In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks for a dividend achievers list.
In a market that feels unsettled more often than not, many investors are looking for ways to smooth the ride without giving up growth. Dividend-paying stocks tend to sit in that middle ground as they don’t eliminate volatility, but they can soften it. At the same time, they put real cash back into investors’ hands. That income stream can also reflect something deeper about a company’s finances and discipline.
The data backs this up. Research from Ned Davis Research shows a clear pattern over time. Companies that don’t pay dividends, or that cut them, have generally lagged the broader market. These stocks have also been more volatile. By contrast, firms that maintained, initiated, or grew dividends tended to deliver steadier results.
Research highlighted by Hartford Funds points to a familiar pattern during market downturns. Dividend-paying stocks have often helped soften the blow when prices moved lower. Even when returns were flat or negative, these stocks continued to generate income. That steady cash flow mattered as the effect stood out during long periods of weak market performance. In decades when stock returns stayed in the single digits, dividends made up a much larger share of total returns.
The same research shows a similar trend during sharper pullbacks. When the broader market, measured by the S&P 500 Index, fell by 10% or more, dividend-paying stocks generally declined less than those without payouts. Since 1975, dividend-paying stocks have fallen an average of 14.44% during major market drawdowns. Over the same periods, the equal-weighted S&P 500 Index dropped 19.89%. Stocks that paid no dividends fared the worst, with average declines of 28.16%. Dividend-paying stocks held up better, losing less than non-dividend payers and outperforming the broader market. Over time, that gap can quietly shape long-term outcomes.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we looked at a group of dividend achievers, which are known for raising dividends for 10 years or more. From this list, we chose companies with the highest dividend yields as of December 21 and arranged them in order from lowest to highest yield.
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).
16. Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVRG)
Dividend Yield as of December 21: 3.84%
Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVRG) is among the top stocks for the dividend achievers list.
On December 18, Mizuho analyst Anthony Crowdell cut Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVRG) to Neutral from Outperform and lowered the price target to $76 from $86. In a research note, he said the stock already reflects the company’s improved regulatory setup in Kansas and Missouri. Mizuho’s model assumes about 7% earnings growth, while management is guiding for 4% to 6%. The firm sees little room for upside from here, since any improvement in the outlook appears to be priced in.
The market has rewarded the stock. Shares are up more than 17.5% so far this year. That gain stands out, especially given the weather challenges earlier in the year. In the second and third quarters, demand was pressured by what CEO David Campbell described as “cooler than normal summer weather.”
Kansas and Missouri both offer tax incentives designed to attract data centers. That matters a lot as power-hungry tech customers are looking for reliable utilities, and Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVRG) has been showing up in those conversations. For a company of its size, its backlog of large power customers is among the biggest in the US. In addition to projected earnings growth, the company also sees results trending toward the high end of that range in the second half of the decade. For a regulated utility, that’s respectable growth.
Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVRG) is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. It runs electric utilities across Kansas and Missouri and serves about 1.7 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
15. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW)
Dividend Yield as of December 21: 4.17%
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) is among the best stocks in the dividend achievers list.
On December 17, UBS nudged its price target on Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) up to $95 from $94. The firm kept a Neutral rating on the stock.
During the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call, management laid out plans for a new generation site near Gila Bend. The project could add as much as 2,000 megawatts of natural gas capacity. Executives also talked through steady progress on long-term transmission upgrades and baseload investments. The Desert Southwest expansion project remains on track, according to the update.
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) posted earnings of $3.39 per share for Q3 2025. Results were lifted by higher transmission revenue and solid sales growth across customer groups. Some of that strength was offset by lower weather-related sales compared with last year, along with higher interest expense, lower pension and OPEB benefits, and a larger share count.
During the quarter, sales trends looked healthy once the weather was normalized. Total growth came in at 5.4% for the quarter. Commercial and industrial sales rose 6.6%, and residential sales increased 4.3%. Year to date, residential sales are up 2%. The company also raised its full-year outlook. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) now expects 2025 earnings of $4.90 to $5.10 per share, up from the prior $4.40 to $4.60 range. Management pointed to strong sales, warmer-than-normal weather, higher transmission revenue, and added contributions from El Dorado.
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW) is a utility holding company focused on electricity. Most of its operations run through Arizona Public Service, which provides regulated retail and wholesale power across Arizona.
14. Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:REG)
Dividend Yield as of December 21: 4.41%
Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:REG) is among the best stocks for the dividend achievers list.
On December 18, JPMorgan analyst Michael Mueller downgraded Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:REG) to Neutral from Overweight. The price target moved down to $76 from $81. Mueller framed the move as tactical. He called it “simply a ‘stock call’ as we continue to think that REG has one of the best platforms and long-term growth prospects in the overall REIT space.”
The change came as part of JPMorgan’s broader 2026 outlook for REITs, which included two upgrades and seven downgrades. The higher number of downgrades reflects what the firm described as a “more stratified ratings distribution.”
In the third quarter of 2025, President and CEO Lisa Palmer pointed to another strong quarter. Same-property NOI rose again. Earnings moved higher, and capital allocation stayed active, with more than $750 million put to work across acquisitions, development, and redevelopment.
Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:REG) also highlighted its unique position in the market. It said it remains the only national developer operating grocery-anchored shopping centers at scale, at a time when new supply remains tight. Management raised its full-year earnings growth outlook and announced a dividend increase of more than 7%.
Development activity picked up as well. The company started over $170 million of projects during the quarter. That pushed year-to-date starts past $220 million. For 2025, Regency now expects roughly $300 million in total project starts. Management also discussed recent acquisitions and completed joint venture partner buyouts, which help simplify the portfolio over time.
Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:REG) is a retail REIT that owns, operates, and develops suburban shopping centers across the US. Most of its properties are anchored by grocery stores, with restaurants and service businesses filling in the rest. These centers tend to act as everyday community hubs.
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