In this article, we will take a look at some of the best income stocks to buy now.

Amid concerns over trade restrictions and a weakening economy, some investors are seeking stability in dividend-paying stocks—a traditional defensive strategy. While safe-haven assets like gold and US Treasurys have seen increased demand and more economically sensitive stocks such as small caps and financials have faced outflows, many favor dividend stocks for their dual benefits: the potential for capital appreciation and the steady income from dividends, which can help offset market declines.

This renewed interest comes after a challenging period for dividend stocks. Rising interest rates had made bonds more appealing to income-seeking investors, while excitement around artificial intelligence propelled growth stocks—especially the Magnificent Seven tech names—to new heights, leaving many established dividend-paying firms overlooked.

Analysts also support dividend stocks for income portfolios, especially in times of market volatility. Financial advisor Michael Dinich discussed dividend investing in an interview with Business Insider. Here are some comments from the analyst:

“While low-cost index funds provide easily diversified exposure to the market with minimal effort, selecting individual dividend payers demands continued research to find suitable candidates.”

He pointed out that dividend-paying stocks can be a dependable source of income, offering investors the flexibility to either reinvest the proceeds for compounding growth or use the cash to meet financial obligations. This feature makes dividend stocks particularly appealing to younger investors, as they provide steady income along with exposure to the broader market. His remarks echoed the long-term significance of dividends in overall market returns. Data from S&P Dow Jones Indices showed that between 1926 and July 2023, dividends made up 32% of the total monthly return of the broader market, with the rest coming from price gains.

Research from WisdomTree also underlined the strong income-generating capacity of dividend-paying stocks. Their analysis indicated that a dividend-focused strategy could enhance investors’ income and improve the trailing 12-month dividend yield. This method becomes even more useful during times of low interest rates and heightened market volatility. Allocating investments to dividend-weighted indexes may therefore offer a consistent income strategy in uncertain market environments.

With investor interest in dividends on the rise, companies across the US and globally are steadily boosting their payouts. In 2024, global dividend payments reached a record $1.75 trillion, according to the Janus Henderson Global Dividend Index, reflecting a 6.6% increase on an underlying basis. Headline growth came in at 5.2%, slightly lower due to fewer special dividends and a stronger US dollar. The total slightly surpassed Janus Henderson’s earlier projection of $1.73 trillion, thanks to better-than-expected performance in the US and Japan during the final quarter, when Q4 dividends rose 7.3% on an underlying basis.

Throughout the year, solid growth was also seen in Europe, with emerging markets like India and parts of Asia, including Singapore and South Korea, showing respectable increases. Out of 49 countries tracked, 17—including major contributors like the US, Canada, France, Japan, and China—hit record dividend levels. The report noted that 88% of companies either raised or maintained their dividends, with the median increase coming in at 6.7%.

Looking ahead, Janus Henderson forecasts global dividends will rise by 5.0% in headline terms in 2025, reaching another all-time high of $1.83 trillion. When adjusting for currency effects, underlying growth is expected to be around 5.1%. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks for regular income.

Our Methodology

For this article, we used a stock screener to pick companies that have raised their dividends for at least 10 consecutive years or more. The consistent dividend growth reflects the reliability of these stocks as income-generating investments for shareholders. From that group, we picked companies with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in them.

At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

10. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is a leading American multinational consumer goods company that benefits from its broad scale and strong position across multiple product categories. Its wide-ranging lineup of popular brands—spanning beauty, grooming, health, home and fabric care, and baby products—helps reduce exposure to risk and supports its global presence.

In fiscal Q3 2025, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) delivered mixed results. Earnings per share came in at $1.54, just shy of expectations by $0.01, while revenue declined 2.07% year-over-year to $19.78 billion, missing projections by $376.3 million. Management attributed the softer performance to ongoing consumer and geopolitical headwinds, noting they are adjusting their near-term outlook to reflect current conditions but remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for their brands and markets.

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) generated $3.7 billion in operating cash flow for the quarter and posted $3.8 billion in net income. Adjusted free cash flow productivity was 75%. Shareholder returns totaled $3.8 billion, split between $2.4 billion in dividends and $1.4 billion in stock buybacks. In April, the company declared another dividend increase—its 69th consecutive annual hike—continuing a 135-year streak of uninterrupted dividend payments since its founding in 1890. It now pays a quarterly dividend of $1.0568 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.68%, as of May 9.

9. QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79

QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) is a California-based multinational company that creates semiconductor, software, and services related to wireless technology. The company has a solid long-term strategy in motion, aiming to broaden its business beyond its core strength in smartphones. It is expanding into new areas like PC processors and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. A key area of potential growth lies in industrial automation, where Qualcomm plans to leverage its mobile technology experience to bring AI capabilities to manufacturing systems.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM) reported strong earnings in its fiscal Q2 2025. The company posted revenue of $10.8 billion, which showed a 15.4% growth from the same period last year. The revenue surpassed analysts’ estimates of $178.6 million. The company’s EPS of $2.85 also surpassed analysts’ consensus by $0.03. Its net income came in at $3.17 billion, which jumped by 15% from the prior-year period.

In addition to reporting growth on various fronts, QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM)’s cash position also remained solid. The company ended the quarter with $7.2 billion available in cash and cash equivalents. It also generated $7.1 billion in operating cash flow. The company’s commitment to shareholder return can be seen from its $2.7 billion distribution to investors during the quarter, which included $938 million of dividends. Its quarterly dividend comes in at $0.89 per share for a dividend yield of 2.45%, as of May 9. With a 21-year dividend growth streak under its belt, QCOM is one of the best dividend stocks on our list.