In this article, we will take a look at the 14 Under-the-Radar High Dividend Stocks to Buy Now.
On March 13, CNBC reported that a long history of dividend increases usually reflects steady cash flow and disciplined management. It has not always kept pace with the faster profit growth seen in the technology sector. That gap has started to narrow. Strong operating performance and improving margins have lifted profits for many dividend-paying companies outside of tech. As earnings rise, these companies are continuing to increase dividends while also strengthening their balance sheets.
At the same time, expectations for technology stocks remain high after several years of gains. Many of these companies are also spending heavily on AI buildouts, which is putting pressure on cash flow and balance sheets. Dividend-paying companies outside the tech sector often trade at more moderate valuations. As their earnings improve, they are increasingly being viewed as offering a mix of stability and growth.
Simeon Hyman, global investment strategist at ProShares, said the current environment does not call for stepping away from the market. He suggested making selective adjustments and focusing on higher-quality companies, especially those with a track record of growing dividends. He also pointed to past Gulf wars, noting that markets declined early in those periods but later recovered over the following 6 to 12 months, with gains reaching as much as 25% to 30%. He said this pattern of recovery has been consistent.
Hyman added that dividend stocks have delivered steady outperformance over time and are now playing a larger role in supporting the market. As earnings growth in mega-cap tech begins to slow, dividend-paying companies are helping stabilize overall S&P 500 fundamentals, which he sees as a sign of a softer landing.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best under-the-radar stocks that pay dividends.
Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay
Our Methodology
For this list, we screened for lesser-known dividend companies that have strong and stable dividend policies and have paid regular dividends to shareholders over the years. From that list, we identified stocks with dividend yields above 5% as of March 18. We then 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. Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. (NYSE:REXR)
Dividend Yield as of March 18: 5.03%
On March 2, Scotiabank lowered its price recommendation on Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. (NYSE:REXR) to $39 from $44. It reiterated a Sector Perform rating on the shares. The analyst said the firm is updating its price targets across U.S. Real Estate & REIT stocks following Q4 results. It also noted that REITs should be raising target development yields to better support near-term funds from operations per share. At the same time, Scotiabank pointed out that external growth through acquisitions offers a “better thematic story.”
On February 26, the company announced that John Nahas, currently Managing Director of Operations, will be promoted to Chief Operating Officer, effective April 1, 2026. This move comes alongside Laura Clark’s previously announced appointment as Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, Nahas will continue to oversee operations and investment functions. This includes asset management, development and construction, leasing, and property management.
The company also reaffirmed its previously disclosed 2026 general and administrative expense guidance of about $60 million. It added that total executive compensation has been reduced by roughly 50% compared to prior levels.
Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. (NYSE:REXR) operates as a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust. The company focuses on owning, operating, and acquiring industrial properties in Southern California infill markets.
13. Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA)
Dividend Yield as of March 18: 5.36%
On March 18, Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) announced it is partnering with Deliverect to roll out its Smart Dispatch & Delivery Management platform across all US restaurants by the end of 2027. The idea is to upgrade how orders are handled over the next few years. Instead of juggling different systems, everything runs through one platform. Orders from any channel, whether handled by in-house drivers or third-party partners, flow into the same system. It ties together ordering, point-of-sale, and delivery into a single setup.
Kevin Vasconi, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Papa John’s, made the following comment:
“As we continue to prioritize our technology evolution to deliver a better experience for our customers and our in-store team members, one key area of improvement is to optimize and simplify our delivery process. Partnering with Deliverect allows us to do exactly that.”
With everything in one place, the company can track each order from start to finish. That visibility should make deliveries more reliable, help operations run smoother, and keep the customer experience consistent across locations.
Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PZZA) operates and franchises pizza delivery and carryout restaurants. In some international markets, it also runs dine-in and delivery locations under the Papa John’s name. The company operates through four segments.
Hedge Fund Resource Center