In this article, we will take a look at the 13 Best February Dividend Stocks To Buy.
Markets may feel rougher in 2026. For many investors, that raises a familiar question: how to stay invested without taking on unnecessary stress.
Dividend growth stocks often come up in that discussion. Nuveen’s chief investment officer, Saira Malik, recently said equity markets are likely to stay unsettled. She pointed to macroeconomic pressures, geopolitical risks, policy uncertainty, and changing views on artificial intelligence as key sources of volatility.
There is no simple fix for those forces. Malik noted that history offers some perspective. Dividend growth companies have tended to produce stronger returns with less risk than the broader market over time. She also made it clear that dividends and dividend growth are never guaranteed. Still, their relative predictability can help anchor portfolios when markets turn unstable. Many long-term investors have seen this play out firsthand during past drawdowns.
Recent figures back up that argument. Data from S&P Dow Jones Indices shows that net US common dividend increases reached $13.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2025. That compares with $11.7 billion in the same period a year earlier. The trend remains constructive. Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said the pace of dividend increases should remain strong, with the first quarter of 2026 shaping up to be an especially active and positive period for hikes.
Silverblatt tied that outlook to record earnings and sales, with more records expected in 2026. At the same time, he does not expect aggressive payout growth. S&P 500 companies are likely to keep dividend increases in the mid-single-digit range as they weigh solid fundamentals against persistent uncertainty and a rapidly evolving policy landscape.
For investors focused on adding stability, that balance may be exactly the point. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks to invest in.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we selected dividend stocks that will trade ex-dividend in February 2026. The ex-dividend date indicates the cutoff day to buy a stock to receive its upcoming dividend payment. The stocks are ranked according to their ex-dividend dates.
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).
13. Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 2
On January 22, Wells Fargo analyst Ned Baramov lowered the firm’s price target on Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES) to $39 from $40 while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The adjustment reflects updated assumptions for 2026 and beyond, including lower expected operating cash flow, reduced capital spending in 2026, a smaller unit count and distributions, and higher anticipated cost savings.
A few days earlier, on January 20, Western Midstream said it had renegotiated certain contracts with Occidental Petroleum tied to its Delaware Basin assets. The revised agreement moves natural gas gathering to a simpler fixed-fee structure. As part of the deal, Occidental will transfer 15.3 million common units, valued at about $610 million, back to Western Midstream. Once those units are redeemed, Occidental’s ownership stake is expected to fall to roughly 40%.
Occidental remains Western Midstream’s largest shareholder, according to LSEG data. After the contract changes, about 9% of Western’s revenue will still be generated under cost-of-service arrangements. Most of those contracts are set to expire between the late 2020s and the mid-to-late 2030s, at which point they could shift to fixed-fee terms. Under the previous structure, fees were based on the cost of providing services plus a regulated return. Under the new agreement, Occidental will pay a fixed rate instead.
Western Midstream also entered into a new natural gas gathering and processing agreement with ConocoPhillips covering a portion of its Delaware Basin volumes.
Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES) operates and develops midstream assets across Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
12. Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 4
On January 27, BofA analyst Joshua Shanker cut his price target on Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) to $90 from $94. The analyst kept a Neutral rating on the stock. He said fourth-quarter operating earnings came in at $0.93 per share, below the firm’s $0.96 estimate but slightly ahead of the Street’s consensus of $0.90. After the results, BofA lowered its earnings forecasts for 2026, 2027, and 2028 by 4.8%, 5.1%, and 5.3%, pointing to slower expected organic growth.
A day earlier, Brown & Brown reported higher adjusted profit for the fourth quarter, helped by stronger commission and fee income. The market response was less forgiving. Shares fell nearly 6% as investors focused on weakening organic growth. Organic revenue slipped to $1.08 billion in the three months ended December 31, down from $1.11 billion a year earlier.
At the same time, commissions and fees rose sharply. The company posted a 36% increase to $1.58 billion for the quarter. That pushed total revenue up to $1.61 billion, compared with $1.18 billion in the same period last year. Investment and other income also edged higher, rising to $27 million from $23 million a year earlier. Adjusted earnings for the quarter came in at $0.93 per share, up from $0.86 a year earlier.
Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO) operates as an insurance broker, connecting customers with insurers across a wide range of policies. The company focuses on risk management and sells insurance products primarily in property, casualty, and employee benefits.
11. Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 5
Stephens raised its price target on Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX) to $213 from $190 on January 21. The firm maintained an Overweight rating after the company released preliminary Q4 earnings last week. Following the update, the firm lifted its fourth-quarter EPS estimate to $4.47 from $2.77, citing higher volumes disclosed by Matson, improved pricing, and ocean margins that came in well ahead of expectations.
During the preliminary earnings call, Chairman and CEO Matt Cox said the company finished the year with momentum. Consolidated fourth-quarter results exceeded expectations, helped by stronger-than-anticipated freight rates and volumes in the China service. Cox said demand for e-commerce and electronic goods continued to support shipping activity, while freight volumes remained solid across major customer segments.
He also noted that conditions in the Transpacific tradelane had stabilized after the US-China trade and economic agreement announced on October 30, 2025. According to Cox, the agreement reduced uncertainty around tariffs, port entry fees, global trade flows, and broader geopolitical risks. Looking ahead, Cox said Matson expects full-year 2026 consolidated operating income to be roughly in line with 2025, supported by steady US consumer demand and a more predictable Transpacific environment. For the fourth quarter of 2025, the company expects consolidated operating income between $135.0 million and $145.0 million. Net income is projected to range from $131.3 million to $146.3 million, with diluted EPS between $4.22 and $4.70. He added that fourth-quarter EPS includes an estimated $0.77 per share benefit from favorable income tax adjustments.
Matson plans to provide more detail on its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results, along with its outlook for 2026, during its earnings call scheduled for February 24, 2026. Matson, Inc. (NYSE:MATX) is an ocean transportation and logistics company operating through its Ocean Transportation and Logistics segments.
10. Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 6
On January 23, Stifel raised its price target on Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) to $941 from $869. However, the firm maintained a Hold rating as part of its fourth-quarter preview for diversified industrial companies.
The stock has climbed more than 40% over the past year. Results in 2025 were mixed across the industrial businesses, but aerospace stood out. As the company’s largest segment, aerospace delivered strong growth, drove margin expansion, and helped Parker post a string of earnings beats.M&A also played a role. Last year, Parker completed two acquisitions, including the $1 billion purchase of Curtis Instruments and the much larger $9.25 billion acquisition of Filtration Group. The company has long been an active acquirer and a consolidator in the motion control space, and that approach continued to pay off.
Much of the past year’s performance was tied to the integration of Meggitt PLC, the aerospace business Parker acquired for about $7.3 billion in September 2022. In fiscal 2025, which ended June 30, the aerospace segment posted 13% growth and expanded operating margins by 300 basis points, reflecting ongoing cost synergies from the deal. Those gains were enough to offset a 3% decline in the general industrial segment, excluding divestitures.
Parker continues to lean on its “Win 3.0” business excellence framework as it brings new acquisitions into the fold. In 2025, that roll-up strategy held up well despite a challenging macro backdrop, reinforcing investor confidence.
Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH) designs and manufactures motion and control technologies and provides aftermarket support for highly engineered solutions across a wide range of end markets.
9. Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 6
Jefferies cut its price target on Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) on January 25 to $251 from $290. However, it kept a Buy rating ahead of the fourth-quarter earnings report. The firm said investors are “universally bearish” on the company’s outlook, yet it remains “constructive” on the stock, even with volatility likely in the near term. Jefferies said the lower target reflects reduced long-term capacity expectations and softer marketing margins, though it emphasized that Cheniere’s low leverage and strong contract coverage leave it well positioned.
Cheniere changed the US energy landscape in 2016 when it became the first exporter of LNG from the lower 48 states. Since then, the company has poured more than $50 billion into building out its business, growing into the leading LNG producer in the US and the second-largest worldwide. Roughly 90% of its LNG is sold overseas, mainly to utilities, under long-term, fixed-fee contracts. Those contracts create a reliable cash flow stream, which Cheniere uses to reduce debt, fund expansion projects such as Corpus Christi Midscale Trains 8 and 9, and return capital to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks.
Looking ahead, the company plans to deploy more than $25 billion of available cash through 2030 toward growth, balance sheet management, dividends, and repurchases. That strategy supports its goal of generating more than $25 per share in distributable cash flow by the early 2030s.
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE:LNG) is a US-based producer and exporter of liquefied natural gas, supplying LNG to utilities, energy traders, and integrated energy companies worldwide.
8. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 11
On January 27, Wolfe Research raised its view on Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT), upgrading the stock to Peer Perform from Underperform ahead of the retailer’s investor day scheduled for March 3. The firm did not assign a price target but said Target offers a wide margin of safety, even after cutting its estimates, largely because of the value tied to its owned real estate. Wolfe estimates that real estate accounts for roughly 70% to 75% of Target’s enterprise value and noted early signs that the core business is starting to stabilize.
Separately, a January 22 Reuters report said Target appointed two new directors to its board ahead of Michael Fiddelke taking over as chief executive in February. The board added John Hoke III, Nike’s former chief innovation officer, and Steve Bratspies, the former CEO of HanesBrands. Both are seasoned merchandising executives and are expected to help sharpen Target’s style and product mix, areas where the retailer has recently struggled to connect with shoppers.
With the additions, Target’s board will expand to 15 directors, according to a company spokesperson. The changes come as the retailer looks to restart growth after reporting three straight quarters of declining comparable sales. The stock has also been under pressure, down about 22% over the past year.
Target is also dealing with pressure from activist investor Toms Capital Investment Management, which reportedly built a stake in December. The firm has raised concerns tied to weak sales trends, the erosion of Target’s cheap chic reputation, and difficulties competing on price with Amazon and Walmart. The company has also faced criticism following its decision to scale back diversity, equity, and inclusion policies last year.
Hoke is set to join the board on March 1 and will serve on the governance, sustainability, and compensation committees. Bratspies will join on April 1 and serve on the audit and finance committees.
Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) operates as a general merchandise retailer, selling products through its stores and digital platforms. The company offers customers, referred to as guests, a mix of everyday essentials and fashion-focused merchandise at discounted prices.
7. Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 13
On January 23, RBC Capital analyst Stephen D’Ambrisi trimmed his price target on Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) to $140 from $143 while maintaining a Sector Perform rating. The change came as part of a broader research note ahead of fourth-quarter earnings across the utilities sector. D’Ambrisi said that, over the past 18 months, shifting capital spending plans have pushed several utilities that usually update guidance in the fourth quarter to release earlier or off-cycle previews. Those updates led RBC to make adjustments to its models across the group.
Beyond near-term earnings, Duke Energy’s geographic footprint stands out. Most of the company’s nuclear, renewable, and fossil fuel assets sit in North and South Carolina, placing Duke between Virginia and Georgia, the top two states for new data center development. Nearly 3,000 data centers are currently under construction across the U.S., with 595 of them in Virginia alone. The state expects electricity demand to climb 153% by 2040 and has already begun looking to neighboring states, including Maryland, to help meet that surge.
That dynamic creates a meaningful opportunity for Duke. North Carolina operates on the same power grid as Virginia, and Virginia has now overtaken California as the largest energy-importing state in the country. As demand continues to build, Duke is well-positioned to benefit from growing power needs flowing out of the Virginia market.
Those tailwinds have already shown up in Duke’s financials, including a three-year revenue CAGR of 5.29%, a gross margin of 52.4%, and a net margin of 15.97%.
Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) is an energy holding company with operations spanning electric and gas utilities. Its business is divided into two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure.
6. Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 13
On January 14, Wells Fargo upgraded Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) to Overweight from Equal Weight and lifted its price target to $245 from $205. The firm also named the stock a top pick in business and information services for 2026. While the shares saw valuation multiples compress in 2025, the analyst said Cintas’ underlying fundamentals remain solid and should stand out next year, supported by the company’s ability to push through pricing.
Separately, a December 22 report from The Wall Street Journal said Cintas had submitted a renewed takeover proposal for UniFirst, valuing the target at about $3.96 billion in equity. The move marks another attempt by Cintas to consolidate the uniform rental space by acquiring a long-time rival.
The latest proposal offers $275 per share in cash, roughly nine months after Cintas said it could not engage UniFirst in meaningful talks following an earlier bid at the same price in January. According to Cintas, the offer implies a total transaction value of around $5.2 billion, representing a 62% premium to UniFirst’s last closing price after the stock slid when the prior bid was rejected in March.
This is not Cintas’ first run at a deal. The company has made several attempts over the years, including an approach in 2022 and another earlier this year that was turned down before being withdrawn. Although the offer price remains unchanged from January, Cintas said it has since completed significant regulatory groundwork and believes approvals are achievable. The proposal also includes a $350 million reverse termination fee if the deal fails to clear regulators.
Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ:CTAS) develops and manages uniform programs built around fabric-based products. The company serves businesses of all sizes across the US, with additional operations in Canada and Latin America.
5. United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 17
On January 20, Susquehanna analyst Bascome Majors lifted his price target on United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) to $115 from $105 while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The firm said parcel demand looks steady in the near term, and that investor concerns around the well-signaled second phase of Amazon’s delivery volume “glide-down” in the first half of 2026 create a relatively manageable backdrop for the shares.
Separately, a January 27 Reuters report said UPS plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs and close another 24 facilities in 2026. The company said the moves are part of its ongoing shift away from lower-margin deliveries for Amazon as it refocuses on more profitable business lines.
UPS has been clear about that strategy for some time. In January of last year, the company said it would speed up efforts to reduce millions of low-profit Amazon deliveries, describing that volume as heavily dilutive to margins. UPS and competitors such as FedEx have also been dealing with sluggish demand across the broader delivery market.
In 2025, United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) cut 48,000 jobs, offered buyouts to drivers, and shut down operations at 93 locations as Amazon volumes continued to fall. The additional reductions planned for 2026 are expected to come through attrition and another round of voluntary buyouts for full-time drivers. The company does not plan to carry out layoffs, according to Chief Financial Officer Brian Dykes.
UPS reported a workforce of about 490,000 employees in its 2024 annual report, including nearly 78,000 in management. Updated figures for 2025 were not immediately available. The company’s workforce is unionized, and management said many of the job cuts will result from leaving positions unfilled as part-time employees exit the business.
United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) provides integrated logistics services to customers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
4. PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 20
On January 19, Citi raised its price target on PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) to $127 from $120 and maintained a Buy rating on the stock. The firm said the stock is starting to price in a more supportive housing environment expected to develop in 2027, with room for earnings estimates to move higher in the back half of 2026.
PPG released its fourth-quarter 2025 results on January 27. Net sales totaled $3.9 billion, while organic sales grew 3% from a year earlier. The increase came from a mix of higher pricing and better volumes, with every region contributing. Reported earnings per share were $1.34, and adjusted EPS came in at $1.51. The company also repurchased about $100 million of its shares during the quarter.
Growth picked up toward the end of the year, making the fourth quarter PPG’s strongest period for organic sales in 2025. Both pricing actions and volume gains helped drive the improvement, and momentum was broad-based across regions.
Results in the Global Architectural Coatings business improved quarter by quarter during the year. In the fourth quarter, organic sales in the segment rose 2%, helped by a sequential recovery in project-related demand in Mexico and solid retail sales. Conditions in Europe remained mixed.
PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG) produces and sells a wide range of paints, coatings, and specialty products. Its operations are split across Global Architectural Coatings, Performance Coatings, and Industrial Coatings.
3. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 20
On January 14, UBS nudged its price target on The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG) up to $66 from $61 and left its rating at Neutral. The firm said the consumer staples space is still dealing with a tough backdrop, but there are signs that fundamentals could start to look better in 2026.
Scotts Miracle-Gro is best known for its lawn care products and, unlike many staple companies, it sells straight to individual consumers rather than large food or agricultural businesses. That position worked in its favor early in the pandemic, when demand for at-home projects surged. The period that followed has been more difficult. The company’s Hawthorne unit, which is tied to the cannabis market, has been a drag as the broader cannabis sector cooled off.
In response, management has been reshaping the business. A restructuring effort helped streamline operations and cut back lower-margin product lines, allowing the company to return to growth in 2024 with noticeably stronger margins. The U.S. consumer business ended the year with sales up 6%. In 2025, profits have continued to improve, even though overall sales have largely flattened.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE:SMG) is still in the middle of that turnaround, but it remains the leading brand in at-home lawn care. That brand strength gives the company a solid foundation for longer-term growth.
2. International Paper Company (NYSE:IP)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 23
On January 12, UBS analyst Anojja Shah trimmed International Paper Company (NYSE:IP)’s price target to $51 from $53 while maintaining a Buy rating. The firm pointed to ongoing self-help efforts and cost savings tied to recent mill closures, along with the company’s longer-term goal of reaching $5 billion in EBITDA by 2027.
International Paper has also been named to RBC Capital Markets’ Top 30 Global Ideas list for 2026. RBC analyst Matthew McKellar and his team said the company is well-positioned to benefit from tighter containerboard capacity in North America, which could support price increases in the first half of 2026. The firm also highlighted International Paper’s progress on internal efficiency initiatives, which are expected to drive meaningful EBITDA growth by 2027.
RBC rates the stock Outperform and views it as a long-term holding, citing the company’s strong positions in industries that are becoming more consolidated. The firm also sees value in International Paper’s more disciplined capital allocation, with a focus on cutting costs, improving reliability, and investing in high-return projects that should strengthen the business over time. The company’s broader transformation plan is seen as an additional source of upside.
RBC’s $55 price target reflects a blended multiple of about 7.75 times estimated trend EBITDA and projected 2026 EBITDA.
International Paper Company (NYSE:IP) provides sustainable packaging solutions and is a global producer of renewable, fiber-based packaging products.
1. Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL)
Ex-Dividend Date: February 25
On January 21, UBS lifted its price target on Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) to $65 from $61 while keeping a Neutral rating on the stock. The firm said the setup heading into fourth-quarter results looks fairly balanced. Organic growth and EBITDA are expected to come in slightly ahead of consensus estimates, with a modest pickup from the third quarter. UBS added that management’s outlook for 2026, which calls for organic growth of 7% to 8% and incremental EBITDA margins around 30%, is largely already priced in, limiting the chances of a major surprise.
At its sell-side analyst conference in December, Rollins outlined how it has been using scaled acquisitions to enter new markets, expand into additional geographies, and strengthen customer acquisition. The company also pointed to a sharp increase in shareholder returns, with its regular dividend up roughly 80% since 2022. In addition, Rollins has been active on buybacks, including a $300 million repurchase tied to a secondary offering in 2023 and another $200 million repurchase alongside its 2025 secondary offering.
Looking ahead, Rollins’ performance will hinge on its ability to retain customers, run efficiently, stay compliant with regulations, and use its scale to compete effectively. The company continues to invest in the salesforce development and marketing to defend its position against both smaller local operators and larger national competitors such as Rentokil and Ecolab.
Rollins, Inc. (NYSE:ROL) is a global consumer and commercial services company that provides essential pest and wildlife control services.
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