In this article, we will take a look at the 12 dividend stocks with high insider buying.
Dividend policy has taken the spotlight again among the investors’ discussions in the U.S. With one month into 2026, insider behavior might just be a reliable tool for making investment decisions. According to a Reuters report, released on February 6, 2026, a White House executive order issued on January 7, 2026, is raising significant concern among defense contractors. The order places restrictions on CEO pay, dividends, and stock buybacks for companies that fail to meet production timelines.
Though the effect of the January 7 executive order is mainly focused on the defense stocks, there is fear that these limitations could be part of a broader trend of federal intervention in the private sector. David Sowerby, managing director at Ancora Advisors, expressed concerns in the report, claiming the Fed’s attempt at micromanaging capital allocation could weigh on shareholder value.
The fear coupled with uncertainty in the U.S. market raises the question of what to look for in a dividend stock before making the investment decision. An insider buy is one of the few reliable options available for investors. Insiders, including the company’s top executives and significant investors, have access to first-hand information about the company’s moves. So, if they decide to invest in their company’s stock, a certain level of stability in the stock’s position can be expected.
Peter Lynch – American investor, mutual fund manager, author, and philanthropist – known for the buy-what-you-know retail philosophy, has this to say about insider transactions.
“Insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise.”
Accordingly, we have hand-picked for you 12 dividend stocks with high insider buying that may just simplify your decision-making process.
Stay with us as we count down the entries on our list from 12 to 1. The top 5 might already be in your portfolio.
Copyright: mozakim / 123RF Stock Photo
Our Methodology
To compile our list of 12 dividend stocks with high insider buying, we first screened dividend stocks using the Finviz stock screener. From this list, we selected stocks with an insider ownership of 10% or more. This ensures that our picks have significant preferences among the insiders. We then shortlisted the top 12 stocks based on insider ownership and ranked them in ascending order accordingly. Additionally, we included data on hedge fund holdings in these companies, based on Q3 2025 data from Insider Monkey’s database, to provide further insight into investor interest. All the pricing data are current as of market close on February 15, 2026.
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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
12. Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX)
Dividend Yield: 4.45%
Insider Ownership: 10.32%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 53
Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is among the dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 5, 2026, two top executives at Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) made bold purchases. The company’s Director, Joseph Doody, acquired 1,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction valued at $98,760. Meanwhile, another Director, Tom Bonadio, also purchased 1,000 shares of Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX), in a transaction worth $98,490.
Prior to these purchases, on February 2, 2026, UBS analyst Kevin McVeigh reiterated a Hold rating on Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX), with a price target set at $110. And most recently, on February 10, 2026, William Blair analyst Andrew Nicholas also maintained a Hold rating on the stock.
Additionally, earlier this year, on January 16, 2026, the company announced receiving approval from the Board of Directors to repurchase $1 billion of the company’s common stock, effectively replacing the 2024 authorization of $400 million repurchase. Alongside this announcement, the company’s Board of Directors also declared the quarterly cash dividend of $1.08 per share to shareholders of record as of January 28, 2026. The dividend is payable on February 27, 2026.
Headquartered in New York, Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is a leading provider of human capital management solutions for small to medium-sized businesses. The company has been operating since 1971.
11. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI)
Dividend Yield: 3.72%
Insider Ownership: 12.79%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) is one of the dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 3, 2026, Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) saw significant insider activity, with its Director William A. Smith purchasing 3000 shares of the company and increasing his ownership in the company by 6%. The transaction, valued at $89,236, signals confidence from the board level over the company’s long-term operations.
In contrast, John W. Schlosser, Vice President of Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI), made another significant move on February 5, 2026, selling 6,166 shares of the company, for a total transaction value of $185,523. With these sales, the shares owned by the VP stand at 195,038, massively contributing to the company’s insider ownership of 12.79%.
Earlier on January 21, 2026, Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI)’s Board of Directors announced the cash dividend of $0.2925 per share for the fourth quarter of 2026 – a 2% increase over the fourth quarter dividend of 2024. The new dividend is payable on February 17, 2026, to unitholders as of February 2, 2026.
Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) is a North American energy infrastructure company, specializing in the transportation and storage of natural gas and crude oil. The company, headquartered in Texas, was founded in 1997.
10. Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP)
Dividend Yield: 3.47%
Insider Ownership: 15.49%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) is one of the dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 9, 2026, Evercore ISI analyst Robert Ottenstein maintained an Outperform rating on Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) and raised the stock’s price target from $50 to $55. Conversely, in a recent update on February 11, 2026, JPMorgan’s analyst Andrea Faria Teixeira maintained a Hold rating on the stock with a price target of $50.
In the last quarter, a 4.7% decline in the U.S. beer industry, driven by shifting consumer preferences and intense competition from “Beyond Beer” products, had an impact on the company’s volume shares. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the industry showed signs of stabilization with some leading companies reporting improved volume trends. The effect of such stabilization on Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) is yet unknown. As per an announcement made by the company earlier last month, on January 9, 2026, Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP) is all set to release its Q4 2025 earnings report alongside the full year 2025 earnings results on February 18, 2026.
Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), founded in 2005 through a merger of through the merger of Molson of Canada and Coors of the United States, is a global leader in the beverage industry, with headquarters in Illinois.
9. Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. (NYSE:OTF)
Dividend Yield: 7.95%
Insider Ownership: 15.62%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 4
Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. (NYSE:OTF) is among the best dividend stocks with high insider buying.
Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. (NYSE:OTF)’s President, Erik Bissonnette, purchased 10,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction valued at $147,000 on January 30, 2026. This marks the second significant purchase from the company’s President in the last three months. Earlier, on November 21, 2025, Erik made a notable purchase, acquiring 12,500 shares of the company’s stock. The transaction was valued at $165,824.
Prior to the most recent insider purchase, Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. (NYSE:OTF) announced a $400 million Notes issuance on January 23, 2026. As per the announcement, the company entered into a supplemental indenture with Deutsche Bank for a $400 million issuance of 6.125% unsecured notes due 2031. This transaction was closed on January 23, 2026, and features make-whole and par-call options. With respect to the proceeds, the company intends to use them for meeting the existing debt obligations, including its 2029 senior secured revolving credit facility. The move would enable the company to effectively refinance the balance sheet under specific indenture covenants and investment company leverage limits.
New York-based company, Blue Owl Technology Finance Corp. (NYSE:OTF), is a business development company focused on providing direct lending and equity investments to upper middle-market technology and software firms. The company was founded in 2018.
8. MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM)
Dividend Yield: 3.62%
Insider Ownership: 18.36%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 36
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM) is among the dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 6, 2026, JP Morgan downgraded MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM) from Overweight to Neutral, while also lowering the price target from $96 to $95. According to JP Morgan, the stock’s price target and trading volumes are uninspiring, and the firm expressed concern, citing that the company’s self-help initiatives have not produced notable results.
In the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, on January 21, 2026, all MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM)’s 10 director nominees were re-elected by the shareholders with strong voting support, signaling that the current management is effectively backed by the shareholders.
Prior to this, Baird, on January 8, 2026, lowered the price target from $98 to $94 while keeping a Neutral rating on MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM), following the Q1 results. On the other hand, from the dividend perspective, the company has increased its dividends for 5 consecutive years and has paid its quarterly cash dividend of $0.87 per share on January 28, 2026, signaling a return of capital commitment to shareholders
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (NYSE:MSM) is a leading North American distributor of metalworking and maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) products founded in 1941 and operating from its headquarters in Melville, New York.
7. Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE:BSM)
Dividend Yield: 8.72%
Insider Ownership: 19.05%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 7
Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE:BSM) is one of the best dividend stocks with high insider buying.
Piper Sandler analyst Mark Lear updated the rating on Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE:BSM), reiterating a Hold with a price target of $13, on January 28, 2026. Earlier, on January 16, 2026, Tim Rezvan from KeyBanc also maintained a Hold rating on the stock. Additionally, 3 out of the 4 analysts following the stock lean towards Hold, based on the information provided by CNN, as of February 15, 2026.
Earlier this month, on February 4, 2026, Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE:BSM) released a press report scheduling the fourth quarter 2025 earnings call and the discussion of the full-year 2025 results on February 24, 2026. The report further included an announcement stating that the company’s Board of Directors has approved a cash distribution of $0.30 per common unit for Q4 2025, consistent with the previous quarter. Unitholders as of February 18, 2026, will be eligible for the payment scheduled on February 25, 2026. The company had been pursuing significant growth opportunities through the Hainesville and Shelby trough expansions, turning them into potential contributors to its earnings.
Founded in 1876, Black Stone Minerals, L.P. (NYSE:BSM) is one of the largest owners of oil and natural gas mineral interests in the United States. Its headquarters is in Texas.
6. Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNTK)
Dividend Yield: 7.45%
Insider Ownership: 33.13%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 20
Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNTK) is among the dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 6, 2026, Jefferies downgraded Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNTK) from Buy to Hold, while keeping a price target of $43 on the stock. The firm pointed to valuation for the downgrade and noted that a 21% rally makes shares less compelling. Jefferies anticipates a muted Q4 update and sees few near-term catalysts. The firm’s analyst, Julien Dumoulin Smith, cited limited upside after the recent surge from December lows in their latest investor research note.
Prior to this update, on January 28, 2026, RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto reiterated a Buy rating on KNTK, with a price target of $46. The update was part of the firm’s broader research note previewing the Q4 for the U.S. Midstream industry. Though maintaining a cautious outlook driven by commodity price volatility and production curtailments, RBC Capital expressed confidence in the upward trajectory of the stocks in the natural gas sector. As of February 15, 2026, Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNTK) maintains a consensus Buy from 17 analysts, according to CNN.
Kinetik Holdings Inc. (NYSE:KNTK), founded in 2012, is a pure-play midstream company operating in the Delaware Basin, with headquarters in Texas.
5. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD)
Dividend Yield: 6.14%
Insider Ownership: 33.16%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) is one of the best dividend stocks with high insider buying.
Wells Fargo, on February 5, 2026, maintained a Hold rating on Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) with a price target of $38. Similar to this update, on the same day, Scotiabank analyst Brandon Bingham kept a Sector perform rating on the stock and elevated its price target from $35 to $37. According to Brandon, the company has performed well in the fourth quarter of 2025, and its guidance is currently beating estimates. However, the firm cited inconsistency, stating that the communicated data points do not fully align with the model’s ultimate projections.
The Q4 2025 earnings call revealed that, though the sector faces price volatility challenges, the company manages it by leveraging its vast gas transport and storage infrastructure. Record-high well connections were noted in the Midland and Delaware basins operations. The company anticipates significant benefits in 2027 from its new OxyRock acquisition. At the same time, it also acknowledges a scarcity of future acquisition targets, noting a significant reduction in available opportunities in the current market.
Incorporated in 1968, Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) is one of North America’s largest midstream master limited partnerships with an extensive, integrated network of pipelines and storage. The company’s headquarters is in Texas.
4. Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN)
Dividend Yield: 4.68%
Insider Ownership: 46.98%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is among the best dividend stocks with high insider buying.
The company saw mixed analyst sentiment on February 5, 2025. Evercore ISI analyst Glenn Schorr, on February 5, 2026, reiterated a Sell rating on Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN), with a price target of $28. Conversely, on the same day, TD Cowen analyst William Katz maintained a Buy rating on the stock and set a price target of $36.
Prior to these updates, on February 4, 2026, the company reported preliminary month-end assets under management (AUM) of $1.71 trillion as of January 31, 2026 – a $0.03 million increase compared to the company’s preliminary AUM for the month ended December 31, 2025. Based on the company’s report, the increase was contributed by favorable market conditions and $1.5 billion in long-term net inflows, after accounting for a $1.5 billion outflow from Western Asset Management.
On February 3, 2026, Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an Underweight rating on the stock but raised the price target from $21 to $22. Though the firm lowered Q4 EPS estimates by 14%, it remains optimistic for calendar 2026 and 2027, citing improvements in fees and non-operating investment income.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) is a global investment management firm that offers diverse products, including mutual funds and institutional accounts. Founded in 1947, the company has its headquarters in California.
3. Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ:LINE)
Dividend Yield: 5.43%
Insider Ownership: 69.07%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ:LINE) is among the best dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 9, 2026, Scotiabank analyst Greg McGinniss maintained a Hold rating on Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ:LINE) and kept a price target of $39. Similarly, on February 5, 2026, Brendan Lynch from Barclays also upheld a Hold rating on the stock while keeping a price target of $38. According to CNN, 63% of 19 analyst ratings were in favor of Hold, while 21% suggest a Buy on the stock, as of February 15, 2026.
Despite a challenging high-capacity operating environment, Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ:LINE) continued to pursue growth aggressively in 2025. The company intends to take advantage of long-term demand for automated cold storage in 2026, with investments in fully automated warehouse developments and the deployment of the proprietary warehouse execution system, LitoS.
Subsequently, the company maintains consistency in its dividend payments. Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ:LINE) paid its fourth quarter 2025 cash distribution of $0.5275 per share on January 21, 2026, to eligible shareholders. This figure matches the cash distributions in each of the three previous quarters.
Lineage, Inc. (NASDAQ:LINE), founded in 2008, is the world’s largest temperature-controlled warehouse REIT. It operates from its headquarters in Michigan.
2. Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (NASDAQ:REYN)
Dividend Yield: 3.95%
Insider Ownership: 74.40%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13
Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (NASDAQ:REYN) is among dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On February 5, 2026, RBC Capital lowered the price target on Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (NASDAQ:REYN) from $28 to $25 while keeping a Sector Perform rating. The update follows the company’s Q4 2025 results, released a day earlier, on February 4, 2025. RBC Capital cited the company’s restrained 2026 outlook and ongoing challenges in the foam sector and aggressive competition in the waste and food bag markets for the price target cut.
In contrast, on February 5, UBS raised the price target for Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (NASDAQ:REYN) from $25 to $26 and kept a Neutral rating on the stock. During the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call, UBS analyst Peter Grom’s questions revealed that the management is prioritizing long-term brand equity rather than matching competitors’ promotions. The management also measured quarterly price increases as a successful strategy to mitigate consumer elasticity risks.
On January 29, 2026, the company announced a quarterly cash dividend of $0.23 per common share payable on February 27, 2026, to shareholders of record as of February 13, 2026.
Reynolds Consumer Products Inc. (NASDAQ:REYN), founded in 2010 and headquartered in Illinois, is a leading manufacturer of household essentials like Reynolds Wrap and Hefty bags.
1. Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR)
Dividend Yield: 14.89%
Insider Ownership: 79.99%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 2
Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) is one of the best dividend stocks with high insider buying.
On January 16, 2026, KeyBanc downgraded Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) from Overweight to Sector Weight. The price target on the stock was unavailable. KeyBanc has adopted a more cautious stance toward the oil and gas sector as it enters 2026 with soft crude pricing and fluctuations in natural gas markets. The firm cited integration challenges for the downgrade. Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) has been working on integrating the newly acquired oil assets in the Central Basin Platform alongside gassy holdings in the San Juan Basin.
Post the update on the rating, Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) announced on February 12, 2025, that its Board of Directors has declared a Q4 2025 cash distribution of $0.53 per common unit. Amid the integration issues, the company has increased its cash distribution by $0.03 per share compared to the same quarter in 2024. With an ex-dividend date of February 26, 2026, the new quarterly distribution is payable to eligible shareholders on March 12, 2026.
Mach Natural Resources LP (NYSE:MNR) is an Oklahoma-based independent upstream energy company, primarily focused on the Anadarko, Permian, and San Juan Basins. The company was founded in 2017.
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