20 Best High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026

A list of high-yielding dividend stocks to consider buying now.

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated May 3, 2026 at 1:48 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

• High-yield dividend stocks typically offer a yield that’s at least double the S&P 500’s level.
• Investors should focus on dividend sustainability and company quality over yield alone.
• Key stocks like AbbVie and Duke Energy offer stable dividends due to strong financial health.

There’s no official definition of a high-yield dividend stock. However, most investors would classify it as a stock with a dividend yield above a common benchmark, such as the S&P 500 index or a 10-year U.S. Treasury note.

In early May 2026, the dividend yield on the S&P 500 averaged around 1.1%, approaching its record low. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year note was around 4.4%, down from its recent peak above 4.8% in early 2025 after the Federal Reserve started lowering interest rates.

Many investors would consider a stock to have a high dividend yield if it were twice the S&P 500 yield; others would require a payout at or above the 10-year Treasury yield. Those baseline measurements aside, investors shouldn’t buy a stock solely because of its dividend yield.

They need to make sure the dividend payments are sustainable. The company should be high-quality, with durable cash flow, a strong balance sheet, and visible growth potential. With all that in mind, here are 20 of the best high-yield dividend stocks to consider buying for dividend income.

Top high-yield dividend stocks to consider

AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV)	$6.74	3.12%	Biotechnology
Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA)	$6.09	4.64%	Residential REITs
Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE:BIPC)	$1.75	4.14%	Gas Utilities
Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC)	$1.51	4.03%	Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers
Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK)	$4.26	3.39%	Electric Utilities
Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN)	$3.38	6.75%	Capital Markets
Chevron (NYSE:CVX)	$6.98	3.65%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Enbridge (NYSE:ENB)	$2.77	4.77%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD)	$2.19	5.53%	Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels
Healthpeak Properties (NYSE:DOC)	$1.22	6.18%	Health Care REITs
Regions Financial (NYSE:RF)	$1.05	3.75%	Banks
Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR)	$6.48	4.52%	Specialized REITs
NNN REIT (NYSE:NNN)	$2.40	5.33%	Retail REITs
Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)	$1.72	6.64%	Pharmaceuticals
Vici Properties (NYSE:VICI)	$1.78	6.25%	Specialized REITs
Realty Income (NYSE:O)	$3.24	5.22%	Retail REITs
Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ)	$2.77	5.72%	Diversified Telecommunication Services
T. Rowe Price Group (NASDAQ:TROW)	$5.11	4.94%	Capital Markets
PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP)	$5.69	3.78%	Beverages
Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG)	$4.26	2.95%	Household Products

Data as of May 24, 2026.

1. AbbVie

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NYSE: ABBV

AbbVie

Drugmaker AbbVie (ABBV +0.69%) has had an excellent dividend track record. From its inception in 2013 through early 2026, AbbVie has increased its payout by a whopping 330%, including a 5.5% increase in October.

AbbVie has invested heavily in developing new therapies and made several blockbuster acquisitions, including closing its $2.1 billion deal for Capstan Therapeutics in mid-2025. It’s also investing $1.4 billion to build a new manufacturing campus to support the production of immunology, neuroscience, and oncology medicines. These investments put AbbVie in an excellent position to keep dividend income flowing and growing.

2. Mid-America Apartment Communities

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NYSE: MAA

Mid-America Apartment Communities

As one of the largest apartment owners in the country, Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA +0.87%) benefits from collecting steady rental income to support its high-yielding payout. The real estate investment trust (REIT) also boasts a top-tier financial profile, which allows it to expand its apartment portfolio by developing and acquiring new communities.

Since its 1994 initial public offering (IPO), Mid-America has never suspended or reduced its dividend. As of early 2026, it had raised its payment for 16 consecutive years, growing it at an 8.3% compound annual rate over the last five years. With demand for apartments continuing to grow, the REIT should be able to keep increasing its dividend in the coming years. The landlord had over $600 million of apartment communities under construction to support its continued growth.

3. Brookfield Infrastructure

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NYSE: BIP

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners

Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP -0.28%) operates a diversified portfolio of infrastructure businesses focused on utilities, transportation, energy (midstream), and data. The businesses generate relatively stable cash flow to support Brookfield’s growing dividend. The infrastructure stock delivered its 17th consecutive annual payout increase in 2026, up 6% from the prior level.

Brookfield envisions increasing its dividend at an annual rate of 5% to 9% over the long term. The company’s growth drivers of inflation-linked rate increases, volume growth as the global economy expands, expansion projects, and acquisitions should grow its funds from operations (FFO) per share by more than 10% annually over the next few years.

3. Brookfield Renewable

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NYSE: BEP

Brookfield Renewable Partners

Brookfield Renewable (BEP +0.48%) is a sibling company of Brookfield Infrastructure. Brookfield Corporation (BN -0.15%) controls both companies.

This Brookfield entity focuses on renewable energy, including hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities. The assets generate steady cash flow backed by long-term power purchase agreements with utilities and other users, supporting Brookfield’s high-yield dividend.

Brookfield Renewable delivered its 15th straight year of raising its payment by at least 5% in 2026. The company expects to increase its payout at an annual pace of 5% to 9% over the long term. Like its sibling, Brookfield Renewable expects a combination of organic growth drivers and acquisitions to power more than 10% annual FFO per share growth through at least 2031.

5. Duke Energy

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NYSE: DUK

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (DUK +0.81%) is a leading utility. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers across six states, while its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers across five states. Its businesses generate very stable cash flows backed by government-regulated rate structures, enabling Duke to pay dividends since 1926.

Duke has a large-scale investment program underway ($103 billion of capital spending from 2026 through 2030) to expand its transmission and distribution network. These investments should grow its earnings per share by 5% to 7% annually through 2030. Earnings growth should enable the utility to continue increasing its dividends, which it has done each year since 2007.

6. Main Street Capital

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NYSE: MAIN

Main Street Capital

Main Street Capital (MAIN -2.72%) is a business development company (BDC) focused on providing capital solutions (private debt and private equity) to lower middle market companies (those with annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million). It also provides debt capital to middle-market companies ($150 million+ in annual revenue).

The company’s debt investments generate interest income, while most of its equity investments provide it with dividend income. As a BDC, Main Street Capital must pay out 90% of its taxable net income to shareholders. It does so through a sustainable, steadily rising monthly dividend (136% growth since its 2007 IPO). Main Street Capital also periodically pays a supplemental quarterly dividend (18 consecutive quarters). The company has increased its base monthly dividend payment by 4% over the past year and 11 times since the end of 2021.

7. Chevron

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NYSE: CVX

Chevron

Today’s Change

The big oil giant’s top financial priority is to sustain and grow its dividend. In 2026, the company delivered its 39th consecutive annual dividend increase, one of the longest streaks among oil stocks. Chevron (CVX +0.26%) has delivered peer-leading dividend growth over the past decade.

Its integrated operations, low-cost oil business, and lower-carbon energy investments position Chevron to sustain and grow its dividend. Chevron expects to grow its free cash flow at a more than 10% compound annual rate through 2030 at $70 oil. As a result, Chevron should have plenty of fuel to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend.

8. Enbridge

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NYSE: ENB

Enbridge

Canadian pipeline and utility giant Enbridge (ENB +0.43%) has been an outstanding dividend stock over the years. It has paid dividends for over 70 years and has increased its payout (in Canadian dollars) in each of the past 31 years.

While the world is transitioning its fuel supply from oil to cleaner alternatives, Enbridge is adapting by investing in infrastructure to support natural gas and renewable energy. The investments have the company on track to increase its cash flow per share by a 3% to 5% annual rate for the next several years, which should support continued dividend growth. Enbridge raised its dividend payment by 3% in December 2025.

9. Enterprise Products Partners

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NYSE: EPD

Enterprise Products Partners

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.41%) ranks as one of the top players in the midstream oil and gas market. The master limited partnership (MLP) has increased its payout at least once annually for 27 consecutive years. Its latest raise in January 2026 was 2.8% above the level it paid in early 2025.

The company continues to invest heavily to expand its midstream operations. It had $5.3 billion of major capital projects under construction that it should complete by 2027. The MLP also has a history of making accretive acquisitions. These and future investments should give Enterprise the fuel to continue increasing its dividend.

10. Procter & Gamble

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NYSE: PG

Procter & Gamble

Procter & Gamble (PG +0.72%) is a leading consumer products company. Procter & Gamble owns top brands that include Bounty, Charmin, and Gillette. Demand for these essential household consumer products is very resilient and steadily rising.

The company has paid dividends for 136 straight years and delivered its 70th consecutive annual dividend increase in April 2026. Procter & Gamble’s strong portfolio of brands positions it to continue growing its high-yielding dividend in the coming years.

11. Healthpeak Properties

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NYSE: DOC

Healthpeak Properties

Leading healthcare REIT Healthpeak Properties (DOC +0.46%) owns a diversified portfolio of healthcare real estate, including medical office buildings, lab space, and retirement communities. These properties generate healthy rental income, giving the REIT great income now and more later.

Healthpeak Properties switched to paying monthly dividends in 2025. It also resumed dividend growth. Healthpeak is upgrading its portfolio by selling some of its outpatient medical properties to fund development projects and lab acquisitions. It created a new REIT (Janus Living) to unlock the value of its senior housing properties. These enhancements should enable the REIT to continue growing its high-yielding dividend.

12. Regions Financial

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NYSE: RF

Regions Financial

Regions Financial (RF +0.43%) is one of the country’s largest banks, focusing on the South and Midwest. It has a long history of paying dividends. While the company reset its payment level during the 2008-09 financial crisis, it has increased the dividend 20-fold since that time.

It gave investors another raise in 2025 (a relatively minor one at 6%). With its banking and financial services businesses growing, Regions should be able to continue increasing its high-yielding payout in the future.

13. Extra Space Storage

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NYSE: EXR

Extra Space Storage

Extra Space Storage (EXR -0.42%) is a REIT focused on owning, operating, and managing self-storage facilities. Over the past decade, it has been one of the best-performing self-storage REITs.

A big driver is its rapidly rising dividend. Extra Space Storage has increased its payout by a peer-leading 10.3% annualized over the last 20 years, and more growth seems likely. The self-storage REIT has a strong balance sheet, giving it ample flexibility to continue making new investments as opportunities arise.

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14. NNN REIT

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NNN

NYSE: NNN

NNN REIT

NNN REIT (NNN +0.04%) is a REIT focused on single-tenant retail properties secured by triple-net (NNN) leases. That lease structure provides it with very stable rental income, supporting its high-yielding dividend.

The company has one of the best dividend track records in the REIT sector. It extended its annual dividend growth streak to 36 straight years in 2025, the third-longest streak in the industry. Its strong financial profile should enable NNN REIT to continue expanding its portfolio and dividend payments.

15. Pfizer

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NYSE: PFE

Pfizer

Pfizer (PFE -0.12%) has paid dividends for 350 consecutive quarters, increasing them for 16 consecutive years. The pharmaceutical giant’s investments in research and development (R&D) are paying off. The company developed one of the first COVID-19 vaccines and followed up with a successful oral treatment.

The commercial successes have enabled Pfizer to continue making research and development investments and strategic acquisitions (it bought Metsera for up to $10 billion in cash in late 2025). These investments should boost Pfizer’s cash flow, enabling it to continue increasing its dividend payments.

16. VICI Properties

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VICI

NYSE: VICI

Vici Properties

VICI Properties (VICI +0.00%) is a REIT focused on owning experiential real estate, such as casinos and bowling entertainment centers. The company leases those properties back to operating companies under long-term NNN leases. The agreements supply it with steadily rising rental income from annual rate increases.

The company also steadily invests in new gaming and nongaming real estate. VICI Properties’ growing income has enabled it to increase its dividend in each of the eight years since its formation. It has grown its dividend at a peer-leading 6.6% compound annual rate since 2018, well ahead of the sector’s 2.3% average.

17. Realty Income

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NYSE: O

Realty Income

Realty Income (O -0.34%) lives up to its name. The REIT, which pays a monthly dividend, has made 670 consecutive payments. Even better, it has increased its payout more than 134 times since its IPO in 1994, expanding it at a 4.2% compound annual rate. That adds up to 31 consecutive years of steady dividend growth.

A steady diet of acquisitions has driven its growth. Realty Income purchases properties in sale-leaseback transactions, acquires larger property portfolios, and merges with other REITs to grow its portfolio, rental income, and dividend. It plans to invest $8 billion in new properties in 2026, which should increase cash flow per share and drive continued dividend growth.

18. Verizon Communications

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NYSE: VZ

Verizon Communications

Telecommunications giant Verizon (VZ +0.17%) has been a great income stock over the years. In late 2025, the company delivered its 19th consecutive annual dividend increase, the longest current streak in the U.S. telecom sector.

Verizon should be able to continue increasing its dividend as it invests to transition its mobile network to 5G, bringing faster data speeds to its customers. The company closed its $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications in early 2026, a deal that will increase the scale of its fiber operations and its earnings.

19. T. Rowe Price

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NASDAQ: TROW

T. Rowe Price Group

Mutual fund manager T. Rowe Price (TROW +1.41%) has a long history of paying dividends.

The company raised its payment by 2.4% in early 2026, marking its 40th straight year of dividend growth. That steady dividend growth should continue as the company grows its assets under management (AUM) and its clients entrust it with more of their money.

20. PepsiCo

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NASDAQ: PEP

PepsiCo

PepsiCo (PEP +1.16%) has an illustrious record of paying dividends. The global snacking and beverage giant extended its dividend growth streak to 54 in a row in 2026. That put it in the elite group of Dividend Kings, a company with 50 or more years of annual dividend increases.

The iconic company invests heavily in new product innovation, productivity enhancements, and other drivers to grow its revenue and profit margins. It also routinely acquires snack and drink brands that consumers love (it paid almost $1.7 billion for Poppi in 2025). PepsiCo’s continued investments should enable it to maintain its exceptional track record of dividend growth.

What to consider before investing in high-yield dividend stocks

You should consider the following factors before investing in high-yield dividend stocks:

• Whether the company has the financial strength to sustain its high-yielding dividend if market conditions deteriorate.
• If investing in a company with a lower yield but higher growth and total return potential may be better for your financial situation.
• Signs that the stock might be a dividend yield trap.
• If the company can increase its dividend in the future.

Pros and cons of investing in high-yield dividend stocks

Investing in high-yield dividend stocks has its share of benefits and drawbacks. Some of the pros include:

• More income: Investing in high-yield dividend stocks enables you to generate more dividend income from every dollar you invest compared to lower-yielding stocks or those that don’t pay a dividend.
• Lower volatility: High-yielding dividend stocks tend to be slower-growing companies and are often less volatile.
• Higher long-term total return potential: Higher-yielding dividend stocks can often deliver higher total returns over the very long term as dividend income accumulates.

On the other hand, here are some cons of investing in higher-yielding dividend stocks:

• Potentially higher risk profile: Some higher-yielding dividend stocks are at greater risk of dividend reductions due to high payout ratios or weaker financial profiles.
• Slower growth: Most higher-yielding dividend stocks are slower-growing companies.

How to invest in high-yield dividend stocks

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to invest in high-yield dividend stocks:

1. Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
2. Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock’s trading page.

How to Build a High-Yield Dividend Portfolio

• Buy at least 10 stocks
• Diversify across several sectors
• Invest in a mix of higher-yielding, slower growth stocks as well as those offering a lower yield but more dividend growth potential
• Focus on dividend sustainability and growth over a stock’s current yield.

The bottom line

All 20 of these dividend stocks offer above-average yields, making them stand out in a time when many companies don’t pay high dividends. Even better, each one has a solid track record of steadily increasing its dividend and showing no signs of stopping. That makes them great income stocks to buy and hold for the long haul.