Article updated on June 5th, 2025 by Bob Ciura
Spreadsheet data updated daily
High dividend stocks are stocks with a dividend yield well in excess of the market average dividend yield of ~1.3%.
The resources in this report focus on truly high yielding securities, often with dividend yields multiples higher than the market average.
Resource #1: The High Dividend Stocks List Spreadsheet
Note: The spreadsheet uses the Wilshire 5000 as the universe of securities from which to select, plus a few additional securities we screen for with 5%+ dividend yields.
The free high dividend stocks list spreadsheet has our full list of ~140 individual securities (stocks, REITs, MLPs, etc.) with 5%+ dividend yields.
The high dividend stocks spreadsheet has important metrics to help you find compelling ultra high yield income investing ideas. These metrics include:
- Market cap
- Payout ratio
- Dividend yield
- Trailing P/E ratio
- Annualized 5-year dividend growth rate
Resource #2: The 7 Best High Yield Stocks Now
This resource analyzes the 7 best high-yield stocks in detail. The criteria we use to rank high dividend securities in this resource are:
- Is in the 870+ income security Sure Analysis Research Database
- Rank based on dividend yield, from highest to lowest
- Dividend Risk Scores of C or better
- Based in the U.S.
Additionally, a maximum of three stocks are allowed for any single sector to ensure diversification.
Resource #3: The High Dividend 50 Series
The High Dividend 50 Series is where we analyze the 50 highest-yielding securities in the Sure Analysis Research Database. The series consists of 50 stand-alone analysis reports on these securities.
Resource #4: More High-Yield Investing Research
– How to calculate your income per month based on dividend yield
– The risks of high-yield investing
– Other high dividend research
The 7 Best High Yield Stocks Now
This resource analyzes the 7 best high yielding securities in the Sure Analysis Research Database as ranked by the following criteria:
- Rank based on dividend yield, from highest to lowest
- Dividend Risk Scores of C or better
- Based in the U.S.
Note: Ranking data is from the current edition of the Sure Analysis spreadsheet.
Additionally, a maximum of three stocks are allowed for any single market sector to ensure diversification.
It’s difficult to define ‘best’. Here, we are using ‘best’ in terms of highest yields with reasonable and better dividend safety.
A tremendous amount of research goes into finding these 7 high yield securities. We analyze more than 850 income securities every quarter in the Sure Analysis Research Database. This is real analysis done by our analyst team, not a quick computer screen.
“So I think it was just looking at different companies and I always thought if you looked at 10 companies, you’d find one that’s interesting, if you’d look at 20, you’d find two, or if you look at 100 you’ll find 10. The person that turns over the most rocks wins the game. I’ve also found this to be true in my personal investing.”
– Investing legend Peter Lynch
Click here to download a PDF report for just one of the 850+ income securities we cover in Sure Analysis to get an idea of the level of work that goes into finding compelling income investments for our audience.
The 7 best high yield securities are listed in order by dividend yield below, from lowest to highest.
- High Dividend Stock #7: Edison International (EIX)
- High Dividend Stock #6: Polaris Inc. (PII)
- High Dividend Stock #5: HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI)
- High Dividend Stock #4: AES Corp. (AES)
- High Dividend Stock #3: Altria Group (MO)
- High Dividend Stock #2: Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)
- High Dividend Stock #1: Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK)
High Dividend Stock #7: Edison International (EIX)
- Dividend Yield: 6.1%
- Dividend Risk Score: C
Edison International is a renewable energy company that is active in energy generation and distribution. Edison International also operates an energy services and a technologies business. The company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Rosemead, CA.
On April 29, 2025, Edison International reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. The company achieved a net income of $1.44 billion, or $3.73 per share, a significant turnaround from a net loss of $11 million, or $0.03 per share, in the same quarter of the previous year.
Core earnings, which exclude non-recurring items, increased to $528 million, or $1.37 per share, up from $438 million, or $1.13 per share, in the first quarter of 2024.
This improvement was primarily driven by reduced interest expenses related to cost recoveries authorized under the TKM Settlement Agreement. Despite a 6.5% year-over-year decline in revenue to $3.81 billion, the company reaffirmed its 2025 core earnings guidance of $5.94 to $6.34 per share.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on EIX (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Dividend Stock #6: Polaris Inc. (PII)
- Dividend Yield: 6.5%
- Dividend Risk Score: B
Polaris designs, engineers, and manufactures snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles. In addition, related accessories and replacement parts are sold with these vehicles through dealers located throughout the U.S.
The company operates under 30+ brands including Polaris, Ranger, RZR, Sportsman, Indian Motorcycle, Slingshot and Transamerican Auto Parts. The global powersports maker, serving over 100 countries, generated more than $7 billion in sales in 2024.
On April 29th, 2025, Polaris reported first quarter results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the quarter, revenue fell 11.5% to $1.54 billion, but this was $10 million above estimates.
Adjusted earnings-per-share of -$0.90 compared unfavorably to $0.23 in the prior year, but this was $0.01 better than expected.
For the quarter, Marine sales decreased 7%, On-Road was lower by 20%, and Off-Road, the largest component of the company, declined 10%. As with previous quarters, decreases in all three businesses were mostly due to lower volumes.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on PII (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Dividend Stock #5: HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital (HASI)
- Dividend Yield: 6.7%
- Dividend Risk Score: C
HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital is a U.S. public company focused on climate change solutions, investing in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure.
Its $14.5 billion portfolio is split into three divisions: Behind-the-Meter (60%) for solar, storage, and efficiency projects; Grid-Connected (29%) for large-scale solar and wind; and Fuels, Transport, & Nature (7%) for renewable gas, fleet decarbonization, and ecological restoration, and other categories (3%).
On May 7th, 2025, HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital reported its Q1 2025 results for the period ending March 31st, 2025. For the first quarter, total revenues declined to about $97 million, reflecting an 8% year-over-year decrease.
This decline was primarily driven by lower gain on sale income compared to the unusually high levels recorded in Q1 2024 as part of a targeted asset rotation strategy.
Adjusted EPS for Q1 2025 was $0.64, representing a 6% decrease compared to the prior-year period. This slight decline was mainly due to a $10 million drop in gain on asset sales, partially offset by growth in adjusted net investment income, which increased to $72 million—up 12% year-over-year.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on HASI (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Dividend Stock #4: AES Corp. (AES)
- Dividend Yield: 6.9%
- Dividend Risk Score: C
The AES (Applied Energy Services) Corporation has businesses in 14 countries and a portfolio of approximately 160 generation facilities. AES produces power through various fuel types, such as gas, renewables, coal, and oil/diesel.
The company has more than 36,000 Gross MW in operation. In 2024, AES produced $12.3 billion in revenues.
AES Corporation reported first quarter results on May 1st, 2025, for the period ending March 31, 2025. Adjusted EPS decreased 46% to $0.27 for Q1 2025, which missed analyst estimates by $0.07.
The company completed construction of 643 MW of energy storage and solar in the quarter, and signed or wawarded new long-term PPAs for 443 MW of solar and energy storage.
The company constructed and acquired 3 GW of renewable energy in 2024, as well as constructed a 670 MW combined cycle gas plant in Panama. Leadership maintained its 2025 guidance, expecting adjusted EPS of $2.10 to $2.26 for the full fiscal year.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on AES (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Dividend Stock #3: Altria Group (MO)
- Dividend Yield: 6.9%
- Dividend Risk Score: B
Altria is a tobacco stock that sells cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, e-cigarettes, and more under a variety of brands, including Marlboro, Skoal, and Copenhagen, among others.
With a current dividend yield of nearly 8%, Altria is an ideal retirement investment stock.
This is a period of transition for Altria. The decline in the U.S. smoking rate continues. In response, Altria has invested heavily in new products that appeal to changing consumer preferences, as the smoke-free category continues to grow.
Source: Investor Presentation
The company also has a 35% investment stake in e-cigarette maker JUUL, and a 45% stake in the Canadian cannabis producer Cronos Group (CRON).
On April 29, 2025, Altria Group reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. The company posted net revenues of $5.26 billion, a 5.7% decline from the same period in 2024, attributed primarily to lower cigarette shipment volumes, which fell by 13.7%.
Despite this, adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) rose by 6% year-over-year to $1.23, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.19.
In the smokeable products segment, net revenues declined by 5.8%, but adjusted operating companies income increased by 1.2%, driven by higher pricing and lower manufacturing costs.
The oral tobacco products segment saw a 0.5% increase in net revenues, supported by an 18% rise in on! nicotine pouch shipments.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on Altria (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Dividend Stock #2: Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD)
- Dividend Yield: 6.9%
- Dividend Risk Score: B
Enterprise Products Partners was founded in 1968. It is structured as a Master Limited Partnership, or MLP, and operates as an oil and gas storage and transportation company.
Enterprise Products has a large asset base which consists of nearly 50,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, crude oil, and refined products pipelines.
It also has storage capacity of more than 250 million barrels. These assets collect fees based on volumes of materials transported and stored.
Source: Investor Presentation
On April 29, 2025, Enterprise Products Partners L.P. reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. The company posted a net income attributable to common unitholders of $1.4 billion, or $0.64 per diluted unit, compared to $1.5 billion, or $0.66 per unit, in the same quarter of 2024.
Distributable cash flow (DCF) increased by 5% year-over-year to $2.0 billion, providing 1.7 times coverage of the declared distribution and allowing the partnership to retain $842 million for reinvestment.
Adjusted EBITDA remained strong at $2.4 billion, reflecting consistent operational performance. The company declared a quarterly distribution of $0.535 per common unit, a 3.9% increase from the previous year.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on EPD (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
High Dividend Stock #1: Shutterstock, Inc. (SSTK)
- Dividend Yield: 7.2%
- Dividend Risk Score: B
Shutterstock sells high-quality creative content for brands, digital media and marketing companies through its global creative platform.
Its platform hosts the most extensive and diverse collection of high-quality 3D models, videos, music, photographs, vectors and illustrations for licensing. The company reported $935 million in revenues last year.
On January 7th, 2025, Shutterstock announced it entered a merger agreement with Getty Images through a merger of equals. The combined company will retain the name Getty Images Holdings, Inc and trade on the NYSE under ticker GETY.
Getty Images shareholders will own roughly 54.6% of the entity and Shutterstock shareholders will own the remaining 45.3%. Shareholders of SSTK will receive $28.84870 of cash, or 9.17 shares of Getty Images plus $9.50 in cash per share.
The combined company would have revenue between $1,979 million and $1,993 million, 46% of it being subscription revenue. About $175 million of annual cost savings is forecast by the third year, with most of this expected after 1 to 2 years.
On May 2nd, 2025, Shutterstock published its first quarter results for the period ending March 31, 2025. While quarterly revenue grew by a solid 13% year-on-year, it missed analyst estimates by nearly $7 million. Adjusted EPS of $1.03 increased by 12%, and also missed analyst estimates by $0.01.
Click here to download our most recent Sure Analysis report on SSTK (preview of page 1 of 3 shown below):
The High Dividend 50 Series
The High Dividend 50 Series is analysis on the 50 highest-yielding Sure Analysis Research Database stocks, excluding royalty trusts, BDCs, REITs, and MLPs.
Click on a company’s name to view the high dividend 50 series article for that company. A link to the specific Sure Analysis Research Database report page for each security is included as well.
More High-Yield Investing Resources
How To Calculate Your Monthly Income Based On Dividend Yield
A common question for income investors is “how much money can I expect to receive per month from my investment?”
To find your monthly income, follow these steps:
- Find your investment’s dividend yield
Note: Dividend yield can be calculated as dividends per share divided by share price - Multiply it by the current value of your holding
Note: If you haven’t yet invested, multiply dividend yield by the amount you plan to invest - Divide this number by 12 to find monthly income
To find the monthly income from your entire portfolio, repeat the above calculation for each of your holdings and add them together.
You can also use this formula backwards to find the dividend yield you need from your investments to make a certain amount of monthly dividend income.
The example below assumes you want to know what dividend yield you need on a $240,000 investment to generate $1,000/month in dividend income.
- Multiply $1,000 by 12 to find annual income target of $12,000
- Divide $12,000 by your investment amount of $240,000 to find your target yield of 5.0%
In practice most dividend stocks pay dividends quarterly, so you would actually receive 3x the monthly amount quarterly instead of receiving a payment every month. However, some stocks do actually pay monthly dividends.
You can see our monthly dividend stocks list here.
The Risks Of High-Yield Investing
Investing in high-yield stocks is a great way to generate income. But it is not without risks.
First, stock prices fluctuate. Investors need to understand their risk tolerance before investing in high dividend stocks. Share price fluctuations means that your investment can (and almost certainly will) decline in value, at least temporarily (and possibly permanently) do to market volatility.
Second, businesses grow and decline. Investing in a stock gives you fractional ownership in the underlying business. Some businesses grow over time. These businesses are likely to pay higher dividends over time.
The Dividend Champions are an excellent example of this; each has paid rising dividends for 25+ consecutive years.
What’s dangerous is when a business declines. Dividends are paid out of a company’s cash flows. If the business sees its cash flows decline, or worse is losing money, it may reduce or eliminate its dividend.
Business decline is a real risk with high yield investing. Business declines often coincide with and or accelerate during recessions.
A company’s payout ratio gives a good gauge of how much ‘room’ a company has to pay its dividend. The payout ratio is calculated as dividends divided by income.
The lower the payout ratio, the better, because dividends have more earnings coverage.
A company with a payout ratio over 100% is paying out more in dividends than it is making in profits, a long-term unsustainable situation.
For example, a company with a payout ratio of 50% is making double in income what it is paying out in dividends, so it has ‘room’ for earnings to decline significantly without reducing its dividend.
Third, management teams can change their dividend policies. Even if a company isn’t declining, the company’s management team may change priorities and reduce or eliminate its dividend.
In practice, this typically occurs if a company has a high level of debt and wants to focus on debt reduction. But it could in theory happen to any dividend paying stock.
The risks of high yield investing can be reduced (but not eliminated) by investing in higher quality businesses in a diversified portfolio of 20 or more stocks.
This reduces both business decline risk (by investing in high quality businesses) and the shock to your portfolio if any one stock does reduce or eliminate its dividend (through diversification).
Other High Dividend Research
The free spreadsheet of 5%+ dividend yield stocks in this article gives you more than 140 high yield income securities to review. You can download it below:
Investors should continue to monitor each stock to make sure their fundamentals and growth remain on track, particularly among stocks with extremely high dividend yields.
See the resources below to generate additional compelling investment ideas for dividend growth stocks and/or high-yield investment securities.
- Dividend Kings: 50+ years of rising dividends
- Dividend Aristocrats: 25+ years of rising dividends and in the S&P 500