In this article, we will be taking a look at 15 Best High Yield Stocks To Buy.
Dividend-paying stocks tend to rise and fall in popularity depending on the mood of the broader market. For much of 2025, they lagged behind because investors were more interested in high-growth names. That back-and-forth swing from risk-on to risk-off, and then back again, shows just how uncertain and unpredictable the market environment has been.
A BNY Investments report also noted that investor demand for dividend yield naturally shifts over time. When dividend stocks fall out of favor, often because the market is chasing growth instead, having strong risk controls in place can help investors stay steady and avoid getting whipsawed by changing sentiment.
Evanson Asset Management makes a similar point, explaining that high-dividend investing has been a classic approach in the financial world for decades, dating back to Graham and Dodd in the late 1930s. However, like most strategies, it goes through cycles. When markets are struggling or confidence in capital gains fades, investors often lean more heavily toward dividends for stability. A good example was 2011. The S&P 500 ended that year almost flat after a choppy ride, but dividend-paying companies gained 10.4%, beating other categories such as value stocks and small caps.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks with high yields.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we screened for companies with a market cap of at least $2 billion and identified dividend stocks with strong and consistent dividend histories. From that group, we selected stocks with dividend yields above 4% as of January 18. Next, we picked companies with the highest number of hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2025, and ranked them accordingly.
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).
15. NNN REIT, Inc. (NYSE:NNN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22
Dividend Yield as of January 18: 5.63%
On January 8, UBS lowered its price target on NNN REIT, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) to $43 from $44 and kept a Neutral rating on the stock. In its research note, UBS said 2026 could end up being a major turning point for REITs, with expected total returns in the 9%–11% range. The firm’s outlook is based on improving macro conditions, more attractive valuations, easing supply pressures, and a calmer political backdrop. UBS also expects the year to be split into two different phases, with investors leaning more defensive in the first half of 2026, before stronger catalysts start showing up in the second half. The firm added that Healthcare, Shopping Centers, and Coastal Apartments could be better positioned if the second half plays out as expected.
On January 15, NNN REIT’s Board of Directors announced a quarterly dividend of $0.60 per share. The dividend will be paid on February 13, 2026, to shareholders on record as of January 30, 2026. NNN is one of just three publicly traded REITs that have increased their annual dividend for at least 36 consecutive years, which highlights how steady its dividend track record has been.
NNN REIT follows a simple and predictable model. It invests in single-tenant, net-leased retail properties, including locations like automotive service centers, convenience stores, and restaurants. These properties are typically backed by long-term leases, usually starting at 10 to 20 years, and structured as triple net leases. That structure shifts most property costs to the tenant, helping NNN generate stable rental income year after year.
NNN REIT, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) also runs with a conservative financial approach. It distributes only a reasonable portion of its cash flow through dividends and maintains a strong balance sheet. That financial discipline gives the company the flexibility to keep expanding its portfolio and continue investing in net lease retail properties without stretching itself too far.
14. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Dividend Yield as of January 18: 6.69%
On January 16, Scotiabank raised its price target on Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) to $35 from $34. The firm kept a Sector Perform rating on the stock. The analyst said the move was part of a broader refresh of price targets across the firm’s Energy Infrastructure coverage. Scotiabank pointed out that strong electricity demand and rising LNG exports are creating new growth opportunities, which is why the bank sees an upward tilt to its long-term outlook.
In other news, on January 8, Enterprise announced that its board approved a quarterly cash distribution of $0.55 per unit for Q4 2025, which works out to $2.20 per unit annualized. The distribution is scheduled to be paid on February 13, 2026, to unitholders on record as of January 30, 2026. This payout marks a 2.8% increase compared with the distribution declared for Q4 2024.
Enterprise also continued returning cash through buybacks. The partnership repurchased about $50 million worth of common units in Q4 2025, bringing total repurchases for 2025 to roughly $300 million. After these purchases, Enterprise has used about 29% of its authorized $5.0 billion repurchase program.
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) is a major midstream energy company, providing services across natural gas, NGLs, crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals, supporting both producers and end markets.
13. Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34
Dividend Yield as of January 18: 4.46%
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) is among the best dividend stocks.
On January 13, Barclays lifted its price target on Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) to $144 from $142, while keeping an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The change came as part of the bank’s broader 2026 outlook update for the REIT sector. Barclays said it sees the best opportunity next year in apartments, storage, and single-family rentals, while it’s less optimistic about cold storage and retail. Overall, the firm is staying Neutral on REITs for 2026.
One thing that really stands out about Mid-America Apartment Communities is how focused it is on improving the properties it already owns instead of simply unloading older buildings. In 2024, the company renovated 5,665 apartments, upgrading areas like kitchens and bathrooms. Those renovated units ended up earning 7.3% higher rent on average compared to similar units that didn’t receive upgrades.
This strategy makes a lot of sense as it helps preserve a limited supply of quality apartments while boosting the value of each unit without having to constantly buy and sell properties, which can be expensive. For REIT investors, keeping costs under control matters because the more money spent on big transactions, the more it can weigh on annual returns. The company’s steady approach also shows up in its shareholder payouts. Its dividend has remained intact since it was first introduced back in 1994.
Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc. (NYSE:MAA) is a multifamily-focused REIT, fully self-managed and self-administered, with a core focus on owning and operating apartment communities.
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