We recently compiled a list of the Dividend Aristocrats Ranked By Yield: Top 10. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) stands against the other dividend aristocrats.

Investors have always put income at the top of their list. And when it comes to raking in money, you can’t beat dividend stocks. Research by S&P Dow Jones Indices has demonstrated that over the long haul, dividend-paying companies have outperformed non-dividend companies and the broader market on a risk-adjusted basis. Though investing in high dividend yields is not advised by analysts, recent research indicates that dividend yield is a risk factor that pays off, historically earnings higher returns than a market-cap-weighted benchmark. When paired with other factors like volatility, quality, momentum, size, and value, dividend yield strategies can potentially tap into systematic sources of returns.

Dividend yield and dividend growth have always been a hot topic among investors. But little did they realize that dividend yield is a key piece of the puzzle when it comes to dividend growth. When it comes to the Dividend Aristocrats Index, the knack for increasing dividends for 25 straight years doesn’t mean sacrificing yield. The index has consistently outshone its benchmark by delivering higher yields, typically between 2% and 2.9% over the past 26 years ending 2023. On average, the index’s yield was 2.5%, compared to the market’s 1.8%. To read more about high dividend stocks, have a look at Best Dividend Stocks Yielding at Least 7% According to Hedge Funds.

In addition to offering solid yields, dividend aristocrats are also less volatile than other asset classes. According to a report by S&P Dow Jones Indices, the Dividend Aristocrats Index has outpaced the broader market over the long haul with less volatility, which is indicated by its higher risk-adjusted returns. The index’s ability to provide downside protection is evident in its upside and downside capture ratio. These stocks have outperformed the market in 69.34% of down months and 43.61% of up months. Moreover, the Dividend Aristocrats Index has experienced lower drawdowns compared to the benchmark index. The report further mentioned that the index delivered an average excess return of 1.05% during down months compared to the broad-based benchmark.

Data from 2023 highlights how eager companies are to boost their dividends. This isn’t just a knee-jerk move to lure investors; it’s backed by robust corporate balance sheets, with companies raking in more cash flows than ever before. According to Janus Henderson, corporate cash flow remained strong in 2023 across most sectors, giving companies ample resources for dividends and share buybacks. As a result, global dividend growth saw a 5% increase for the year, aligning with the long-term trend. The firm also gave a positive outlook for dividends in 2024. It said that dividends appear solidly supported this year, although one-time special dividends are expected to decrease from the record levels observed over the past three years. The firm’s forecast predicts $1.72 trillion in dividends for 2024, marking a 3.9% increase on a headline basis, which translates to a 5% growth rate on a headline basis.

There are many dividend aristocrats that offer solid yields to shareholders. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend aristocrat stocks with high yields.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we looked at a group of 67 dividend aristocrat companies, which are known for raising dividends for 25 years or more. From this list, we chose 10 stocks with the highest dividend yields as of June 25 and arranged them in order from lowest to highest yield. We also measured hedge fund sentiment around each stock according to Insider Monkey’s database of 920 funds as of Q1 2024. 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 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR)

Dividend Yield as of June 25: 5.02%

Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) is a global packaging company that specializes in a wide variety of related products for different industries. In its fiscal Q3 2024, the company reported net sales of over $3.4 billion, which showed a 7% decline from the same period last year. This decrease includes a 1% favorable impact from foreign exchange rate movements, offset by a 2% unfavorable impact due to lower raw material costs amounting to approximately $60 million being passed through. Its year-to-date net income of $710 million also fell by 12% YoY.

Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) managed to mitigate the decline in revenue and net income this year through strong free cash flow generation, which has been a source of satisfaction for income investors. In the first nine months of FY24, the company posted adjusted free cash flow of $115 million, up significantly from $14 million during the same period last year. This cash flow was in line with its expectations. The improvement in cash flow primarily reflects better performance in managing working capital. Management maintains its expectations that adjusted free cash flow will range between $850 million to $950 million for the fiscal year.

Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.125 per share. The company has raised its payouts for 40 consecutive years. The company remained committed to its shareholder return and distributed $570 million to investors through dividends and share repurchases year-to-date. With a dividend yield of 5.02% as of June 25, AMCR is one of the best dividend aristocrat stocks on our list.

As per Insider Monkey’s database of Q1 2024, 17 hedge funds owned stakes in Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR), down from 21 in the preceding quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $65.6 million.

Overall AMCR ranks 4th on our list of the best dividend aristocrats ranked by yield. You can visit Dividend Aristocrats Ranked By Yield: Top 10 to see the other dividend stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we acknowledge the potential of AMCR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than AMCR but that trades at less than 7 times its earnings and yields nearly 10%, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.