5 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy

In this article, we discuss 5 best S&P 500 dividend stocks to buy. If you want to read our detailed analysis of dividend stocks and their performance in the past, go directly to read 12 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy. 

5. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 110

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a Minnesota-based managed healthcare company that also provides health insurance services to its consumers. On January 13, the company announced its Q4 earnings and posted revenue of $82.8 billion, which shows a 12.3% growth from the same period last year. Its operating cash flow for the full year came in at $26.2 billion and returned $13 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), one of the best S&P 500 dividend stocks, currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.65 per share for a dividend yield of 1.36%, as of January 24. The company has been paying regular dividends to shareholders since 1990.

In January, Loop Capital raised its price target on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) to $590 with a Buy rating on the shares, appreciating the company’s Q4 earnings and its outlook for 2023.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was one of the most popular stocks among hedge funds in Q3 2022, as 110 funds tracked by Insider Monkey had positions in the company, up from 91 in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $10.3 billion.

Stewart Asset Management mentioned UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) in its Q3 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“Looking at the Great Recession which began at year-end 2007 and lasted to mid-year 2009 is helpful too. Our four largest current holdings in the portfolio weathered that period well. UnitedHealth’s (NYSE:UNH) earnings were resilient. While it reported modestly down earnings in 2008, its earnings rebounded quickly to record highs in 2010 and the shares responded strongly in anticipation of this.”