In this article, we will take a look at the 14 High Growth Dividend Paying Stocks to Invest In Now.
According to a March 13 CNBC report, dividend-paying companies are starting to close the earnings growth gap with technology stocks. They are also contributing more to overall earnings momentum in the S&P 500. After a strong move over the past year on this metric, the shift suggests dividend stocks may be gaining ground with investors looking for income and stability in a volatile market. ETF experts said the outlook for dividend stocks has improved across the board. Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, told CNBC:
“Growth characteristics of companies in the financial sector, the health care sector, the industrial sector … those are where you often find dividend growth. They continue to experience more and more growth.”
Companies with a long track record of dividend increases usually show steady cash flow and disciplined management. In the past, that stability often came with slower profit growth compared to the technology sector. That dynamic is starting to change. Stronger operations and better margins are lifting earnings for many dividend-paying companies outside of tech. As profits grow, these companies are continuing to raise dividends while also strengthening their balance sheets.
At the same time, expectations for technology stocks remain high after years of strong performance. Many of these companies are now spending heavily on AI buildouts, which is putting pressure on cash flow and balance sheets. Dividend-paying companies outside the tech sector tend to trade at more moderate valuations. As their earnings improve, investors may begin to see them as offering a mix of stability and growth.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best high growth dividend stocks.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we screened for dividend stocks with sound financials and robust balance sheets. From that group, we picked companies that achieved positive revenue growth in the past five years. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment.
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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
14. Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)
On March 17, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) introduced a new initiative aimed at bringing AI processing closer to customers by using NVIDIA GPUs. The idea is to speed up the development of next-generation AI applications across the US. The collaboration will test how AI workloads perform when they run at the edge of Comcast’s network, in regional facilities located nearer to where people live and work.
The field trial builds on Comcast’s nationwide network, which reaches 65 million homes and businesses. This infrastructure is designed for low latency and high bandwidth. The goal is simple: show that running AI at the network edge can deliver faster, more responsive experiences. That could mean quicker apps for users, better recommendations, smoother gaming, and AI tools that respond without delay.
Early testing showed solid results in both lab settings and initial trials. The next phase will focus on validating improvements in latency, power use, and cost. It will also look at how well the system handles resiliency and scalability across Comcast’s network, along with overall user experience in real-world conditions.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. It provides broadband, wireless, and video services through Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky. It also produces and distributes entertainment, sports, and news through brands such as NBC, Telemundo, Universal, Peacock, and Sky, and runs theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences.
13. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)
On March 17, Mizuho raised its price recommendation on Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) to $560 from $525. It maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm said the Middle East conflict is easing pressure on the helium market.
A few days earlier, on March 13, JPMorgan analyst Jeffrey Zekauskas upgraded Linde to Overweight from Neutral and lifted the price target to $525 from $455. The analyst noted that the company appears better positioned for current market conditions than many other materials companies. He added that Linde’s chemical customers in the U.S. are expected to increase operating rates to benefit from higher export prices, according to a research note. The firm also pointed out that Linde tends to raise prices more quickly during periods of inflation.
Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is a United Kingdom-based industrial gases and engineering company. Its operations are organized across the Americas, EMEA, APAC, and Engineering segments.
12. Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)
On March 17, Evercore ISI analyst Michael Montani raised the firm’s price recommendation on Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) to $20 from $19. It reiterated an In Line rating on the shares.
On February 27, Albertsons announced the appointment of Brian Rice to its Board of Directors, effective February 25, 2026. The board now has 11 members. Mr. Rice brings more than 30 years of experience in global technology roles. His work has focused on digital transformation, technology modernization, and improving operations across well-known consumer brands. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Information Officer at McDonald’s Corporation. In that role, he is part of the executive leadership team and acts as the main liaison to the board on technology matters.
Before joining McDonald’s, he held senior leadership roles at several Fortune 500 companies, including Cardinal Health, Kellogg Company, General Motors, and Mars. He led enterprise technology teams, upgraded global systems, introduced large-scale platforms, and pushed digital-first strategies aimed at growth, efficiency, and customer engagement across global operations.
Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is a food and drug retailer in the United States. The company runs stores that offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care items, pharmacy services, fuel, and other products and services, both in-store and through digital channels.
11. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)
On March 18, JPMorgan lowered its price recommendation on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) to $283 from $317. It reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares. The update followed the company’s $11B acquisition of Confluent. The firm viewed the early completion of the deal as a positive step. At the same time, it pointed to recent compression in peer valuation multiples as a reason for the lower target. JPMorgan said IBM’s risk/reward looks balanced at current levels.
A day earlier, on March 17, The Wall Street Journal reported that IBM had closed its roughly $11 billion acquisition of the data-streaming company Confluent. The deal was first announced in December. It is meant to help businesses access and use their data more effectively for AI agents, or bots that can act on their own. Right now, corporate data sits across many systems, from software applications to private data centers and cloud platforms. For AI agents to function properly, that data needs to be accessible in real time.”You need to be able to get data wherever it is,” and get it instantly, IBM Chief Executive Arvind Krishna told The Wall Street Journal.
He added that Confluent “has been something that we have been keeping an eye on for a long time.” IBM, based in Armonk, New York, is making this move as more technology vendors roll out tools to help companies build and manage AI agents. These tools are spreading quickly across large organizations, even as many are still figuring out how to manage and scale them safely. The acquisition also fits into Krishna’s broader plan to position IBM as a stronger player in hybrid cloud and AI. It is the company’s second-largest deal and is designed to help businesses make better use of existing IT systems and data in an AI-driven environment.
International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) provides hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence, and consulting services globally. Its business is organized into Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing segments.
10. Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV)
On March 17, Wells Fargo analyst Joseph O’Dea upgraded Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) to Overweight from Equal Weight. It also raised the price target on the stock to $230 from $210. The firm pointed to supportive US macro data, which it believes is helping drive a recovery in short-cycle businesses. It also noted that if tensions in the Middle East ease in the near term, Dover shares could look more attractive given the company’s accelerating organic growth. The analyst added in a research note that the stock may benefit from “typical short-cycle relative outperformance as the expansion advances.” If the conflict in the Middle East continues, the firm said Dover has limited exposure to the region.
The company is set to report its Q1 2026 earnings on April 23. During the Q4 2025 earnings call, President, CEO, and Chairman Richard Tobin said strong booking rates continued to support momentum across the business. Bookings rose 10% in the quarter and were up 6% for the full year. Senior VP and CFO Christopher Woenker said free cash flow in the fourth quarter reached $487 million, or 23% of revenue, making it the strongest cash flow quarter of the year. For the full year, free cash flow came in at 14% of revenue, increasing by nearly $200 million compared to the prior year. Tobin also noted that adjusted EPS was $9.61, up 14% in the quarter and ahead of the company’s previously raised third-quarter guidance. For the full year, adjusted EPS increased 16%.
Dover Corporation (NYSE:DOV) operates as a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider. Its Engineered Products segment supplies equipment, components, software, and services to markets such as the vehicle aftermarket, aerospace and defense, and other industries.
9. Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN)
On March 16, Barclays analyst Julian Mitchell raised the firm’s price recommendation on Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) to $354 from $350. It also reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm updated its model following the closing of the Boyd deal. It expects Eaton to remain a “battleground” stock for investors in the near term.
That same day, Jefferies reinstated coverage of Eaton with a Buy rating and a $430 price target after the Boyd Thermal acquisition was completed. The analyst said the deal strengthens Eaton’s data center offering by adding thermal management and engineered products, according to a research note.
Earlier, on March 12, the company confirmed it had completed the acquisition of the Boyd Thermal business from Boyd Corporation, which was owned by Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Boyd Thermal focuses on thermal components, systems, and ruggedized solutions used in data centers, aerospace, and other markets. The business is based in the U.S. and employs more than 6,000 people, with manufacturing operations across North America, Asia, and Europe. It began as an industrial fabricator in 1928 and later built a long track record as a supplier of thermal management solutions in aerospace. Today, it serves data centers, industrial, aerospace, and other end markets.
Eaton Corporation plc (NYSE:ETN) operates as an intelligent power management company. Its Electrical Americas segment includes electrical components, industrial components, power distribution systems and assemblies, residential products, circuit protection, utility power distribution, and wiring devices, among other offerings.
8. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
On March 17, HSBC analyst Morten Herholdt raised the firm’s price recommendation on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to $280 from $265. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The firm pointed to the current macro environment, noting that uncertainty, rising geopolitical risks, and lower exposure to AI disruption could draw investors toward healthcare and support outperformance in the near term.
On March 18, Reuters reported that the US Food and Drug Administration approved Johnson & Johnson’s oral pill for psoriasis. The approval gives patients a more convenient treatment option for the chronic autoimmune condition, which causes itchy, scaly, and inflamed skin. The drug is approved for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in adults and children aged 12 and older who weigh at least 40 kg. The company did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment on pricing and availability.
The oral treatment, branded as Icotyde, is the first of its kind. It is expected to help Johnson & Johnson expand its presence in the psoriasis market and compete with existing treatments such as Bristol Myers Squibb’s Sotyktu and AbbVie’s Skyrizi. Wall Street analysts have said Icotyde has “blockbuster potential” as a safe and effective oral option. They also noted that a once-daily pill could take share from injectable treatments like Skyrizi and the company’s own Tremfya.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) operates across a broad range of healthcare products. Its business is organized into two segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech.
7. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
On March 16, Jefferies raised the firm’s price recommendation on The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to $90 from $87. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst pointed to a broader shift in consumer habits, noting that protein is becoming more mainstream. Products that offer “easy protein,” such as yogurt, snacks, bars, and shakes, are expected to see strong demand as consumers look for convenient and cost-effective options with higher protein content. The firm also maintains Buy ratings on BellRing Brands (BRBR) and Simply Good Foods (SMPL), citing their exposure to this trend and attractive valuations.
On March 2, CNBC reported that Coca-Cola returned $8.8 billion in dividends to shareholders last year. That brings the total to roughly $102 billion paid out since January 1, 2010. The company remains part of a select group of American businesses that make up a large portion of Berkshire Hathaway’s portfolio. CEO Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett on January 1, said in his first annual letter to shareholders that Coca-Cola is one of the businesses “we understand well, have a high regard for their leaders, and expect will compound over decades.”
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) operates as a global beverage company. Its segments include Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, North America, Asia Pacific, and Bottling Investments. It sells a wide range of brands across multiple beverage categories worldwide.
6. ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM)
On March 11, Maxim upgraded ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM) to Buy from Hold. It also set a $50 price target on the stock. The firm pointed to the company’s exposure to an expanding US supply chain, including chip factories, data centers, distribution centers, industrial equipment, and microgrids. The analyst noted that after completing a lower-margin transportation infrastructure project in the U.K. and adding semiconductor-related work in Ireland, ABM is now expected to generate more than 90% of its revenue from US projects.
During the fiscal Q1 2026 earnings call, CEO Scott Salmirs said the company started the year on a solid footing. He reported 5.5% organic revenue growth, nearly $50 million in free cash flow, and over $90 million in share repurchases for the quarter. He acknowledged that margins in the Technical Solutions segment came in below expectations, mainly due to project timing and mix. Even so, he said demand and backlog trends remained healthy, and the broader fundamentals across the business continued to look constructive. Based on that, the company left its full-year outlook unchanged.
Salmirs also highlighted the completion of the WGNSTAR acquisition at the beginning of Q2. He said the deal strengthens ABM’s position in semiconductor fabrication environments and improves its ability to support key growth areas in the US.
ABM Industries Incorporated (NYSE:ABM) provides integrated facility, engineering, and infrastructure solutions. Its operations are organized across Business & Industry, Manufacturing & Distribution, Education, Aviation, and Technical Solutions.
While we acknowledge the potential of ABM as an investment, 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 ABM and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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