG
Northern Oil and Gas
$28.35
+2.4%
3.00$45.1159.1%114.23%
53
The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited stock logo
NTB
Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son
$26.76
-1.0%
3.00$41.5055.1%56.58%
54
LKQ Co. stock logo
LKQ
LKQ
$53.80
+0.4%
3.00$67.0024.5%62.04%
55
First Mid Bancshares, Inc. stock logo
FMBH
First Mid Bancshares
$26.85
+1.5%
3.00$41.7555.5%63.43%
56
Enterprise Financial Services Corp stock logo
EFSC
Enterprise Financial Services
$45.76
+2.5%
3.00$56.6723.8%52.19%
57
BRT Apartments Corp. stock logo
BRT
BRT Apartments
$18.87
+2.7%
3.00$27.6746.6%55.30%
58
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. stock logo
NOG
Northern Oil and Gas
$28.35
+2.4%
3.00$45.1159.1%114.23%
59
Ardmore Shipping Co. stock logo
ASC
Ardmore Shipping
$14.97
+0.3%
3.00$13.17-12.0%612.02%
60
CRH plc stock logo
CRH
CRH
$48.10
-2.7%
3.00$48.00-0.2%104.28%
61
California Resources Co. stock logo
CRC
California Resources
$37.04
+2.6%
3.00$56.8653.5%103.05%
62
Dynex Capital, Inc. stock logo
DX
Dynex Capital
$11.75
+3.0%
3.00$14.4422.9%513.28%
63
Baker Hughes stock logo
BKR
Baker Hughes
$27.02
+1.1%
2.94$36.1133.6%202.81%
64
Schlumberger Limited stock logo
SLB
Schlumberger
$44.57
-2.0%
2.94$62.3839.9%202.24%
65
American Tower Co. stock logo
AMT
American Tower
$199.62
+4.0%
2.93$259.2529.9%183.13%
66
Marathon Petroleum Co. stock logo
MPC
Marathon Petroleum
$124.70
-1.2%
2.92$138.6311.2%172.41%
67
Diamondback Energy, Inc. stock logo
FANG
Diamondback Energy
$125.42
-1.0%
2.90$180.8044.2%212.55%
68
Magnolia Oil & Gas Co. stock logo
MGY
Magnolia Oil & Gas
$20.66
+1.3%
2.90$30.6748.4%112.23%
69
Kite Realty Group Trust stock logo
KRG
Kite Realty Group Trust
$19.49
+2.4%
2.89$25.2929.7%104.93%
70
Redwood Trust, Inc. stock logo
RWT
Redwood Trust
$6.41
+4.8%
2.89$9.4447.3%1114.35%
71
Agree Realty Co. stock logo
ADC
Agree Realty
$67.09
+3.2%
2.89$78.2316.6%124.29%
72
VICI Properties Inc. stock logo
VICI
VICI Properties
$31.06
+3.2%
2.89$36.7918.5%125.02%
73
Sun Communities, Inc. stock logo
SUI
Sun Communities
$133.35
+2.7%
2.88$168.8626.6%102.64%
74
CenterPoint Energy, Inc. stock logo
CNP
CenterPoint Energy
$28.34
+3.6%
2.88$32.5614.9%102.68%
75
Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. stock logo
BAM
Brookfield Asset Management
$31.02
-0.7%
2.88$47.0651.7%114.26%
76
Essential Utilities, Inc. stock logo
WTRG
Essential Utilities
$42.11
+3.5%
2.88$52.3824.4%102.73%
77
Bunge Limited stock logo
BG
Bunge
$93.93
+0.4%
2.88$125.1333.2%102.66%
78
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. stock logo
BIP
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
$31.79
+1.0%
2.86$45.2142.2%94.81%
79
AGNC Investment Corp. stock logo
AGNC
AGNC Investment
$9.79
+1.6%
2.86$10.8610.9%1114.71%
80
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund stock logo
BXSL
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund
$24.96
-1.8%
2.86$27.078.5%711.22%
81
Chord Energy Co. stock logo
CHRD
Chord Energy
$124.91
+0.3%
2.86$185.1448.2%84.00%
82
General Dynamics Co. stock logo
GD
General Dynamics
$223.50
+1.5%
2.86$267.1519.5%152.26%
83
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. stock logo
ARE
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
$119.86
+3.2%
2.86$175.6346.5%94.04%
84
EOG Resources, Inc. stock logo
EOG
EOG Resources
$105.49
+0.7%
2.86$152.4544.5%253.13%
85
Brunswick Co. stock logo
BC
Brunswick
$77.11
-0.7%
2.86$102.7733.3%162.07%
86
The AES Co. stock logo
AES
AES
$22.21
+1.1%
2.86$31.0039.6%132.97%
87
Sibanye Stillwater Limited stock logo
SBSW
Sibanye Stillwater
$8.20
-1.2%
2.86$13.4864.3%76.10%
88
Valero Energy Co. stock logo
VLO
Valero Energy
$129.26
-0.9%
2.85$151.3817.1%183.16%
89
Avient Co. stock logo
AVNT
Avient
$38.68
+1.7%
2.83$48.0024.1%92.56%
90
EQT Co. stock logo
EQT
EQT
$30.56
+3.4%
2.83$52.5972.1%191.96%
91
PotlatchDeltic Co. stock logo
PCH
PotlatchDeltic
$46.90
+0.4%
2.83$55.4018.1%73.84%
92
Dine Brands Global, Inc. stock logo
DIN
Dine Brands Global
$66.50
-0.6%
2.83$85.5028.6%73.07%
93
NETSTREIT Corp. stock logo
NTST
NETSTREIT
$17.86
+2.1%
2.83$22.2924.8%84.48%
94
Western Midstream Partners, LP stock logo
WES
Western Midstream Partners
$24.76
-0.4%
2.83$34.0037.3%78.08%
95
Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated stock logo
CHCT
Community Healthcare Trust
$35.13
+2.5%
2.83$43.4323.6%95.10%
96
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. stock logo
EPD
Enterprise Products Partners
$25.31
+1.3%
2.83$30.8321.8%157.74%
97
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. stock logo
VAC
Marriott Vacations Worldwide
$126.72
-2.5%
2.83$192.3351.8%82.27%
98
Exelon Co. stock logo
EXC
Exelon
$40.24
+2.6%
2.82$46.3615.2%133.58%
99
Exelon Co. stock logo
EXC
Exelon
$40.24
+2.6%
2.82$46.3615.2%133.58%
100
Exelon Co. stock logo
EXC
Exelon
$40.24
+2.6%
2.82$46.3615.2%133.58%

Stock research is an essential tool for every successful investor. Some investors are well-versed in reading a company’s balance sheet or have relevant experience with a certain sector. However, many do not. That’s where stock ratings can be helpful.

In this article, we’ll explain the ratings process including what each rating means. We’ll also explain how analysts arrive at their rating and why analysts may change their ratings.

Stock ratings matter because they convey to investors the reasoned and objective analysis of experienced professionals. Analysts and brokerage firms have access to corporate management. This gives them the ability to see things that won’t be apparent in the headline numbers of an earnings report. Analysts can give individual investors insight into competitive advantages and/or pitfalls that may not be obvious to individual investors.

Analysts spend significant time and effort to provide accurate stock ratings. If an analyst misses badly on a stock rating, it can affect their reputation in the industry as well as the commissions they earn for such pieces of information. With that said, no analyst ever gets it 100% right.

An analyst rating is an opinion about a stock’s price movement over time (usually about 12 months). It is not indicative of an analyst’s opinion on a specific trading day. Here are the most common ratings and what they mean:

Buy Rating: This is a bullish signal expressing an analyst’s opinion that a stock’s price is likely to increase and therefore is worth buying at its current market price. Some analysts will use the phrase ‘strong buy’ to indicate a high confidence that a stock will move higher. Generally speaking, analysts who give a strong buy rating will have a higher price target than the consensus price.

Sell Rating: This is a bearish signal expressing an analyst’s opinion that a stock’s price is likely to decline and therefore should be sold at its current market price. When an analyst issues a “strong sell” rating they are telling investors that they should liquidate their position in the security as it may fall much further or may be in danger of being delisted.

Hold Rating: This is a neutral signal expressing an analyst’s opinion that a stock’s price is likely to perform at the same pace as other stocks in its sector. A hold rating is particularly significant for dividend stocks because a reliable, and/or growing, dividend will help increase an investor’s total return whether the stock increases in price or not.

Underperform Rating:  An underperform rating is a bearish signal that says a stock is likely to perform worse than the overall market. Analysts may also use the term underweight. Investors can think of this as between a sell and a hold. While it may not be time to sell the stock, the analyst believes the stock is losing upside momentum.

Outperform Stock Rating:  An outperform rating is a bullish signal that a stock is likely to perform much better than the overall market. Analysts may also use the term overweight. Investors can think of this as between a neutral and a buy. Investors may not want to buy the stock, but the analyst believes that an uptrend is gaining momentum.

Every quarter, publicly traded companies deliver earnings reports. These are progress reports for investors. Companies report the prior quarter’s revenue and profit or loss. In some cases, they will issue future guidance for revenue and earnings. And just as importantly, these earnings reports give companies a chance to review their company’s strategy and objectives.

This is also a time when company management answers questions from market analysts. These analysts, in turn, issue ratings for the stock. Analysts take the information they hear from the company’s management team and they compare that to what is being reported on the company’s balance sheet. At that point, they issue a rating for the stock based on where they expect the price to move in the next 12 months.

Absolutely they do. Publicly traded companies are affected by what’s going on in the broader economy. For example, inflation can lead to higher producer costs. Ideally a company could pass along these costs to consumers to protect their profit margins. However, this isn’t always possible. Geopolitical events can impact companies that have an international supply chain. And sometimes, companies just miss on revenue and earnings forecasts for no discernible reason.

In any of these cases, analysts are challenged to reconsidering their rating. In some cases, an analyst may raise or lower their price target without changing their rating.

No investor should blindly accept the opinion of any analyst. There are outside factors that can weigh on the short term revenue and earnings. Additionally, stock ratings are, at least in part, subjective. That’s why it’s not uncommon for a stock to receive contrary outlooks from different analysts.

However, they do provide a useful starting point for investors who may not be an expert in corporate finance. And stock ratings provide a general sense of the sentiment of institutional investors. It’s up to every investor to decide if that sentiment and timeline matches their own risk tolerance and investment timeline.

Find out why slow and steady wins the race with DividendStocks.com.