5 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy for Steady Growth

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1. The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI)

5-Year Average Dividend Growth Rate: 42.4%

On May 5, Bernstein analyst Lance Wilkes raised the firm’s price recommendation on The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) to $371 from $358. It reiterated an Outperform rating following the company’s quarterly results. The firm said it is updating its earnings model, with EPS estimates remaining largely unchanged for 2026 and moving modestly higher for the 2027 through 2030 period.

During Cigna Group’s Q1 2026 earnings call, CEO and Chair David Cordani said the company delivered strong first-quarter results. Total revenue came in at $68.5 billion, while adjusted earnings per share reached $7.79. Cordani also said Cigna raised its full-year 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to at least $30.35.

He pointed to the company’s efforts to simplify healthcare processes in the U.S. According to Cordani, Cigna removed hundreds of tests, procedures, and services from the prior authorization process. Those changes reduced the volume of medical prior authorizations by around 15%. Cordani also highlighted the launch of the company’s rebate-free pharmacy service model as part of its broader transformation efforts. He said the new offering is called Signature.

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is a global health company with two operating segments: Evernorth Health Services and Cigna Healthcare.

While we acknowledge the potential of CI to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than CI and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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