15 Best Dividend Stocks of 2025

6. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)

YTD Return as of the Close of June 25: 32.3%

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is among the best dividend stocks in 2025 as it has surged by over 32% since the start of the year. The company has positioned itself as a major force in enterprise-focused artificial intelligence. The company has been strategically preparing for this pivotal moment in the evolution of computing, and the continued rise of AI is expected to be a major growth driver for IBM’s stock in the coming years.

When OpenAI introduced ChatGPT in November 2022, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) quickly followed with its own offering. Just six months later, it launched Watsonx, a suite of generative AI tools tailored specifically for business clients, setting itself apart from consumer-oriented large language models.

Although initial adoption was modest, momentum picked up quickly. In the first quarter of 2024, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) reported over $1 billion in contracts tied to Watsonx. That figure doubled to $2 billion in the following quarter, rose to $3 billion in the third quarter, and surpassed $5 billion by year-end, reflecting rapidly growing demand for its enterprise AI solutions.

International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)’s dividend history also makes it a solid investment. The company has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past 30 years. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $1.68 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.30%, as of June 26.