Up to 7.5% Yield and a 'Strong Buy' Rating? These 3 Dividend Stocks Check Every Box.

Yahoo

12-07-2025

With potentially higher tariffs and interest rates back in the news, growth stocks will likely take a hit in the short term. And when that happens, I find myself once again looking for stocks that offer stability and income. After all, we sleep better at night when a predictable stream of income keeps coming in during times of uncertainty.
But where do we start? We look for high-yield dividend stocks that actually have Wall Street's stamp of approval.To generate my list, I used Barchart's powerful Stock Screener to find three large & mega cap companies that not only offer above average dividend yields, but also carry the highest 'Strong Buy' rating from at least a dozen analysts.
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The result? Not your typical boring income plays. We're talking about well-established businesses with real cash flow, strong consensus, who pay dividends that stand out in today's market.
I used Barchart's Stock Screener tool to get the list using the following filters.
Market Cap: Greater than $10B. I want to focus on large, established companies.
Annual Dividend Yield: I'll use this as my sort on the results page.
Analyst Rating: 'Strong Buy' only to find the most bullish consensus.
Number of Analysts: 12 or more. Ensures meaningful coverage and higher confidence.
Hitting 'See Results' with these filters, we get:
These filters produced 60 results. One stock, Western Digital (WDC), was excluded due to an incorrect yield reading (forward dividend: $0.40 or ~0.62%). That left three standout names with the highest yields and strongest analyst support.
Energy Transfer LP operates in midstream energy logistics and infrastructure. The company has approximately 130,000 miles of pipelines and transports oil and gas assets in 44 states, exporting to over 80 countries.
The company's most recent financials reported sales of $21 billion, down 2.8% from the same quarter, last year. Despite this, its net income increased 1.7%, to $1.72 billion. Today, the company has a market capitalization of $59.8 billion.
Energy Transfer LP pays a forward annual dividend of $1.31, translating to a yield of approximately 7.51%, the highest on this list, and above average among its peer group. A consensus among 14 analysts rates ET stock a 'Strong Buy' - consistent over the past three months.
A newcomer to my lists today is Viper Energy Inc. Viper is a subsidiary of Diamondback Energy, Inc., whose business model is anchored on mineral and royalty interests. Today, Viper Energy operates as an upstream oil and gas company that owns, acquires, and extracts oil and natural gas, primarily in the Permian Basin.
Viper's most recent financials report operating income of $245 million, up 19.5% year-over-year. Net income rose 74.4%, to $75 million, and today, Viper Energy has a market cap of $10.7 billion.
Viper Energy pays a forward annual dividend of $2.28, translating to a yield of 6.14%, which is above average for an oil and gas company. Finally, the stock has a consensus 'Strong Buy' rating from 12 analysts.
Last on the list of high-yield dividend stocks is Vici Properties Inc., a real estate investment trust that acquires real estate in mainstream destinations, including those for the entertainment, gaming, hospitality, and leisure industries. The company's most famous properties include Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, and The Venetian in Las Vegas. Zooming out a little, the company owns and leases 127 million square feet distributed among 60,300 hotel rooms and over 500 restaurant and bar locations.
The company's most recent financials reported sales of $984 million, up 3.4% from the same quarter last year. However, net income came in at $543.6 million, declining 7.9% year-over-year.
Vici Properties pays a forward annual dividend of $1.73, which translates to an approximate yield of 5.14%, which is above average for a quality stock. And a consensus among 22 analysts seems to agree, rating VICI stock a 'Strong Buy.'
These three companies offer high yields, are 'Strong Buy' rated, and are real businesses. They check every box that investors require when seeking income without risking the farm. Whether you're looking for a high dividend or just want reliable cash flow from established names, these three companies could be the perfect choice for a blend of payout and potential.
On the date of publication, Rick Orford did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com