10 Safe Dividend Stocks with Over 4% Yield

Published August 17, 2022 at 9:24 am EDT Updated September 7, 2026 at 2:23 pm EDT

In this article, we discuss 10 safe dividend stocks with over 4% yield.

During the current market situation, of all the asset classes, dividend stocks seem to perform well this year because of investors’ inclination towards stable income. This is evident from the year-to-date returns of the S&P 500 High Dividend Index, which gained 2.64% as of August 15 close, compared with a 10.4% loss of the wider market in 2022 so far.

Historically, dividend stocks have shown resilience in volatile market situations. According to a report published by Lord Abbett, a private investment management company, dividends have outperformed their peers when the market returns remained below average. For example, in each decade since 1929, when annualized returns were less than 10%, dividend stocks’ average contribution to the S&P 500’s total return stood at 76%. The report further mentioned that considering the market’s adaption to the post-pandemic world, this decade is following the same pattern as the 2010s, extending importance to dividend stocks. Another report by Nuveen also mentioned that from 1973 to 2021, dividend growers and initiators have generated positive returns with fewer risks than companies that slashed their payouts or offered no dividends at all. So, dividend stocks like AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) are grabbing investors’ attention in today’s market environment.

Dividend companies with compelling long-term performance and solid yield show quality and ability to maintain those payouts in the future. Kendall Capital Management’s CEO Clark A. Kendall recommends a strategy called ‘Dogs of the Dow’, which suggests investing in the highest dividend yields in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. He mentioned that high dividend-paying stocks offer a great opportunity for increasing revenues that would provide safety against inflationary periods.

Our Methodology

We picked dividend stocks with over 4% yield and strong dividend growth track record. These stocks are reliable during volatile market situation and are also popular among over 900 elite money managers tracked by Insider Monkey as of the end of March this year.

Safe Dividend Stocks with Over 4% Yield

10. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 4.07%

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD) is a Canadian multinational banking and financial services company that provides banking and mortgage-related services to its customers.

In Q2 2022, The Toronto-Dominion Bank reported a net income of over $3.8 billion, up from $3.6 billion in the same period last year. The company’s revenue for the quarter came in at C$11.26 billion, showing a 10.1% year-over-year growth. Moreover, its asset under management also grew 4% year-over-year to $411 billion. The Toronto-Dominion Bank pays a quarterly dividend of C$0.89 per share, with a dividend yield of 4.07%, as of August 16. The company maintains an 11-year track record of consistent dividend growth.

At the end of Q1 2022, 21 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in The Toronto-Dominion Bank, up from 17 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $188.3 million. Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group was one of the company’s most prominent stakeholders in Q1.

In addition to famous dividend stocks like AbbVie Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson, The Toronto-Dominion Bank can also be a good addition to dividend portfolios.

9. Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 4.26%

Canadian Natural Resources Limited (NYSE:CNQ) is an oil and natural gas company and is one of the largest producers of heavy crude oil in Canada. In Q2 2022, the company generated approximately $5.4 billion in adjusted funds flow, while its free cash flow came in at $3.3 billion. The dividend payments for the quarter amounted to $900 million, indicating strong FCF generation. Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s management announced that it will allocate 50% of its free cash flow to share repurchases.

On August 4, Canadian Natural Resources Limited declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.75 per share, with a special dividend of C$1.50 per share. The company has been raising its dividends consistently for the past 22 years. As of August 16, the stock’s dividend yield came in at 4.26%.

In July, BofA upgraded Canadian Natural Resources Limited to Buy with a $100 price target, presenting a positive stance on the oil industry.

The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in Canadian Natural Resources Limited stood at 32 in Q1 2022, growing from 23 in the previous quarter. The collective value of these stakes is over $2.5 billion.

8. Leggett & Platt, Incorporated (NYSE:LEG)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 4.29%

A Missouri-based manufacturing company, Leggett & Platt, Incorporated reported an operating cash flow of nearly $90 million in Q2 2022, up from $39 million in the previous quarter. The company’s free cash flow came in at over $67.7 million, compared with $20.3 million in the preceding quarter, which shows that the company’s dividends are well covered. For FY22, the company expects its operating cash flow of approximately $600 million.

Leggett & Platt, Incorporated offers $0.44 per share in quarterly dividends and has a dividend yield of 4.29%, as of August 16. The company holds one of the longest dividend growth track records, raising its payouts consecutively for 51 years.

At the end of Q1 2022, Renaissance Technologies was the largest stakeholder of Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, owning stakes worth over $24.8 million. In addition to this, 15 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned investments in the manufacturing company in Q1, with a total value of nearly $102 million.

7. National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 4.57%

National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) is a Florida-based real estate investment trust that invests in high-quality properties subjected to long-term leases. The stock’s price target was raised to $54 by Stifel in August as the company beat Street estimates in its recent earnings report. The firm maintained its Buy rating on the stock.

In Q2 2022, National Retail Properties, Inc. reported revenue of $190.7 million, presenting a 6.6% growth from the same period last year. The company’s free cash flow for the quarter came in at nearly $111 million while its total assets amounted to over $7.8 billion.

On July 15, National Retail Properties, Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share, raising it by 4%. This marked the company’s 33rd consecutive year of dividend growth. As of August 16, the stock’s dividend yield stood at 4.57%.

As per Insider Monkey’s Q1 2022 database, 18 hedge funds owned stakes in National Retail Properties, Inc., up from 16 in the preceding quarter. The combined value of these stakes is over $92.5 million.

6. W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE:WPC)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 4.79%

W. P. Carey Inc. (NYSE:WPC) is an American real estate investment trust company that owns over 1,200 properties in 25 countries. In Q2 2022, the company posted an FFO of $1.27, which beat estimates by $0.04. The company’s revenue stood at $344.3 million, up 9.4% from the same period last year. Its dividend payments are safe within its free cash flow and amounted to $207.5 million in Q2, compared with $203.8 million in the preceding quarter.

In June, W. P. Carey Inc. declared a quarterly dividend of $1.059 per share, growing it by 0.2% from the previous dividend. The company maintains a 26-year streak of dividend growth. The stock’s dividend yield stood at 4.79%, as of August 16.

As of the close of Q1 2022, 22 hedge funds owned stakes in W. P. Carey Inc., compared with 20 a quarter earlier, as shown by Insider Monkey’s data. The stakes hold a combined value of over $128.3 million. Jim Simons and Ken Griffin were the company’s most prominent stakeholders in Q1. In addition to WPC, hedge funds were also bullish on other dividend stocks like AbbVie Inc., Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Johnson & Johnson in Q1.

5. Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE:UHT)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 5.04%

Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE:UHT) reported revenue of $22.1 million in Q2 2022, presenting a 6.2% year-over-year growth. The company reported enough cash at the end of the quarter to fulfill its shareholder obligation. It had $132.6 million available in cash and cash equivalents, up from $115.3 million at the end of December. Moreover, its total assets amounted to over $2.4 billion.

Universal Health Realty Income Trust holds the second-longest dividend growth streak in the REIT sector, raising its dividends consistently for the past 37 years. The company pays a dividend of $0.71 per share every quarter, with a dividend yield of 5.04%, as of August 16.

At the end of Q1 2022, 5 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held investments in Universal Health Realty Income Trust, worth nearly $20 million. In the previous quarter, 7 hedge funds owned stakes in the company with a total value of over $22 million. Renaissance Technologies was the company’s leading stakeholder at the end of March 2022.

4. Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE:MAIN)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 5.89%

Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE:MAIN) is a Texas-based principal investment firm. The company is mainly famous among investors because of its monthly dividend policy. Moreover, it has never slashed its regular monthly dividend ever since it announced its first payout in 2007. The company managed to pay dividends consistently during recessionary periods as well.

On August 2, Main Street Capital Corporation announced a 2.31% hike in its monthly dividend to $0.22 per share. In addition to this, the company also declared a special dividend of $0.10 per share. The company has paid supplemental dividends for three years in a row. As of August 16, the stock’s dividend yield came in at 5.89%.

At the end of Q1 2022, 9 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owned stakes in Main Street Capital Corporation, the same as in the previous quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $48.4 million. Israel Englander and Ken Griffin were amongst the company’s prominent stakeholders in Q1.

3. Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 5.95%

Universal Corporation (NYSE:UVV) is a Virginia-based manufacturing company, specializing in the production of tobacco and its related products. The company has been raising its dividend consistently for the past 52 years. Currently, it pays $0.79 per share in quarterly dividend with a yield of 5.95%, as recorded on August 16.

Universal Corporation recently announced its fiscal Q1 2023 earnings, reporting revenue of roughly $430 million, up 22.8% from the same period last year. The company had over $86.5 million available in cash and cash equivalents at the end of Q1, compared with $81.6 million in the preceding quarter. It also remained committed to its shareholder return, paying $19 million in dividends on its common stock.

As per Insider Monkey’s Q1 2022 database, 10 hedge funds owned stakes in Universal Corporation, up from 7 a quarter earlier. The stakes owned by these hedge funds have a value of $85.6 million. With stakes worth over $51.6 million, Pzena Investment Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q1.

2. Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 6.95%

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) is an Alabama-based real estate investment trust that mainly invests in healthcare facilities. As the outlook for hospitals has gotten more challenging with the ongoing hike in prices, Barclays lowered its price target on the stock to $23 but maintained an Overweight rating on the shares.

In Q2 2022, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. posted an FFO of $0.46, which beat analysts’ estimates by $0.01. The company’s revenue for the quarter presented a 4.8% year-over-year growth at $400.2 million. Moreover, its free cash flow generation also remained stable, amounting to over $164.6 million in Q2.

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. offers a quarterly dividend of $0.29 per share, raising it by 4% in February. The company maintains an 11-year track record of consistent dividend growth. The stock had a dividend yield of 6.95%, as recorded on August 16.

With stakes worth over $253 million, 16 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held positions in Medical Properties Trust, Inc. in Q1 2022. In the previous quarter, 20 hedge funds owned stakes in the company, worth $317.2 million.

1. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD)

Dividend Yield as of August 16: 7.00%

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD) is an American midstream natural gas and crude oil pipeline company that also specializes in refined products and petrochemicals. On July 7, the company hiked its quarterly dividend by 2.2% to $0.475 per share. This was the company’s 23rd consecutive year of dividend growth. As of August 16, the stock’s dividend yield came in at 7.00%.

In Q2 2022, Enterprise Products Partners L.P. reported an operating cash flow of over $2 billion, and its free cash flow came in at $1.7 billion. The company’s revenue for the quarter presented a 70% year-over-year growth at $16.06 billion. Its distributable cash flow also grew 30% to $2 billion in Q2.

At the end of Q1 2022, 19 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database owned stakes in Enterprise Products Partners L.P., down from 21 in the previous quarter. The combined value of these stakes is over $177.5 million. First Eagle Investment Management was the company’s leading shareholder in Q1, owning over 3.2 million shares.

ClearBridge Investments mentioned Enterprise Products Partners L.P. in its Q1 2022 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“While reducing in health care and consumer staples, we increased our exposure to high-quality names in economically sensitive areas of the market. We added to low-cost, high-quality energy names (including) Enterprise Products Partners LP. We are positive on this company’s strong balance sheets, competitive positions and exposure to an economic recovery.”

You can also take a look at 10 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks with Over 5% Yield and 10 Monthly Dividend Stocks with Over 5% Yield

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