Dividend Champions, Contenders and Challengers list: 15 Highest Yielding Stocks

6. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)

Dividend Yield as of February 9: 6.03%

Consecutive Years of Dividend Growth: 19 Years

Category: Dividend Contenders

On February 2, TD Cowen lifted its price recommendation on Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) to $54 from $51. The firm reiterated a Buy rating on the stock, citing Verizon’s Q4 results, where phone subscriber additions came in stronger than expected, even though that growth weighed somewhat on EBITDA.

On January 30, Verizon reported its fourth-quarter 2025 earnings and said it met its full-year guidance. The company also delivered its strongest pace of net customer additions since 2019 during the quarter, a notable milestone given how closely investors watch net adds as a measure of telecom growth.

That strong close to the year helped shift sentiment around the stock. Shares climbed about 12% on the day earnings were released, despite full-year operating revenue increasing a modest 2.5% to $138.2 billion. Earlier in January, Verizon completed its acquisition of Frontier Communications, a deal that expands its fiber footprint and adds another avenue for long-term growth.

From a dividend standpoint, free cash flow remains the key figure to watch. Verizon generated $20.1 billion in free cash flow over the past year, up from $19.8 billion the year before. With annual dividend payments running around $11.6 billion, the company has a solid cushion to keep investing in the business while continuing to return cash to shareholders.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) operates as a holding company and, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, technology, information, and streaming services to consumers, businesses, and government customers. Its Consumer segment offers both wireless and wireline communication services.