In this article, we will take a look at the 15 Cash-Rich Dividend Stocks to Invest In Right Now.
On March 24, Reuters reported that Barclays raised its 2026 year-end S&P 500 target. The call leans on strong corporate earnings, especially from tech, and an economy that has held up better than many expected. Barclays acknowledged the risks. The war in the Middle East, AI disruption, and some stress building in private credit are all in the mix. Still, the firm sees earnings strength doing most of the heavy lifting.
It also adjusted its sector views. Industrials moved up to “positive” from “neutral.” Materials and energy were lifted to “neutral” from “negative.” The reasoning is fairly straightforward. Industrial activity is picking up, AI spending is supporting demand, and higher energy prices are helping certain names.
There is another side to this. US companies, especially in tech, are sitting on a lot of cash, but they are also spending at a pace that stands out. In February, CNBC reported that Alphabet, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon are expected to spend close to $700 billion combined this year on AI build-outs. That is a big number. The report said capital spending could rise more than 60% from the already elevated levels in 2025. Most of that money is going into high-cost chips, large data centers, and the infrastructure needed to connect everything.
That kind of spending does not come without trade-offs. Last year, the four largest US internet companies generated about $200 billion in free cash flow, down from $237 billion in 2024. The pressure is likely to build from here. Heavy upfront investment tends to weigh on margins. Cash generation can dip in the near term. In some cases, companies may need to lean more on equity or debt markets to keep funding these projects.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best cash-rich stocks.
Photo by Viacheslav Bublyk on Unsplash
Our Methodology:
For this article, we began by using a stock screener to find companies with a price-to-free-cash-flow ratio below 15. From this list, we selected companies with a market capitalization of at least $10 billion. Next, we focused on companies with the highest trailing twelve-month operating cash flows, ranking the stocks in ascending order based on their TTM operating cash flows. 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).
15. Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $956.2 Million
On April 10, Evercore ISI lowered its price recommendation on Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) to $27 from $28. It maintained an Underperform rating on the stock.
A day earlier, on April 9, TD Cowen analyst Bill Katz also reduced his target on BEN, bringing it down to $33 from $36, while maintaining a Buy rating. The firm made broader adjustments across asset managers, broker-dealers, and exchanges as part of its Q1 preview.
Earlier in the month, on April 1, Franklin Resources said it had agreed to acquire 250 Digital. The business will be folded into its newly created Franklin Crypto unit. The move points to a deeper push into digital assets. By bringing 250 Digital in-house, the firm is looking to build out actively managed crypto strategies for institutional clients. That goes beyond simple exposure through products like bitcoin ETFs. The company currently manages $1.8B in global assets.
The deal is expected to close in the second quarter. Part of the payment will be made using BENJI tokens, which represent shares in its blockchain-based mutual fund, the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund. This step reflects a broader shift across the industry. Institutions are showing growing interest in yield-focused and active strategies as passive crypto products, including spot bitcoin and ether ETFs, continue to evolve. It also comes as CoinShares began trading on the Nasdaq on April 1.
Franklin Resources, Inc. (NYSE:BEN) operates as a global investment management firm. Through its Franklin Templeton subsidiaries, it serves clients in more than 150 countries, offering strategies across equities, fixed income, alternatives, and multi-asset portfolios.
14. Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $1.1 Billion
Goldman Sachs made a notable move on April 1, adding Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) to its US Conviction List as part of the firm’s monthly portfolio update. Analysts at the firm see the company as well-positioned for a meaningful sales inflection in 2026, a view reflected in their maintained Buy rating and $442 price target for the stock.
That optimism isn’t coming out of nowhere. On the Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Koch stood firmly behind Carlisle’s Vision 2030 roadmap, reaffirming the targets that have defined the plan: $40 in adjusted EPS and a return on invested capital north of 25%. The path to getting there, he explained, runs through steady low-to-mid single-digit organic revenue growth, much of it tied to reroofing activity and the ongoing trend of putting more materials into each square foot of construction.
CFO Zdimal filled in the near-term picture. For 2026, he’s guiding for consolidated revenue to grow in the low single digits, with both the CCM and CWT segments expected to track similarly. Margins are projected to inch forward as well, with adjusted EBITDA expanding by roughly 50 basis points. On the capital side, the company plans to buy back $1 billion in shares, all while keeping its financial profile where management wants it, around 25% ROIC and free cash flow margins above 15%.
Carlisle Companies Incorporated (NYSE:CSL) is a manufacturer and supplier focused on building envelope products, the kind that make structures more energy efficient. Its two main businesses, Carlisle Construction Materials (CCM) and Carlisle Weatherproofing Technologies (CWT), sit at the center of that mission.
13. Evercore Inc. (NYSE:EVR)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $1.26 Billion
Morgan Stanley raised its price recommendation on Evercore Inc. (NYSE:EVR) to $384 from $381 on April 9. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm expects midcap advisor management teams to strike a cautiously optimistic tone given recent market volatility. That said, comp ratios could come in below expectations as management teams wait for clearer visibility into the full-year revenue picture.
Goldman Sachs took a different view on April 1, trimming its price target on Evercore to $335 from $383 while holding onto its Buy rating. The firm pointed to what it sees as idiosyncratic strength in the stock, noting continued M&A backlog momentum that has significantly outperformed peers, along with a tilt toward large-cap and strategic M&A that should outperform.
Evercore Inc. (NYSE:EVR) is an investment banking and investment management company. It operates through two segments: Investment Banking & Equities and Investment Management.
12. Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $1.54 Billion
On April 8, Barclays analyst Matthew Bouley trimmed his price recommendation on Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) to $115 from $116. It kept an Underweight rating on the shares. The firm made broader adjustments across the homebuilding and building products space ahead of Q1 earnings. Barclays said it prefers building products and distributors with pricing power or vertical integration. It also warned that investors may want to stay away from homebuilders, noting that 2026 “shapes up to be a potential lost year,” as the analyst wrote in a research note.
A day earlier, on April 7, Seaport Research analyst Kenneth Zener downgraded Toll Brothers to Neutral from Buy and did not assign a price target. The firm lowered ratings across all the builders it covers, pointing to “rising concern that housing activity is poised to slow further.” Seaport described the group as shifting from a “value-trap” to “catching a falling knife.” The analyst said weaker job market growth challenges the earlier view that demand was starting to stabilize. In the same note, the firm said it expects further multiple compression until housing starts move closer to trough levels, in line with past cycles.
Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) builds luxury homes across more than 60 markets in the United States. It serves a range of buyers, including first-time, move-up, active-adult, and second-home customers. The company also runs its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, smart home technology, landscaping, and building components manufacturing operations.
11. CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $2.75 Billion
On April 8, Morgan Stanley analyst Vincent Andrews raised his price recommendation on CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF) to $135 from $95. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. He said equity markets “appear to have fairly efficiently priced in” the tighter backdrop tied to the Middle East conflict for both CF and Yara (YARIY). He also pointed out that Nutrien (NTR) “appears left behind,” based on how the fertilizer group is trading.
A day earlier, on April 7, RBC Capital analyst Andrew Wong increased his price target on CF Industries to $125 from $100 and maintained a Sector Perform rating. The update came as part of a broader Q1 preview for the fertilizers sector. He said fertilizer prices came in higher than expected during the quarter. The Iran war limited exports from the Middle East, which is a key supplier of nitrogen and phosphate. Nitrogen, in particular, saw a sharp move higher due to tighter supply and rising LNG costs, which pushed up global marginal costs. RBC said it expects elevated nitrogen prices to support CF’s performance. The firm also sees the company generating solid cash flows, even as it continues to invest in the Blue Point ammonia project.
CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CF) produces hydrogen and nitrogen products on a global scale. The company is working to decarbonize its ammonia production network, aiming to support low-carbon hydrogen and nitrogen across energy, fertilizer, emissions abatement, and other industrial uses.
10. Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CINF)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $3.11 Billion
On April 7, Keefe Bruyette analyst Meyer Shields slightly lowered the price recommendation on Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CINF) to $190 from $191. It reiterated an Outperform rating on the shares.
During the Q4 2025 earnings call, President and CEO Stephen Spray said the company delivered another strong quarter. He pointed to steady execution and said the results reflected the strength of its operating model and the consistency of its long-term insurance approach.
For the full year 2025, net income reached $2.4 billion, up 4% from 2024. In the fourth quarter alone, net income came in at $676 million, which he noted was a 67% increase. He also said non-GAAP operating income for the quarter rose 7% to $531 million. The property casualty combined ratio stood at 85.2% for Q4, helping bring the full-year figure down to 94.9%. Spray said pricing discipline played a role in slowing net written premium growth to 5% during the quarter. He added that renewal price increases across most business lines came in lower than in Q3 2025, though still at what he described as a healthy level.
Spray also pointed to ongoing investment in intelligent automation and generative AI. He said several initiatives are already in place, with more under development, including a proprietary chatbot to support underwriters.
Cincinnati Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:CINF) primarily provides business, home, and auto insurance through The Cincinnati Insurance Company and its standard market property casualty subsidiaries. Its segments include commercial lines, personal lines, excess and surplus lines, life insurance, and investments.
9. D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $3.63 Billion
On April 8, Wells Fargo analyst Sam Reid lowered the price recommendation on D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI) to $147 from $155. It reiterated an Equal Weight rating on the shares. He noted that housing stocks have trailed the S&P 500 by 12 points since the start of the Iran war. He also said the group does not look fully derisked heading into Q1, which is why the firm is staying selective across its calendar-year reporters.
That same day, Barclays also trimmed its price target on D.R. Horton to $128 from $129 and maintained an Equal Weight rating. The firm adjusted targets across homebuilding and building products names as part of its Q1 earnings preview. Barclays said it continues to favor building products companies and distributors with pricing power or vertical integration. It added that investors may want to steer clear of homebuilders, noting that 2026 “shapes up to be a potential lost year,” as stated in a research note.
D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI) builds and sells homes through its divisions across 125 markets in 36 states. Its business segments include Homebuilding, Rental, Forestar, Financial Services, and Other.
8. RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $3.69 Billion
On April 9, Evercore ISI analyst David Motemaden raised the price recommendation on RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) to $309 from $291. It maintained an In Line rating on the shares. The firm made the change as part of its adjustments ahead of earnings.
A day earlier, on April 8, Barclays also increased its price target on RenaissanceRe to $341 from $310 and maintained an Equal Weight rating. The update came as part of a broader Q1 preview across the insurance group. The analyst said premium growth and broker organic growth “are likely to remain sluggish,” based on current trends. At the same time, Barclays expects solid margins and strong capital deployment to continue supporting reported book value growth in Q1.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:RNR) operates as a global provider of reinsurance and insurance, focusing on matching risk with capital. The company offers property, casualty, and specialty reinsurance, along with selected insurance solutions, mainly through intermediaries. It reports through two segments: Property and Casualty and Specialty.
7. EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $5.13 Billion
On April 9, Reuters reported that EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) and Glencore agreed to buy an additional 1 million metric tons per year of liquefied natural gas from Commonwealth LNG under 20-year contracts. The report cited a regulatory filing seen by Reuters and said the deals move the U.S. exporter closer to a final investment decision.
Commonwealth said it has now sold enough export capacity from its 9.5 mtpa Louisiana project to move forward with financing, though it did not name the buyers of the remaining volumes. The latest agreements bring total contracted volumes to 3 mtpa, or nearly one-third of the project’s full capacity. EQT had already agreed on March 3 to purchase an additional 1 mtpa, bringing its total to 2 mtpa after signing an earlier 20-year deal for 1 mtpa in September.
The filing showed that these added EQT volumes replaced 1 mtpa that Japan’s JERA had previously terminated. At this point, Commonwealth has sold 8 mtpa of its planned 9.5 mtpa capacity. The company is still looking for long-term buyers, though it has said before that it plans to keep about 1 mtpa for trading.
EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT) operates as a vertically integrated natural gas company in the United States, with production and midstream assets focused on the Appalachian Basin. Its operations span Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio, and it holds or leases about 610,000 net acres in Pennsylvania.
6. MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX)
Operating Cash Flow (TTM): $5.91 Billion
On April 10, Barclays analyst Theresa Chen raised the price recommendation on MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX) to $59 from $55. It maintained an Overweight rating ahead of the Q1 report. She said the stock’s relative underperformance compared to peers likely reflects its “lower commodity torque.” At the same time, she noted that the company’s core assets and overall strategy have not changed.
A few days earlier, on April 7, Truist analyst Gabe Daoud slightly lowered his price target to $66 from $67 and maintained a Buy rating. The firm reduced its Q1 estimates, pointing to near-term pressure in the Natural Gas and NGL Services segment and shifts in commodity prices during the quarter. He also said the updated outlook reflects the impact of Winter Storm Fern on production, along with a one-time FERC benefit.
MPLX LP (NYSE:MPLX) operates as a large-cap master limited partnership focused on midstream energy infrastructure and logistics. The company also provides fuel distribution services. Its business is organized into two segments: Crude Oil and Products Logistics, and Natural Gas and NGL Services.
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