The roster of high-dividend stocks keeps growing this year.
I have a bit of a New Year’s ritual. Not the fireworks or traditional foods kind. Instead, I take the first week of January to scout for solid dividend stocks to hold onto for the year ahead.
Some of the stocks on this year’s list might look familiar from 2025, but there are also a few newcomers. Here’s a rundown of my top 26 dividend stocks for 2026.
Dividend Kings
Let’s kick off with the Dividend Kings, a prestigious group of stocks that have managed to increase their dividends for an impressive 50 consecutive years. I’m drawn to three members from the 2026 Dividend Kings.
|
Stock |
Business Overview |
Market Capitalization |
Future Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. AbbVie |
Pharmaceutical firm with various blockbuster medications |
$405 billion |
3% |
|
2. Coca-Cola Company |
Global beverage company with $30 billion in brands |
$301 billion |
2.9% |
|
3. Walmart |
Major retailer with stores in the US and abroad |
$888 billion |
0.8% |
AbbVie particularly stands out to me. It faced a significant challenge when its flagship drug, Humira, lost patent protection in early 2023, but has since made a strong comeback. For income-focused investors, I think it’s one of the finest healthcare stocks available.
Income-Focused Stocks
The U.S. incentivizes certain companies to pay dividends by allowing them to avoid federal income tax, provided they return at least 90% of profits to shareholders. Two such stocks have made my New Year’s favorites list.
Real estate income seems to attract a lot of investors. Not only do REITs offer high yields, but they also provide monthly dividends. Plus, they’ve consistently boosted dividends for three decades.
Growth Meets Dividends
Now, some of the well-known “Magnificent Seven” stocks might not be known for their dividends. But, if you’re looking for growth, they offer intriguing potential. Here are my top three picks from this group.
|
Stock |
Business Overview |
Market Capitalization |
Future Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6. Alphabet |
Leading search engine and cloud service company |
$3.8 trillion |
0.27% |
|
7. Apple |
Global technology giant known for iPhones and Macs |
$4 trillion |
0.38% |
|
8. Microsoft |
Software vendor and cloud service provider |
$3.6 trillion |
0.75% |
I’m particularly optimistic about Alphabet for 2026. The company boasts a top cloud platform and is advancing in the AI landscape with its large-scale language models and AI chips.
Promising Energy Stocks
Energy stocks have long been a favorite among income investors due to their stable yields. Here are four that I believe have great potential.
|
Stock |
Business Overview |
Market Capitalization |
Future Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
|
9. Chevron |
Major global oil and gas corporation |
$306 billion |
4.5% |
|
10. Enbridge |
Midstream energy and natural gas utility |
$104 billion |
5.8% |
|
11. Energy Transfer |
Midstream energy business |
$56 billion |
8% |
|
12. Enterprise Products Partners |
Midstream energy firm |
$69 billion |
6.8% |
Enbridge is particularly intriguing, as its pipelines transport a significant portion of North America’s crude oil and a large share of natural gas consumed in the U.S. Plus, it has a solid history of dividend increases for over three decades.
Utility Stocks
Utility stocks often provide appealing dividends and offer stability during market fluctuations. Here are seven utility stocks I’m excited about for 2026.
|
Stock |
Business Overview |
Market Capitalization |
Future Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
|
13. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners |
Infrastructure company with utility assets |
$16 billion |
4.9% |
|
14. Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation |
Infrastructure company with utility holdings |
$5 billion |
3.8% |
|
15. Brookfield Renewable Partners |
Provider of renewable energy |
$18 billion |
5.5% |
|
16. Brookfield Renewable Corporation |
Renewable energy company |
$7 billion |
3.9% |
|
17. Clearway Energy |
Renewable energy firm |
$7 billion |
5.4% |
|
18. Dominion Energy |
Electric utility in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina |
$50 billion |
4.5% |
|
19. Evergy |
Electric utility in Kansas and Missouri |
$17 billion |
3.8% |
You might’ve noticed a common theme with Brookfield appearing multiple times. They have both limited partnership and corporation stocks under their umbrella, all managed by Brookfield Asset Management.
Value Stocks
What could be better than a reliable dividend? A reliable dividend alongside great valuation. Here are six stocks that fit the bill.
|
Stock |
Business Overview |
Market Capitalization |
Future Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
|
20. Pfizer |
Pharmaceutical company with notable blockbuster drugs |
$142 billion |
6.9% |
|
21. Prudential Financial |
Major player in financial services |
$40 billion |
4.8% |
|
22. UnitedHealth Group |
Leading health insurance and pharmacy benefits manager |
$300 billion |
2.7% |
|
23. United Parcel Service |
Large logistics and delivery firm |
$84 billion |
6.6% |
|
24. U.S. Bancorp |
Major banking institution |
$83 billion |
3.8% |
|
25. Verizon Communications |
Key telecommunications provider |
$172 billion |
6.8% |
These selections feature forward price/earnings ratios that stand out against the market average. In particular, I foresee UnitedHealth Group’s stock price might dip in 2025 but recover in 2026.
A Unique Addition
Lastly, I’ve included one unconventional choice in my 2026 lineup.
|
Stock |
Business Overview |
Market Capitalization |
Future Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
|
26. FS Credit Opportunity |
Closed-end fund (CEF) |
$1.25 billion |
12.8% |
FS Credit Opportunities operates like a stock and provides direct financing opportunities, which is appealing. Plus, that high yield distribution is hard to ignore.
