In this article, we will take a look at some of the best unstoppable stocks that pay dividends.
Dividend-paying stocks are drawing increased attention from investors amid this year’s market volatility. The S&P Dividend Aristocrats Index, which includes companies with at least 25 years of consecutive dividend growth, has climbed nearly 3% year-to-date, outperforming the broader market’s 1.5% return. This rebound comes after two years of lagging, as tech-driven growth stocks had taken center stage. While this recent momentum may not last indefinitely, analysts remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for dividend-focused investments.
As demand for dividend-paying stocks continues to climb, many companies have responded by steadily boosting their payouts. According to a report by Janus Henderson, global dividend distributions hit an all-time high of $1.75 trillion in 2024, marking a 6.6% increase on an underlying basis. The overall growth rate stood at 5.2%, slightly weighed down by a decline in special one-off dividends and the impact of a stronger U.S. dollar. Among the 49 countries examined, 17—including economic powerhouses like the U.S., Canada, France, Japan, and China—reached record dividend levels. Overall, 88% of companies either increased or maintained their dividend payments throughout the year. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best unstoppable dividend stocks to invest in.
Our Methodology:
For this article, we first used a stock screener to identify stocks that have reported positive returns in the past 12 months. From this selection, we chose dividend stocks with 12-month gains of at least 8%, as of the close of May 16. The stocks were then arranged in ascending order of their 12-month gain.
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. CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 8.94%
CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) is a leading American healthcare company that provides a range of services, from pharmacy operations and health insurance to wellness programs. In one of the recent developments, Rite Aid has sold the pharmacy operations of more than 1,000 of its U.S. stores to major competitors, including CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS), Walgreens, Albertsons, and Kroger, as part of its ongoing Chapter 11 bankruptcy process.
CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) emerged as the largest buyer, acquiring prescription records from over 600 Rite Aid locations across 15 states, and agreeing to purchase 64 physical stores in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. The deals are pending approval from the bankruptcy court. CVS has surged by nearly 9% in the past 12 months.
Despite the asset sales, Rite Aid stated that its stores remain open and customers can continue using its pharmacy services without disruption. CEO Matt Schroeder said that the agreements will allow pharmacy customers to transition smoothly while also helping retain some employees. He emphasized that the move ensures customers will continue receiving the pharmacy care and services they need without any disruptions.
The added stores would help CVS Health Corporation (NYSE:CVS) expand its footprint in an area where it currently has fewer locations relative to the population compared to other parts of the country. This offers a strategic expansion opportunity for the company. Alongside strengthening its foothold in the retail pharmacy market, CVS is also drawing investor interest thanks to its consistent dividend payments. The company has maintained consistent payments since 1997 and currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.665 per share. As of May 18, the stock has a dividend yield of 4.25%.
9. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 15.07%
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is an American multinational beverage company. The company, in partnership with Adobe, has launched Project Fizzion—an innovative design intelligence platform that reimagines traditional brand guidelines as smart, flexible assets. This new system allows creative teams to generate content up to ten times faster while maintaining quality, originality, and brand integrity. Though still in its pilot stage, Fizzion reflects a forward-looking approach to scaling brand consistency without sacrificing creative control.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) runs one of the most intricate marketing systems globally, making it challenging to consistently deliver creative content that’s both brand-aligned and locally relevant. Fizzion aims to solve this by acting as a design-first AI tool that supports—rather than replaces—human creativity. It learns from designers as they work within Adobe Creative Cloud tools like Illustrator and Photoshop, capturing their design choices and converting them into machine-readable StyleID. This allows brand guidelines to be automatically applied across various formats, platforms, and markets. Rapha Abreu, Global Vice President of Design, made the following comment about this development:
“With Fizzion, our design elements become smart. Logos, type, imagery—brand guidelines now live intelligently inside them. Each asset understands how it should behave, adapt, and scale across any context. This is about embedding AI at the heart of our brand system so creativity can move faster, without losing its soul.”
In addition to its commitment to innovation, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is also a financially healthy company. The company’s sound financial position is reflected in its impressive 63-year history of increasing dividends. It pays a quarterly dividend of $0.51 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.83%, as of May 18.
8. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 19.89%
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is an American multinational investment bank and financial services company, headquartered in New York. Berkshire Hathaway’s most recent 13-F filing shows a strategic shift in its investment portfolio. The firm completely exited its $1 billion stake in Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C), a holding it had maintained for three years. Additionally, Berkshire reduced its exposure to other financial firms, including Bank of America and Capital One Financial.
The filing, which covers the quarter ending in March, also revealed that Berkshire’s overall stock portfolio declined by 3%, settling at $258.7 billion. This drop largely reflects its decision to pull back from several key financial stocks.
Berkshire Hathaway’s quarterly portfolio filings don’t specify who is responsible for each stock transaction—whether it’s Warren Buffett, portfolio managers Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, or Greg Abel, who’s set to take over as CEO. Typically, Combs and Weschler manage the smaller investments, while Buffett has increasingly entrusted Greg Abel with more decisions related to capital allocation.
Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) had a place in Buffett’s portfolio due to its appealing valuation and consistent dividend track record. With a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.30, the stock appears to be trading below its intrinsic value. In addition, it has been paying regular dividends to shareholders for the past 34 years. Currently, it pays a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.96%, as of May 18. The stock has outperformed the market, surging by nearly 20% in the past 12 months.
7. Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 21.5%
Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE) is an American consumer health company that was previously part of Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Healthcare division. It now owns several popular brands, including Aveeno, Band-Aid, Benadryl, and Tylenol. Daniel Loeb’s hedge fund, Third Point, has taken a significant position in Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE), acquiring 8.9 million shares valued at over $213 million, signaling interest in potential mergers or strategic shifts aimed at boosting shareholder returns. Meanwhile, Toms Capital Investment Management also made a notable move during the first quarter, purchasing 14.4 million shares worth $345.6 million. According to its 13F filing, Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE) is now the firm’s second-largest holding, accounting for 10.5% of its portfolio.
Sources familiar with the matter said Toms Capital is encouraging Kenvue to explore strategic options, including the potential sale of the company or parts of it.
The New Jersey-based consumer health firm became fully independent in 2023 following its spin-off from Johnson & Johnson. While the separation raised some initial uncertainty, the company shows promise of emerging as a solid standalone business, thanks in part to the rapid growth of its Skin Health and Beauty divisions. In addition, Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE) has inherited Johnson & Johnson’s track record of dividend growth after becoming independent. In 2024, the company hiked its quarterly dividend by 2.5%, which took its dividend growth streak to 63 years. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of 0.205 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.39%, as of May 18.
6. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 27.7%
The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is one of the unstoppable dividend stocks as it has surged by nearly 28% in the past 12 months. In other news, the company has discontinued its Ship service, which offered home delivery of third-party products. According to an update on its FAQ page, Kroger stopped selling third-party items as of March 2025. Customers are now directed to use the company’s pick-up and delivery services instead, though no reason was given for the shutdown. Kroger Ship operated similarly to Walmart’s delivery service, bringing orders to customers’ doors through carriers like FedEx and UPS.
This closure was first reported on May 13 by Grocery Dive, noting a message on the platform announcing the end of the service. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) introduced Kroger Ship in 2018 as an online shopping and delivery service, allowing customers to buy a wider variety of products delivered directly to their homes.
In 2020, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) expanded the service by allowing third-party sellers to offer their products through the platform. This move aimed to increase product variety beyond groceries, responding to rising competition and changing consumer demands.
While adapting to shifting market demands, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) is also remaining committed to its shareholders. The company has grown its payouts for 18 consecutive years. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.86%, as of May 18.
5. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 30.6%
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) is an American multinational medical device and healthcare company. The company recently shared findings from its REFLECT real-world studies, revealing that the use of its FreeStyle Libre® continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system is linked to a notable decrease in hospitalizations for heart-related complications among people with diabetes. For the first time, the data demonstrate that CGM technology can reduce the severity of cardiovascular issues in individuals with Type 1 diabetes, regardless of their history with low blood sugar or previous heart-related hospital stays. The studies also showed a similar drop in heart-related hospital admissions for people with Type 2 diabetes who use the Libre biowearable device while on insulin.
In its announcement, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) highlighted that diabetes affects 589 million people globally. Managing blood sugar and preventing complications like heart disease are critical challenges for those living with the condition. Ramzi Ajjan, M.D., professor of Metabolic Medicine at Leeds University and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, made the following comment on this development:
“I regularly treat people with diabetes who have problems with their blood vessels, resulting in heart attacks, strokes and amputations. These blood vessel problems, known collectively as cardiovascular disease, remain the main causes of ill health in people with diabetes. I am very excited to see data that show a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease-related hospital admissions. It’s great to see the clear, positive impact of FreeStyle Libre technology on cardiovascular outcomes, making diabetes management more effective and improving the health of our patients.”
Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT)’s breakthrough in diabetes is well-received by analysts, its dividend policy has also garnered investors’ attention over the years. The company is a Dividend King with 53 consecutive years of dividend growth under its belt. Currently, it pays a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.75%, as of May 18. The stock surged by over 30.6% in the past 12 months.
4. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 50.9%
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) is a California-based biopharmaceutical company. The company plans to present over 20 research abstracts—spanning both Gilead and its cell therapy unit Kite—at two major medical conferences: the 2025 ASCO Annual Meeting (May 30–June 3) and the 2025 EHA Congress (June 12–15). The presentations will cover a range of cancers, including breast cancer, solid tumors, and various blood cancers.
A key highlight at ASCO will be late-breaking Phase 3 results from the ASCENT-04 trial, showing that a combination of Trodelvy® and Keytruda® significantly improves progression-free survival compared to Keytruda and standard chemotherapy in patients with PD-L1-positive, inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
Additionally, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine—collaborating with Kite—will share Phase 1 findings on a new CAR T-cell therapy that targets two markers in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive brain cancers. These results will be presented during an oral session at ASCO.
Dietmar Berger, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Gilead Sciences, made the following comment in this regard:
“Our oncology portfolio is broad and diverse by design, as we continue to innovate with next-generation therapies and combinations to deliver improved outcomes and ultimately seek to transform how cancer is treated. Data at ASCO and EHA will feature novel pipeline approaches with antibody-drug conjugate therapy and cell therapy, helping to drive oncology innovation and change medical practice.”
While Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)’s cancer drug pipeline seems promising, the company also didn’t disappoint investors on its financial front. The company is a strong dividend payer, currently offering a quarterly dividend of $0.79 per share. It has also raised its payouts every year since 2015. The stock’s dividend yield comes in at 3.08%, as of May 18. In addition, it is outperforming the broader market this year, surging by nearly 51% since the start of 2025, which makes it one of the best unstoppable dividend stocks.
3. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 61.6%
Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) ranks third on our list of the best unstoppable dividend stocks with a 12-month return of over 61%. The company first established its leadership in co-packaged optics (CPO) in 2021 with the introduction of its first-generation Tomahawk 4-Humboldt chipset. This early entry allowed the company to gain a head start on the CPO supply chain, creating room for innovation and early adoption. The initial chipset featured several groundbreaking technologies, including high-density integrated optical engines, edge coupling, and detachable fiber connectors.
On the heels of that foundation, Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) has now unveiled major advancements in its CPO technology with the launch of its third-generation CPO product line, delivering 200G per lane performance. Alongside this breakthrough, the company also highlighted the progress of its second-generation 100G/lane CPO products, pointing to notable improvements in OSAT processes, thermal management, handling protocols, fiber routing, and yield performance. Broadcom’s expanding list of publicly announced industry collaborators reinforces the readiness of its CPO platform to support the growing demands of large-scale AI infrastructure, both for scaling out and scaling up.
In addition to solidifying its position as a key technology leader, Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) has also remained committed to its shareholders. The company has raised its dividends for 14 consecutive years and currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share. As of May 18, the stock has a dividend yield of 1.03%.
2. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 71.14%
Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is a multinational tobacco company with its smoke-free products available in 95 markets, offering better alternatives for legal-age adults. The company is grabbing the attention of hedge funds in the most recent quarter. Though primarily known for its focus on tech stocks, billionaire investor Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management recently made a notable move by adding Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) to its portfolio. The tobacco giant, traditionally seen as part of a defensive sector, now presents growth potential, thanks largely to its expanding lineup of smokeless products like Zyn and Iqos.
Laffont, whose top holdings are largely tech-focused, took a 1.09% position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) during the first quarter by purchasing over 1.5 million shares valued at around $247 million. While the investment marks a shift from his usual strategy, analysts suggest it aligns with a broader theme of growth-focused investing, as Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) increasingly pivots toward next-generation tobacco alternatives.
In addition to this, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) has also offered steady dividends to shareholders over the years. The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.35 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.17%, as of May 18. The company holds a 15-year streak of consistent dividend growth. With a 12-month return of over 71%, PM has outperformed the market by a wide margin and is one of the best unstoppable dividend stocks to invest in.
1. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)
12-Month Return as of the Close of May 16: 71.15%
Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is a Texas-based electricity and power generation company that offers essential power resources to its customers. The company has recently agreed to acquire seven natural gas power plants for $1.9 billion from Lotus Infrastructure Partners, aiming to meet the growing energy needs driven by artificial intelligence. The deal will add 2,600 megawatts of capacity across five states—mainly in the Northeast—boosting Vistra’s already extensive power generation portfolio from California to Maine. This capacity is roughly equal to 2.5 nuclear reactors.
According to Glenrock Associates analyst Paul Patterson, the move reflects a broader trend among independent power producers capitalizing on the surge in data center demand. Investors have been responding positively to such acquisitions, marking a shift from years of industry struggles and bankruptcies. Patterson noted that while Vistra’s move isn’t surprising, more similar deals are likely on the horizon.
In addition to Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)’s growth strategy, the company is also a strong dividend payer. On May 2, it announced a 1% hike in its quarterly dividend to $0.225 per share. Through this increase, the company stretched its dividend growth streak to 13 years. In the past 12 months, the stock has surged by over 71%, outperforming the broader market.
Overall, VST ranks first on our list of the unstoppable dividend stocks. While we acknowledge the potential of VST to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VST and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
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