The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield
By: Ned Piplovic,
Finding the highest dividend stocks is income investors’ ultimate goal. In pursuit of that goal, investors use common financial analysis methods, as well as develop their individual metrics and strategies.
As most investors should know, high dividend yields are not necessarily good indications of high returns. The nature of the dividend yield is that it represents only the ratio of the total annual dividend distribution amount and the equity’s current share price.
Income investors also look for long streaks of rising dividend payouts, which could result in a rising dividend yield. However, the dividend yield growth could also be caused by a share price decline. Therefore, investors must use additional metrics even in their initial even in the initial search for equities with good total returns to minimize possible losses and chose the equites with best returns potential.
Market analysis can include dozens of criteria to find the optimal equities for one’s investment portfolio. However, to keep the list below as broad as possible, no equities have been excluded based on market capitalization, total returns over the past three or five years, dividend payout ratio levels or any number of potential filter criteria.
The list below — generated with the Dividend Screener tool available at DividendInvestor.com — excludes funds, trusts, exchange notes, etc. However, the remaining companies had to meet just two criteria. Each equity on the list had to have increased its dividend payout for at least one year and the total return over the past 12 months had to exceed the dividend yield rate.
A total return that is equal to the dividend yield indicates that dividend income distributions delivered all gains over the trailing 12-month period and that the share price was flat. Additionally, a total annual return that is lower than the dividend yield implies that share price decline offset some of the dividend income gains. Therefore, the second criterion was included to ensure that equities on the list delivered at least a small asset appreciation in addition to high dividend yields.
The list below comprises the 25 stocks that meet the couple of basic criteria mentioned above and are sorted by their respective dividend yields in ascending order.
The 25 highest dividend Stocks by Yield: #25
MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE:MGP)
Dividend Yield: 5.79%
Market Cap: $3.11 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2016
Dividends Paid: 4 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $32.48
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 17.24%, 50.68%, N/A
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #24
Atlantica Yield Plc (NASDAQ:AY)
Dividend Yield: 5.87%
Market Cap: $2.80 billion
Sector: Utilities
First Dividend: 2014
Dividends Paid: 6 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $27.96
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 64.33%, 47.39%, 3.85%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #23
Gladstone Investment Corporation (NASDAQ:GAIN)
Dividend Yield: 6.03%
Market Cap: $456.88 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2005
Dividends Paid: 15 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Annually
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $13.92
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 46.34%, 92.71%, 152.00%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #22
Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc (NASDAQ:GLPI)
Dividend Yield: 6.09%
Market Cap: $9.87 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2014
Dividends Paid: 6 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $45.95
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 37.00%, 74.49%, 79.59%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #21
Omega Healthcare Investors, Inc. (NYSE:OHI)
Dividend Yield: 6.20%
Market Cap: $9.45 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 1992
Dividends Paid: 28 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 16 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $43.25
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 20.94%, 58.00%, 23.47%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #20
EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR)
Dividend Yield: 6.20%
Market Cap: $5.69 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 1997
Dividends Paid: 23 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 5 years
Distribution Frequency: Annually
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $72.58
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 9.07%, 15.80%, 43.93%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #19
Magellan Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:MMP)
Dividend Yield: 6.40%
Market Cap: $14.67 billion
Sector: Energy
First Dividend: 2001
Dividends Paid: 19 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 18 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $64.23
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 13.46%, 2.64%, 3.23%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #18
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD)
Dividend Yield: 6.42%
Market Cap: $60.66 billion
Sector: Energy
First Dividend: 1998
Dividends Paid: 22 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 19 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $27.71
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 7.49%, 18.07%, 2.28%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #17
Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)
Dividend Yield: 6.58%
Market Cap: $95.33 billion
Sector: Consumer Products
First Dividend: 1928
Dividends Paid: 92 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 10 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $51.03
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 20.77%, -14.51%, 17.76%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #16
Brookfield Property Partners LP (NASDAQ:BPY)
Dividend Yield: 6.75%
Market Cap: $5.09 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2013
Dividends Paid: 7 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 6 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $19.55
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 20.64%, 9.23%, 5.46%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #15
StoneCastle Financial Corporation (NASDAQ:BANX)
Dividend Yield: 6.88%
Market Cap: $132.54 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2013
Dividends Paid: 7 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $22.09
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 18.94%, 37.56%, 39.17%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #14
Enviva Partners LP (NYSE:EVA)
Dividend Yield: 7.10%
Market Cap: $1.26 billion
Sector: Materials
First Dividend: 2015
Dividends Paid: 5 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $37.77
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 35.52%, 65.76%, N/A
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #13
TPG Specialty Lending, Inc. (NYSE:TSLX)
Dividend Yield: 7.15%
Market Cap: $1.45 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2014
Dividends Paid: 6 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $21.82
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 22.31%, 43.17%, 78.12%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #12
Capital Southwest Corporation (NASDAQ:CSWC)
Dividend Yield: 7.42%
Market Cap: $386.33 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 1990
Dividends Paid: 30 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $21.55
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 11.02%, 66.16%, 85.26%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #11
Westlake Chemical Partners LP (NYSE:WLKP)
Dividend Yield: 7.62%
Market Cap: $859.30 million
Sector: Materials
First Dividend: 2014
Dividends Paid: 6 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 5 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $24.42
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 15.97%, 26.18%, 27.09%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #10
Manhattan Bridge Capital, Inc. (NASDAQ:LOAN)
Dividend Yield: 7.64%
Market Cap: $60.66 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2003
Dividends Paid: 17 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 6 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $6.28
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 12.11%, 7.93%, 130.17%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #9
Ares Commercial Real Estate Corp (NYSE:ACRE)
Dividend Yield: 7.98%
Market Cap: $477.44 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2012
Dividends Paid: 8 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $16.54
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 29.80%, 47.58%, 81.77%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #8
Shell Midstream Partners LP (NYSE:SHLX)
Dividend Yield: 8.22%
Market Cap: $1.46 billion
Sector: Energy
First Dividend: 2015
Dividends Paid: 5 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $21.65
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 19.57%, -15.74%, -32.16%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #7
Great Ajax Corporation (NYSE:AJX)
Dividend Yield: 8.49%
Market Cap: $306.63 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2015
Dividends Paid: 5 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $15.07
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 29.66%, 42.05%, N/A
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #6
PBF Logistics LP (NYSE:PBFX)
Dividend Yield: 9.68%
Market Cap: $396.30 million
Sector: Energy
First Dividend: 2014
Dividends Paid: 6 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 5 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $21.49
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 10.72%, 41.81%, 44.26%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #5
Dorchester Minerals LP (NASDAQ:DMLP)
Dividend Yield: 9.90%
Market Cap: $704.00 million
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2003
Dividends Paid: 17 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $20.30
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 28.67%, 35.31%, 1.45%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #4
Invesco Mortgage Capital, Inc. (NYSE:IVR)
Dividend Yield: 10.68%
Market Cap: $2.47 billion
Sector: Financials
First Dividend: 2009
Dividends Paid: 11 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 3 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $17.32
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 22.02%, 51.99%, 65.15%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #3
Delek Logistics Partners LP (NYSE:DKL)
Dividend Yield: 10.88%
Market Cap: $790.13 million
Sector: Energy
First Dividend: 2003
Dividends Paid: 17 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 6 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $32.36
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 23.56%, 25.51%, 31.00%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #2
Vector Group Ltd (NYSE:VGR)
Dividend Yield: 12.02%
Market Cap: $1.97 billion
Sector: Consumer Products
First Dividend: 1990
Dividends Paid: 30 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 20 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $13.31
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 48.72%, -9.86%, 15.62%
The 25 Highest Dividend Stocks by Yield: #1
Green Plains Partners LP (NASDAQ:GPP)
Dividend Yield: 12.86%
Market Cap: $342.32 million
Sector: Energy
First Dividend: 2015
Dividends Paid: 5 years
Consecutive Annual Hikes: 4 years
Distribution Frequency: Quarterly
January 22, 2020 Closing Price: $14.78
Total Return (1Y, 3Y, 5Y): 20.39%, -0.57%, N/A
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Ned Piplovic is the assistant editor of website content at Eagle Financial Publications. He graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Philosophy. Prior to joining Eagle, Ned spent 15 years in corporate operations and financial management. Ned writes for www.DividendInvestor.com and www.StockInvestor.com.
