Best Dividend Stocks 2026

Updated  •  Authored by MarketsHost Research  •  AI-reviewed by Claude (Anthropic) + ChatGPT (OpenAI)

These dividend-paying stocks have received positive AI ratings from both Claude and ChatGPT, suggesting both income potential and fundamental strength based on SEC EDGAR filings.

This page lists 50 US-listed stocks screened from a universe of 4,500+ companies analysed daily from SEC EDGAR 10-K and 10-Q filings. Both Claude and ChatGPT independently rate every company; the picks below are sorted by combined AI confidence. Updated April 16, 2026 at 11:26 AM UTC.

50
AI Picks
4,500+
Stocks Analysed
2× AI
Claude + ChatGPT
April
Updated 2026

Top 50 Dividend stocks

NVDA
NVIDIA CORP
Semiconductors & Related Devices
STRONG BUY 93% confidence
ROE 76.3%
Net margin 55.6%
Debt/eq 0.05x
Rev growth 65.5%
MA
Mastercard Inc
Services-Business Services, NEC
STRONG BUY 92% confidence
ROE 193.5%
Net margin 45.6%
Debt/eq 2.36x
Rev growth 16.4%
MSFT
MICROSOFT CORP
Services-Prepackaged Software
BUY 91% confidence
ROE 16.9%
Net margin 41.7%
Debt/eq 0.1x
Rev growth 14.9%
GOOGL
Alphabet Inc.
BUY 91% confidence
ROE 31.8%
Net margin 32.8%
Debt/eq 0.12x
Rev growth 15.1%
GGG
GRACO INC
Pumps & Pumping Equipment
BUY 90% confidence
ROE 19.7%
Net margin 23.3%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 5.8%
FAST
FASTENAL CO
Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply
BUY 90% confidence
ROE 31.9%
Net margin 15.3%
Debt/eq 0.03x
Rev growth 8.7%
LLY
ELI LILLY & Co
Pharmaceutical Preparations
BUY 90% confidence
ROE 77.8%
Net margin 31.7%
Debt/eq 1.54x
Rev growth 44.7%
FIX
COMFORT SYSTEMS USA INC
Electrical Work
BUY 89% confidence
ROE 41.8%
Net margin 11.2%
Debt/eq 0.06x
Rev growth 29.5%
CTAS
CINTAS CORP
Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments
BUY 89% confidence
ROE 22.1%
Net margin 17.9%
Debt/eq 0.54x
Rev growth 7.7%
BCPC
BALCHEM CORP
Chemicals & Allied Products
BUY 89% confidence
ROE 12.3%
Net margin 14.9%
Debt/eq 0.12x
Rev growth 8.8%
AGX
ARGAN INC
Construction - Special Trade Contractors
BUY 89% confidence
ROE 21.1%
Net margin 13%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 52.5%
LRCX
LAM RESEARCH CORP
Special Industry Machinery, NEC
BUY 89% confidence
ROE 31.2%
Net margin 29.6%
Debt/eq 0.37x
CW
CURTISS WRIGHT CORP
Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 19.1%
Net margin 13.8%
Debt/eq 0.38x
Rev growth 12.1%
BMI
BADGER METER INC
Totalizing Fluid Meters & Counting Devices
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 19.9%
Net margin 15.5%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 17789.6%
APH
AMPHENOL CORP /DE/
Electronic Connectors
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 31.8%
Net margin 18.5%
Debt/eq 1.09x
Rev growth 51.7%
ADI
ANALOG DEVICES INC
Semiconductors & Related Devices
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 2.5%
Net margin 26.3%
Debt/eq 0.21x
Rev growth 16.9%
V
VISA INC.
Services-Business Services, NEC
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 15.1%
Net margin 53.7%
Debt/eq 0.51x
Rev growth 11.3%
SNA
Snap-on Inc
Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 17.1%
Net margin 19.7%
Debt/eq 0.2x
Rev growth 9.5%
KLAC
KLA CORP
Optical Instruments & Lenses
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 41.5%
Net margin 34.8%
Debt/eq 1.08x
Rev growth 23.9%
META
Meta Platforms, Inc.
Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc.
BUY 88% confidence
ROE 27.8%
Net margin 30.1%
Debt/eq 0.27x
Rev growth 22.2%
CALM
CAL-MAINE FOODS INC
Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties
BUY 87% confidence
ROE 11.2%
Net margin 17.9%
Debt/eq 0x
MU
MICRON TECHNOLOGY INC
Semiconductors & Related Devices
BUY 87% confidence
ROE 26.3%
Net margin 50.7%
Debt/eq 0.13x
Rev growth 48.9%
AAPL
Apple Inc.
Electronic Computers
BUY 87% confidence
ROE 47.7%
Net margin 29.3%
Debt/eq 1x
Rev growth 6.4%
GRMN
GARMIN LTD
Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys
BUY 86% confidence
ROE 18.5%
Net margin 23%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 15.1%
FHI
FEDERATED HERMES, INC.
Investment Advice
BUY 86% confidence
ROE 33.7%
Net margin 22.4%
Debt/eq 0.29x
Rev growth 10.3%
CBOE
Cboe Global Markets, Inc.
Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services
BUY 86% confidence
ROE 21.4%
Net margin 23.3%
Debt/eq 0.28x
Rev growth 15.1%
AWI
ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES INC
Plastics Products, NEC
BUY 86% confidence
ROE 34.3%
Net margin 19%
Debt/eq 0.44x
Rev growth 12.1%
SYK
STRYKER CORP
Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus
BUY 86% confidence
ROE 14.5%
Net margin 12.9%
Debt/eq 0.66x
Rev growth 11.2%
CME
CME GROUP INC.
Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services
BUY 86% confidence
ROE 14.2%
Net margin 62.5%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 6.4%
KNSL
Kinsale Capital Group, Inc.
Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
STRONG BUY 85% confidence
ROE 25.7%
Net margin 26.9%
Debt/eq 0.11x
Rev growth 18%
NSSC
NAPCO SECURITY TECHNOLOGIES, INC
Communications Equipment, NEC
BUY 85% confidence
ROE 13.9%
Net margin 26.4%
Debt/eq 0.01x
Rev growth 0%
MLI
MUELLER INDUSTRIES INC
Rolling Drawing & Extruding of Nonferrous Metals
BUY 85% confidence
ROE 23.8%
Net margin 18.3%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 10.9%
MRVL
Marvell Technology, Inc.
Semiconductors & Related Devices
BUY 85% confidence
ROE 18.7%
Net margin 32.6%
Debt/eq 0.31x
Rev growth 42.1%
AME
AMETEK INC/
Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, and Control
BUY 85% confidence
ROE 13.9%
Net margin 20%
Debt/eq 0.21x
Rev growth 6.6%
TXN
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC
Semiconductors & Related Devices
BUY 85% confidence
ROE 30.7%
Net margin 28.3%
Debt/eq 0.86x
Rev growth 13%
AVGO
Broadcom Inc.
Semiconductors & Related Devices
BUY 85% confidence
ROE 9.2%
Net margin 38.1%
Debt/eq 0.83x
Rev growth 23.9%
HWM
Howmet Aerospace Inc.
Rolling Drawing & Extruding of Nonferrous Metals
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 28.2%
Net margin 18.3%
Debt/eq 0.57x
Rev growth 11.1%
INSW
International Seaways, Inc.
Water Transportation
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 15.3%
Net margin 36.7%
Debt/eq 0.28x
Rev growth 0%
GIC
GLOBAL INDUSTRIAL Co
Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 23%
Net margin 5.2%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 4.8%
ESNT
Essent Group Ltd.
Surety Insurance
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 12%
Net margin 54.7%
Debt/eq 0.07x
Rev growth 1.5%
EME
EMCOR Group, Inc.
Electrical Work
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 34.6%
Net margin 7.5%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 0%
CINF
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL CORP
Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 15%
Net margin 18.9%
Debt/eq 0.05x
Rev growth 11.4%
BWXT
BWX Technologies, Inc.
Engines & Turbines
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 26.7%
Net margin 10.3%
Debt/eq 1.64x
Rev growth 18.3%
AOS
SMITH A O CORP
Household Appliances
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 29.4%
Net margin 14.3%
Debt/eq 0.08x
Rev growth 0.3%
ALL-PJ
ALLSTATE CORP
Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 33.6%
Net margin 15.2%
Debt/eq 0.24x
Rev growth 1706.4%
WDC
WESTERN DIGITAL CORP
Computer Storage Devices
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 42.5%
Net margin 51.8%
Debt/eq 0.65x
Rev growth 50.7%
UNP
UNION PACIFIC CORP
Railroads, Line-Haul Operating
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 38.7%
Net margin 29.1%
Debt/eq 1.72x
Rev growth 1.1%
TER
TERADYNE, INC
Instruments For Meas & Testing of Electricity & Elec Signals
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 19.8%
Net margin 17.4%
Debt/eq 0x
Rev growth 13.1%
ROST
ROSS STORES, INC.
Retail-Family Clothing Stores
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 25.5%
Net margin 9.3%
Debt/eq 0.26x
Rev growth 12215.4%
RL
RALPH LAUREN CORP
Men's & Boys' Furnishgs, Work Clothg, & Allied Garments
BUY 84% confidence
ROE 27.3%
Net margin 12.9%
Debt/eq 0.43x
Rev growth 6.7%

What are dividend stocks?

A dividend stock is a company that distributes a portion of its profits to shareholders as cash payments, typically quarterly. Quality dividend stocks combine current income (the dividend yield) with sustainable payout coverage from earnings and free cash flow. Our list filters for US companies that are actively paying dividends (verified by the 'dividends paid' line item in their SEC cash flow statements) AND have a positive AI rating, ensuring both income today and fundamental strength to keep paying tomorrow.

How our AI identifies dividend stocks

We screen the 4,500-company universe for two conditions. First, the latest SEC filing must show a positive 'dividends paid' line in the cash flow statement — confirming the company actually distributed cash to shareholders in the most recent reporting period. Second, both Claude and ChatGPT must rate the stock as Strong Buy or Buy, indicating that the underlying business fundamentals support continued payments. Stocks that only paid dividends in past years but stopped do not qualify.

Methodology authored by: MarketsHost Research Team. Stock data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-K and 10-Q filings. AI analysis by Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI). Last methodology review: April 16, 2026.

Key metrics we analyse for dividend stocks

These are the fundamental indicators our AI weighs when ranking dividend stocks. All values are sourced from SEC EDGAR financial filings.

Dividends Paid (cash flow)

The actual cash dividends distributed in the latest period. We verify this from the SEC cash flow statement, not yield estimates.

Free Cash Flow

Free cash flow funds dividends. Companies whose dividends exceed FCF are paying out of debt — unsustainable.

Payout Ratio

Dividends as a percentage of earnings. Below 60% leaves room for raises; above 100% signals stress.

Debt-to-Equity

Highly leveraged dividend payers can be forced to cut payments in downturns. Conservative balance sheets are safer.

Net Margin Trend

Stable or growing margins protect dividend coverage even if revenue softens.

How to find dividend stocks using SEC fundamentals

  1. Confirm active dividend payments. Look for stocks with positive dividends_paid in the latest cash flow statement, not just a historical yield.
  2. Check AI rating. Strong Buy or Buy from both AI models — agreement between independent models reduces single-AI bias.
  3. Verify dividend coverage. Free cash flow should comfortably exceed annual dividends. Coverage ratio above 1.5x is healthy.
  4. Look at payout ratio. Below 60% is sustainable. Between 60-80% is acceptable for stable industries (utilities, REITs).
  5. Diversify across sectors. Spread dividend exposure across multiple sectors to reduce concentration risk.

Key terms and definitions

Common terms used throughout our analysis of dividend stocks.

Dividend Yield
Annual dividend per share divided by current stock price. Note: we filter by absolute dividends paid, not yield, since we do not have live price data.
Payout Ratio
The percentage of earnings paid out as dividends. Lower is more sustainable.
Dividend Coverage
How many times free cash flow could pay the dividend. Above 1.5x is comfortable.
Dividend Aristocrat
A company that has raised its dividend for 25+ consecutive years. Not specifically tracked here, but many appear on this list.

Compare investment strategies

How dividend stocks compare to other AI-analysed stock strategies on MarketsHost.

Strategy Primary metric Best for Risk profile
Strong Buy Dual AI consensus High conviction picks Moderate
Undervalued ROE + net margin Long-term value investors Lower
Growth Revenue growth ≥15% Aggressive growth seekers Higher
Dividend Active dividend payments Income investors Lower
High ROE Return on equity ≥20% Quality investors Moderate
Low Debt Debt/equity ≤0.5 Conservative investors Lower

Frequently Asked Questions

How does AI evaluate dividend stocks?

AI analyzes payout sustainability through earnings coverage, free cash flow, debt levels, and historical dividend consistency from SEC 10-K and 10-Q filings.

Are high dividends always good?

Not necessarily. Very high yields (above 8%) can signal distress or unsustainable payouts. AI considers both yield and sustainability from fundamental data.

What makes a dividend sustainable?

Low payout ratio (under 60%), consistent free cash flow, low debt, and stable earnings growth indicate sustainable dividends.

Why does this list show 'dividends paid' instead of dividend yield?

Dividend yield requires live stock prices, which we do not source (we use SEC fundamentals only). Filtering by 'dividends_paid > 0' from SEC cash flow statements verifies the company is actively paying — without depending on third-party price data.

Are these dividend aristocrats?

Some are, but we don't filter by consecutive years of raises. We focus on current sustainability and AI fundamentals rating. Many traditional dividend aristocrats appear on the list.

How often do dividends get paid?

Most US companies pay quarterly. Some (notably REITs) pay monthly. The frequency is not part of our screen — we verify only that the company is currently paying.

Can dividend stocks lose money?

Yes. Stock prices can decline more than dividends compensate. Dividend stocks reduce volatility but do not eliminate downside risk.

Should I reinvest dividends?

Many investors use DRIPs (dividend reinvestment plans) to compound returns. This is a personal preference based on tax situation and income needs.

Why are some big dividend payers (e.g. AT&T) not on this list?

If a company's AI rating is HOLD or below — typically due to weak revenue, high debt or shrinking margins — it does not qualify even if it pays a dividend. We require both income and fundamental strength.

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Caution

Disclaimer: AI ratings are based on SEC filings and fundamental analysis. They are not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Always conduct your own research and consider consulting a financial advisor before making investment decisions.