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
$12.89
-0.1%
3.14$16.4327.5%79.54%
2
Copa Holdings, S.A. stock logo
CPA
Copa
$111.20
-0.7%
3.14$123.6711.2%122.95%
3
Halliburton stock logo
HAL
Halliburton
$32.15
-1.2%
3.07$48.2450.0%201.99%
4
Targa Resources Corp. stock logo
TRGP
Targa Resources
$72.28
-0.7%
3.07$100.2738.7%162.77%
5
Agnico Eagle Mines Limited stock logo
AEM
Agnico Eagle Mines
$51.55
+1.6%
3.00$70.6337.0%123.10%
6
MVB Financial Corp. stock logo
MVBF
MVB Financial
$20.08
-4.2%
3.00$28.4041.4%63.39%
7
First Mid Bancshares, Inc. stock logo
FMBH
First Mid Bancshares
$25.79
-1.3%
3.00$40.7558.0%63.57%
8
Capital Product Partners L.P. stock logo
CPLP
Capital Product Partners
$14.15
+1.3%
3.00$18.5030.7%54.24%
9
Wintrust Financial Co. stock logo
WTFC
Wintrust Financial
$71.11
-1.5%
3.00$94.7333.2%122.25%
10
International Game Technology PLC stock logo
IGT
International Game Technology
$31.50
+12.5%
3.00$39.0023.8%72.54%
11
H&E Equipment Services, Inc. stock logo
HEES
H&E Equipment Services
$43.75
+1.4%
3.00$54.7525.1%52.51%
12
Seacoast Banking Co. of Florida stock logo
SBCF
Seacoast Banking Co. of Florida
$23.78
0.0%
3.00$28.8021.1%72.86%
13
LKQ Co. stock logo
LKQ
LKQ
$53.95
-1.0%
3.00$67.0024.2%52.04%
14
Viper Energy Partners LP stock logo
VNOM
Viper Energy Partners
$26.01
-1.2%
3.00$37.1142.7%123.84%
15
Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. stock logo
GLPI
Gaming and Leisure Properties
$50.13
-0.3%
3.00$56.8013.3%115.75%
16
First Merchants Co. stock logo
FRME
First Merchants
$29.20
-2.9%
3.00$44.6753.0%54.66%
17
American Software, Inc. stock logo
AMSWA
American Software
$13.42
-0.7%
3.00$21.7562.1%53.28%
18
Kimbell Royalty Partners, LP stock logo
KRP
Kimbell Royalty Partners
$15.18
+0.9%
3.00$21.0038.3%59.22%
19
Centerra Gold Inc. stock logo
CGAU
Centerra Gold
$6.03
+2.5%
3.00$9.6760.3%73.48%
20
Banc of California, Inc. stock logo
BANC
Banc of California
$12.78
-1.3%
3.00$17.5036.9%63.13%
21
Credicorp Ltd. stock logo
BAP
Credicorp
$140.73
+0.5%
3.00$153.008.7%54.77%
22
HCI Group, Inc. stock logo
HCI
HCI Group
$58.70
+1.1%
3.00$79.0034.6%52.73%
23
Royalty Pharma plc stock logo
RPRX
Royalty Pharma
$34.53
+2.1%
3.00$54.0056.4%72.32%
24
Heritage Commerce Corp stock logo
HTBK
Heritage Commerce
$8.67
+0.9%
3.00$12.1740.3%56.00%
25
CRH plc stock logo
CRH
CRH
$49.53
+1.9%
3.00$47.33-4.4%74.14%
26
Evercore Inc. stock logo
EVR
Evercore
$119.68
+1.0%
3.00$121.201.3%72.54%
27
Nordic American Tankers Limited stock logo
NAT
Nordic American Tankers
$3.64
-0.8%
3.00$5.2544.2%516.48%
28
Crescent Point Energy Corp. stock logo
CPG
Crescent Point Energy
$6.94
-1.2%
3.00$14.75112.5%64.18%
29
Oaktree Specialty Lending Co. stock logo
OCSL
Oaktree Specialty Lending
$19.70
+0.3%
3.00$22.2012.7%711.17%
30
Perrigo Company plc stock logo
PRGO
Perrigo
$33.65
-0.2%
3.00$48.0042.6%53.24%
31
Fidelity National Financial, Inc. stock logo
FNF
Fidelity National Financial
$35.39
-1.3%
3.00$46.4031.1%65.09%
32
Federal Agricultural Mortgage Co. stock logo
AGM
Federal Agricultural Mortgage
$150.45
+1.4%
3.00$139.00-7.6%52.92%
33
Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. stock logo
PPBI
Pacific Premier Bancorp
$21.67
-2.5%
3.00$29.3335.4%56.09%
34
Great Ajax Corp. stock logo
AJX
Great Ajax
$5.75
+0.9%
3.00$9.8871.7%613.91%
35
PHX Minerals Inc. stock logo
PHX
PHX Minerals
$2.99
-2.0%
3.00$5.0769.5%53.01%
36
Community Healthcare Trust Incorporated stock logo
CHCT
Community Healthcare Trust
$35.28
flat
3.00$43.5023.3%85.10%
37
Braemar Hotels & Resorts  stock logo
BHR
Braemar Hotels & Resorts
$4.22
-1.9%
3.00$10.00137.0%54.74%
38
Herc Holdings Inc. stock logo
HRI
Herc
$122.31
+0.4%
3.00$158.0029.2%62.07%
39
Ambev S.A. stock logo
ABEV
Ambev
$3.00
+0.3%
3.00$3.7424.7%54.00%
40
Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. stock logo
PINE
Alpine Income Property Trust
$16.29
-0.8%
3.00$21.6032.6%66.75%
41
Dynex Capital, Inc. stock logo
DX
Dynex Capital
$12.03
+0.4%
3.00$14.4420.1%612.97%
42
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. stock logo
RHP
Ryman Hospitality Properties
$95.26
flat
3.00$107.4012.7%73.15%
43
Saratoga Investment Corp. stock logo
SAR
Saratoga Investment
$27.79
+0.1%
3.00$27.10-2.5%610.08%
44
UMH Properties, Inc. stock logo
UMH
UMH Properties
$16.54
+0.8%
3.00$21.7531.5%84.96%
45
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. stock logo
SBLK
Star Bulk Carriers
$18.29
+0.8%
3.00$29.6762.2%57.65%
46
The Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited stock logo
NTB
Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son
$27.87
-2.6%
3.00$35.7528.3%56.32%
47
FTAI Aviation Ltd. stock logo
FTAI
FTAI Aviation
$29.42
+5.1%
3.00$33.8615.1%94.08%
48
BRT Apartments Corp. stock logo
BRT
BRT Apartments
$19.61
-2.8%
3.00$27.6741.1%55.10%
49
Kemper Co. stock logo
KMPR
Kemper
$46.37
-0.4%
3.00$71.2553.7%52.67%
50
Arcos Dorados Holdings Inc. stock logo
ARCO
Arcos Dorados
$8.90
-0.4%
3.00$11.0023.6%52.25%
51
Northern Oil and Gas, Inc. stock logo
NOG
Northern Oil and Gas
$33.07
0.0%
3.00$46.2039.7%124.11%
52
Genco Shipping & Trading Limited stock logo
GNK
Genco Shipping & Trading
$13.99
+0.6%
3.00$24.0071.6%84.29%
53
Pan American Silver Corp. stock logo
PAAS
Pan American Silver
$15.60
+1.6%
3.00$25.5063.5%72.56%
54
Ardmore Shipping Co. stock logo
ASC
Ardmore Shipping
$12.00
-1.5%
3.00$22.0083.3%511.67%
55
Pan American Silver Corp. stock logo
PAAS
Pan American Silver
$15.60
+1.6%
3.00$25.5063.5%72.56%
56
NiSource Inc. stock logo
NI
NiSource
$27.32
-0.3%
3.00$29.437.7%93.66%
57
Pan American Silver Corp. stock logo
PAAS
Pan American Silver
$15.60
+1.6%
3.00$25.5063.5%72.56%
58
California Resources Co. stock logo
CRC
California Resources
$41.30
-0.8%
3.00$55.3334.0%92.74%
59
Pan American Silver Corp. stock logo
PAAS
Pan American Silver
$15.60
+1.6%
3.00$25.5063.5%72.56%
60
Sixth Street Specialty Lending, Inc. stock logo
TSLX
Sixth Street Specialty Lending
$18.93
+0.2%
3.00$20.8310.1%89.72%
61
Pembina Pipeline Co. stock logo
PBA
Pembina Pipeline
$32.48
-0.4%
3.00$50.2054.6%95.88%
62
Prologis, Inc. stock logo
PLD
Prologis
$124.93
-2.5%
2.95$143.9015.2%222.79%
63
Schlumberger Limited stock logo
SLB
Schlumberger
$47.45
-1.4%
2.94$64.5336.0%202.11%
64
American Tower Co. stock logo
AMT
American Tower
$190.13
-0.4%
2.93$258.1235.8%183.28%
65
Western Alliance Bancorporation stock logo
WAL
Western Alliance Bancorporation
$40.76
+0.6%
2.92$59.2545.4%163.53%
66
EOG Resources, Inc. stock logo
EOG
EOG Resources
$116.15
-0.1%
2.91$149.3328.6%272.84%
67
Diamondback Energy, Inc. stock logo
FANG
Diamondback Energy
$133.34
-0.6%
2.90$178.0033.5%232.40%
68
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. stock logo
EPD
Enterprise Products Partners
$26.30
+0.3%
2.90$31.0017.9%137.45%
69
Baker Hughes stock logo
BKR
Baker Hughes
$30.29
-1.2%
2.89$35.6317.6%212.51%
70
VICI Properties Inc. stock logo
VICI
VICI Properties
$32.36
-0.4%
2.89$36.7513.6%124.82%
71
CVS Health Co. stock logo
CVS
CVS Health
$71.74
+0.4%
2.88$108.2050.8%233.37%
72
Agree Realty Co. stock logo
ADC
Agree Realty
$65.70
flat
2.88$78.2519.1%114.44%
73
Chord Energy Co. stock logo
CHRD
Chord Energy
$152.65
-1.1%
2.88$186.6322.3%93.28%
74
General Dynamics Co. stock logo
GD
General Dynamics
$213.52
-0.3%
2.88$261.6922.6%162.47%
75
Magnolia Oil & Gas Co. stock logo
MGY
Magnolia Oil & Gas
$21.01
0.0%
2.88$28.8837.4%112.19%
76
Redwood Trust, Inc. stock logo
RWT
Redwood Trust
$6.40
-0.5%
2.88$8.8338.0%1014.38%
77
Western Midstream Partners, LP stock logo
WES
Western Midstream Partners
$26.75
-0.4%
2.88$33.4325.0%117.48%
78
Welltower Inc. stock logo
WELL
Welltower
$79.80
-0.8%
2.87$81.191.7%173.06%
79
Camping World Holdings, Inc. stock logo
CWH
Camping World
$28.78
-1.3%
2.86$30.867.2%98.69%
80
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund stock logo
BXSL
Blackstone Secured Lending Fund
$26.09
-0.4%
2.86$27.073.8%710.73%
81
AGNC Investment Corp. stock logo
AGNC
AGNC Investment
$9.73
+0.5%
2.86$10.699.9%1014.80%
82
The Toronto-Dominion Bank stock logo
TD
Toronto-Dominion Bank
$59.17
+1.6%
2.86$100.5770.0%124.80%
83
Hancock Whitney Co. stock logo
HWC
Hancock Whitney
$42.76
-1.5%
2.86$47.5611.2%92.81%
84
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. stock logo
BIP
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
$36.84
+0.4%
2.86$43.7518.8%94.15%
85
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. stock logo
ARE
Alexandria Real Estate Equities
$120.56
-1.0%
2.86$164.0036.0%94.11%
86
Marathon Petroleum Co. stock logo
MPC
Marathon Petroleum
$112.42
-1.5%
2.85$141.4025.8%162.67%
87
FMC Co. stock logo
FMC
FMC
$109.99
-1.3%
2.85$143.3830.4%142.11%
88
Civista Bancshares, Inc. stock logo
CIVB
Civista Bancshares
$16.64
+0.4%
2.83$26.8361.3%83.61%
89
Patrick Industries, Inc. stock logo
PATK
Patrick Industries
$77.53
-0.2%
2.83$73.17-5.6%92.32%
90
Avient Co. stock logo
AVNT
Avient
$39.80
-1.9%
2.83$48.0020.6%92.49%
91
Dine Brands Global, Inc. stock logo
DIN
Dine Brands Global
$63.61
-2.4%
2.83$84.0032.1%73.21%
92
PotlatchDeltic Co. stock logo
PCH
PotlatchDeltic
$48.15
-0.2%
2.83$55.4015.1%73.74%
93
Rogers Communications Inc. stock logo
RCI
Rogers Communications
$43.55
-0.8%
2.83$74.3170.6%143.38%
94
F.N.B. Co. stock logo
FNB
F.N.B.
$12.07
-0.6%
2.83$14.8322.9%83.98%
95
Ares Capital Co. stock logo
ARCC
Ares Capital
$19.08
+0.3%
2.83$19.864.1%910.06%
96
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. stock logo
EPRT
Essential Properties Realty Trust
$24.50
-1.7%
2.83$25.925.8%94.49%
97
Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. stock logo
VAC
Marriott Vacations Worldwide
$131.21
-0.6%
2.83$191.6746.1%82.19%
98
Tenaris S.A. stock logo
TS
Tenaris
$27.78
+0.1%
2.83$44.5060.2%82.45%
99
Barclays PLC stock logo
BCS
Barclays
$7.95
+0.3%
2.83N/AN/A85.91%
100
Broadcom Inc. stock logo
AVGO
Broadcom
$804.20
+1.4%
2.82$794.21-1.2%222.29%

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.