In this article, we will take a look at some of the best-performing dividend stocks to invest in.
2025 has felt like another strong year for stocks. The S&P 500 is up close to 18% so far. If nothing unexpected hits before year-end, this would be the third year in a row with double-digit gains for the broader US market.
A lot of that optimism comes back to earnings. Wall Street expects profits to keep growing into 2026, and analysts see S&P 500 earnings rising about 15.5% next year, up from an estimated 13.2% in 2025 and 12.1% in 2024, according to LSEG. That kind of steady progression matters when investors think about staying invested.
The economy also looks to be holding up. Goldman Sachs is forecasting 2.6% US GDP growth in 2026, along with 2.8% growth globally. Those numbers are slightly ahead of consensus. Even so, steady growth is what tends to support stock prices. Any positive momentum next year is probably a good sign for equities, says Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at The Carson Group.
Dividend stocks were a quieter part of the market this year. The Dividend Aristocrat index, which follows companies with at least 25 consecutive years of dividend growth, is up a little more than 6%.
That said, dividends have not fallen out of favor. Many investors still rely on them for income and consistency, especially when market leadership rotates. That long-term appeal continues to keep dividend stocks in focus.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best-performing dividend stocks in 2025.
Our Methodology:
For this article, we started by reviewing the companies that have delivered the strongest returns so far in 2025. From that group, we narrowed the focus to dividend-paying names and selected 20 stocks with the highest year-to-date gains. Some of these companies offer relatively modest yields. The selection is driven purely by YTD performance, not dividend size or payout levels. The stocks are ranked according to their YTD returns as of the close of December 30.
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).
20. C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW)
YTD Return as of December 30: 58.08%
Dividend Yield as of December 30: 1.56%
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) is among the best-performing stocks that offer dividends.
On December 16, Stifel analyst J. Bruce Chan raised the firm’s price target on C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) to $184 from $155 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. Looking ahead to 2026, the firm expects transport stocks to be shaped by supply rationalization and cost-focused self-help. Chan said he continues to position “more conservatively in high-quality names that preserve or even expand share in a mild pullback.”
That view aligns with the company’s performance. In the third quarter of 2025, C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) reported a profit beat, standing out in a logistics sector that has largely struggled. A big reason has been its use of AI to streamline operations. The company has been deploying artificial intelligence to automate tasks like generating shipping quotes, scheduling pickups and deliveries, and tracking shipments. Those tools have helped speed up execution and reduce reliance on manual processes, at a time when efficiency matters more than ever.
Operational gains showed up in the numbers. C.H. Robinson grew shipment volumes across both its truckload and less-than-truckload businesses. That supported a 1.1% increase in revenue for its North American Surface Transportation segment. The broader backdrop remains challenging as US freight volumes have been soft, and excess capacity has continued to pressure rates. Many logistics firms have responded by cutting costs and running tighter operations.
Evercore ISI analyst Jonathan Chappell said the shift toward agentic AI, layered on top of earlier gains from generative AI, gives management confidence in visible cost reductions and further margin improvement, even without help from a stronger market.
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRW) is a US-based transportation company operating in third-party logistics. It provides freight transportation services across multiple modes.
19. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)
YTD Return as of December 30: 58.84%
Dividend Yield as of December 30: 1.48%
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is among the best-performing stocks that offer dividends.
On December 19, JPMorgan analyst Seth Seifman raised the firm’s price target on RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) to $200 from $195 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares as part of its aerospace and defense outlook for 2026. The outlook for the sector remains mostly positive into 2026, the analyst said in a research note. In aerospace, JPMorgan expects strong demand and a gradual increase in supply to support “visible growth.” The defense picture is “more nuanced,” the firm added.
Operational momentum continues to show up in contracts. On December 2, RTX said it secured a $1.6 billion sustainment contract tied to its F135 engines, which power multiple variants of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets. The work includes depot-level maintenance and repair, engineering support, and the replenishment of spare parts for US and international customers. Pratt & Whitney, RTX’s engine business, has now delivered more than 1,300 F135 engines to the U.S. and 20 allied nations. In August, the company also landed a separate $2.8 billion contract for F135 engine production, reinforcing the long runway tied to the program.
Financial performance has followed the same direction. In the third quarter of 2025, RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) raised its full-year adjusted earnings outlook to a range of $6.10 to $6.20, up from its prior guidance of $5.80 to $5.95. Adjusted sales expectations moved higher as well. The company lifted its forecast to $86.5 billion to $87 billion, compared with an earlier range of $84.75 billion to $85.5 billion.
Management pointed to its ability to manage tariff impacts and broader macro uncertainty as a positive signal for the business. Earlier in July, RTX had estimated a $500 million hit from tariff-related costs and reduced its outlook at the time, making the later revisions stand out.
RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) operates across aerospace and defense, supplying advanced systems and services to commercial, military, and government customers around the world.
18. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)
YTD Return as of December 30: 58.85%
Dividend Yield as of December 30: 0.61%
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) is among the best-performing stocks in 2025.
Mizuho lifted its price target on HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) to $520 from $505 on December 18 and kept an Outperform rating as part of its 2026 outlook for managed care and health facilities. The firm sees 2026 as a “pivotal year” for managed care. After roughly three years of pressure from a negative underwriting cycle, margins are expected to start improving across commercial, Medicaid, and Medicare plans. That shift is why Mizuho is feeling more constructive about the sector heading into 2026.
The demand backdrop is already helping. In the third quarter, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) reported a 2.1% year-over-year increase in same-facility admissions. At the same time, better reimbursement from insurers pushed same-facility revenue per equivalent admission up 6.6% to $18,390. Those gains reflect both higher utilization and improved pricing.
These trends are not short-lived. The US population is aging, and that reality continues to reshape healthcare demand. By 2035, people aged 65 and older are expected to outnumber those 18 and younger for the first time. That shift alone points to a sustained need for hospital services, acute care, and specialized treatment over many years.HCA has also been deliberate in positioning itself to benefit from this change. Its large and diversified network of facilities, combined with ongoing investments in technology, has helped improve patient care and operational efficiency. That strategy has translated into steady market share gains, moving from 24% in 2012 to 27% by 2022.
Management now aims to reach 29% market share by 2030, with room to keep expanding beyond that. HCA appears to have momentum on its side.
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