Rank | Name | Symbol | Yrs of Div Increases | Yield |
---|---|---|---|---|
613 | Arbor Realty Trust | ABR | 13 | 15.59 |
619 | Innovative Industrial | IIPR | 7 | 14.22 |
604 | Capital Southwest | CSWC | 9 | 12.91 |
614 | Delek Logistics | DKL | 13 | 11.89 |
623 | Community Healthcare | CHCT | 11 | 11.69 |
625 | Hooker Furnishings | HOFT | 8 | 10.02 |
587 | OneMain | OMF | 6 | 9.37 |
622 | LyondellBasell N.V. | LYB | 14 | 9.24 |
624 | Shutterstock | SSTK | 6 | 8.62 |
509 | Main Street Capital | MAIN | 15 | 8.16 |
High-yield dividend stocks can seem attractive at first glance, especially when you’re chasing income. But often, a sky-high yield is a red flag. It usually signals that the stock price has dropped sharply—possibly because the company’s fundamentals are deteriorating. In other cases, the company might be paying out an unsustainably large portion of its earnings just to maintain the dividend. That can put the dividend at risk of being cut, which then hurts both your income and the stock’s value.
On the flip side, the top-ranked dividend stocks tend to offer more than just a high yield—they bring consistency, growth, and financial discipline. These are companies with solid business models that generate steady income. They grow their dividends year after year, which not only protects your income from inflation but also shows management’s confidence in future earnings. Plus, they usually have low to moderate payout ratios, meaning they’re only distributing a portion of their profits and reinvesting the rest back into the business. That’s a much more sustainable approach and often a sign of long-term strength.