In this article, we will take a look at the 15 Best Stocks to Buy Now for Passive Income.
According to a report by Bankrate, many Americans are feeling uneasy about their finances as sticky inflation and a job market that appears to be losing some momentum have left a lot of people unsettled. When asked about this, 32% of Americans said they believe their personal finances will worsen in 2026, according to Bankrate’s Financial Outlook Survey. That is the highest level of pessimism since 2018, when Bankrate first started asking consumers about their financial expectations.
The number was lower just a year ago. In 2025, about 23% of respondents believed their finances would get worse. Inflation remains a major source of concern. Among those expecting their financial situation to deteriorate next year, 78% pointed to continued high inflation. Another 55% said actions taken by elected representatives are also shaping their outlook.
At the same time, many people are looking for ways to strengthen their income. Hostinger reported that in 2026, more individuals are earning extra money through side hustles alongside their primary jobs. For some, the goal is straightforward: increase monthly income. Others approach it differently, hoping a side project might eventually grow into a full-time business. The survey also found that passive income side hustles are gaining popularity.
Affiliate marketing is one of the areas seeing strong growth. The industry is now valued at $18.5 billion. According to affiliate marketing statistics, more than 80% of businesses incorporate affiliate marketing into their digital strategies. Within this space, education and e-learning stand out as some of the highest-paying segments. Demand for online courses and certification programs continues to rise. Amazon’s affiliate program remains the largest player in the market, holding a 46.21% share.
Dividends represent another path to passive income. Investors receive regular payouts from the companies they own. By relying on stock dividends instead of profits from selling shares, investors can lower the risk of gradually draining their portfolios. And compared with options like owning rental property, collecting dividend payments requires very little ongoing effort.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best stocks to buy.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we screened for dividend companies with yields above 3.5%, as of March 5. Though some of the stocks have extreme yields, their dividend policies have remained stable over the years. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds. 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 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
15. Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG)
Dividend Yield as of March 5: 3.93%
On March 4, UBS lowered its price recommendation on Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) to $19 from $27. The firm maintained a Neutral rating on the shares.
Earlier, on February 18, Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Grambling reduced the firm’s price objective on Harley-Davidson to $12 from $18. The analyst reiterated an Underweight rating on the stock. After attending the 2026 Miami boat show last week, the firm said original equipment manufacturers described the consumer environment as choppy. At the same time, they expect innovation to help drive share gains once demand begins to recover. The firm also said it adjusted its estimates for the powersports sector following discussions at the event and after reviewing fourth-quarter earnings.
Harley-Davidson, Inc. (NYSE:HOG) is the parent company of Harley-Davidson Motor Company and Harley-Davidson Financial Services. The company operates through three segments: Harley-Davidson Motor Company (HDMC), LiveWire, and Harley-Davidson Financial Services (HDFS).
14. Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS)
Dividend Yield as of March 5: 3.99%
On March 4, Scotiabank analyst Nicholas Yulico lowered the firm’s price recommendation on Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS) to $278 from $284. The analyst reiterated an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm said it is updating its price targets for U.S. multifamily REITs under its coverage. According to the analyst, most markets are still operating at occupancy levels below those seen before COVID, during the 2015–2019 period. Investors may need to wait for the Spring leasing season and clearer signs of stronger market growth before a meaningful positive catalyst appears, the firm noted.
Earlier, on February 19, the company said its Board of Directors approved a 0.8% increase to its annual cash dividend. The increase marks the company’s 32nd consecutive year of annual dividend growth. The board also declared a first-quarter dividend of $2.59 per share. On an annualized basis, the dividend represents a distribution of $10.36 per common share.
Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS) is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust. The company acquires, develops, redevelops, and manages apartment communities in selected residential areas along the West Coast of the United States.
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