The Smartest High-Yielding Dividend Stocks in the Nasdaq Composite Index to Buy With $1,500 Right Now
The stock market is anything but normal right now. Not even halfway through the year, the broader benchmark S&P 500 index fell nearly 20% from highs made in February, only to make a full recovery for the year (as of May 22). Investors are still grappling with how high tariffs will ultimately be, the potential impact of a major tax bill being proposed by House Republicans, and whether or not the economy will fall into a recession or see inflation reverse course and rise again.
With so many variables, some investors may prefer to find stocks that generate reliable passive income through dividends. Here are the smartest high-yielding dividend stocks in the Nasdaq Composite index to buy with $1,500 right now.
Amgen: Consistent dividend growth supported by strong free cash flow
Pharmaceutical company Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) develops a range of drugs to treat a variety of different diseases and medical conditions. Some of its largest drugs include Enbrel for treatment of several autoimmune diseases, Prolia for osteoporosis, XGEVA for strengthening bones, Otezla for managing inflammation, and Repatha for lowering cholesterol.
Amgen is regularly developing new drugs including its much anticipated weight-loss drug MariTide, which the company has recently initiated two phase 3 trials for.
Amgen reported solid first-quarter earnings, with adjusted earnings of $4.90 per share easily beating Wall Street estimates of $4.26. Revenue also grew 9% year over year. Management's guidance for 2025 remained unchanged and was roughly in line with what analysts had been projecting at the midpoint of the guidance range.
The company has regularly paid dividends since 2011 and has increased the dividend in all 14 years as well. The dividend yield is now close to 3.5%. While quarterly free cash flow has trailed dividend payments as of late, management expects free cash flow to rebound to 2023 levels of $7.4 billion, which would easily cover the $5.2 billion of expected dividend payments for the year.
Sirius XM: Paid to wait (patiently)
Sirius XM (NASDAQ: SIRI) is one of the largest digital audio companies in the U.S. as the operator of Sirius satellite radio and the Pandora music streaming service. The company says it reaches 160 million listeners each month. Sirius has struggled immensely with the stock down about 57% over the last five years (as of May 20). Rising competition and declining subscribers have hit the company hard.
Management is attempting to turn things around by investing in its tech platform, building out its podcast network, and streamlining its various subscription and pricing offerings. Last September, the company laid out a long-term plan of growing subscribers by 25% to 50 million and increasing free cash flow by 50% to $1.8 billion. But it seems like investors are going to need to be patient.
In the first quarter of the year, revenue fell 4.3% year over year, while total U.S. subscribers declined 2%. Management, however, is implementing a cost-savings plan that calls for hitting a $200 million run rate by the end of 2025.
Luckily, investors are paid at a 4.9% dividend yield for their time. Sirius has regularly paid and increased its annual dividend since 2017. Additionally, the company's trailing free-cash-flow yield of close to 10% easily covers the dividend. The stock's performance hinges on tangible progress, especially regarding subscriber growth; until then, it's uncertain. But the dividend yield is strong, free-cash-flow generation is robust, and the stock is cheap.
Should you invest $1,000 in Sirius XM right now?
Before you buy stock in Sirius XM, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Sirius XM wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $640,662!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $814,127!*
Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is963% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to168%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.
See the 10 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of May 19, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Meta Is Making a Big Bold Investment of Over $10B in Scale AI
Meta Platforms (META) is reportedly in talks to invest over $10 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) startup Scale AI. The news was first reported by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter. If finalized, this investment would represent a significant shift for Meta, marking its largest external funding commitments to date. It would also be one of the largest private-sector funding deals in the AI sector to date. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter The terms of the deal remain unknown and are subject to change. The startup was valued at $13.8 billion in its most recent funding round, in which Meta, Nvidia (NVDA), and Amazon (AMZN) had participated. Bloomberg had reported earlier this year, that Scale AI was in talks for another funding round, potentially valuing the company at roughly $25 billion. Meta Is Investing Billions in Scale AI Scale AI was founded in 2016 by CEO Alexandr Wang. The company specializes in data labeling: assigning labels/tags to images, text, and other data used for training AI models. Scale AI has been growing rapidly and has become one of the prime beneficiaries of the generative AI revolution. In 2024, Scale AI generated revenue of $870 million and is set to more than double its sales this year to reach $2 billion. Scale AI serves a diverse set of customers, including Microsoft (MSFT), ChatGPT maker OpenAI, and the U.S. Department of Defense. The company uses a vast network of contract workers to scan, organize, and label troves of datasets, thus facilitating efficient AI model training. This process is crucial, since machine learning models require the usage and input of enormous amounts of data, and Scale AI's services enable companies to train their models more swiftly and with greater precision. Meta Is Going All-In on AI Meanwhile, Meta is going all-in on AI investments. It has committed to invest up to $65 billion in AI related projects this year. Although Meta does not operate its own cloud services platform, it has developed a successful series of large language AI models called Llama. Meta's Llama chatbot is used by approximately 1 billion users per month on its Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp apps. Notably, Meta and Scale AI have also partnered earlier to develop the Defense Llama model for the government. Moreover, Meta's AI models are used by U.S. government agencies and defense contractors for military applications. Last week, Meta also struck a 20-year deal with nuclear energy company Constellation Energy (CEG) to buy green credits from its Illinois nuclear plant, effective 2027. This deal ensures a stable and sustainable energy supply for Meta's massive AI and data center operations, supporting its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions. Is META a Good Company to Buy? Wall Street remains highly optimistic about Meta Platforms' long-term stock trajectory. On TipRanks, META stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 41 Buys, three Holds, and one Sell rating. Also, the average Meta Platforms price target of $697.55 implies that shares are almost fully valued at current levels. Year-to-date, META stock has gained 19.3%. See more META analyst ratings
Globe and Mail
2 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Ouros Jewels: The Future of Lab-Grown Diamond Luxury
Started in 2018, Ouros Jewels creates sustainable jewelry, crafting beautiful rings, necklaces, and earrings with lab-grown diamonds and various precious metals. Based in New York, the brand focuses on ethical jewelry that looks stunning and protects the planet, showing why it's a favorite for luxury with a purpose. Origins and Vision Ouros Jewels started in India in 2015, founded by Vijay Sarkheliya, who wanted to change the jewelry industry with sustainable jewelry. He began crafting beautiful rings, necklaces, and earrings using lab-grown diamonds and various precious metals like silver, gold and platinum, making pieces that are both stunning and kind to the planet. This focus on eco-friendly practices made Ouros stand out, creating a brand that offers ethical jewelry without harming the environment. Owner's vision was to build a company that combines luxury with care for the Earth, and today, Ouros Jewels is known for delivering high-quality, eco-conscious designs that customers love. Milestones and Expansion From a single workshop in India, Ouros Jewels has seen remarkable growth, with sales rising over 150% in five years. The 2019 launch of their website brought sustainable lab diamond jewelry to customers worldwide, offering easy and express shipping. A dedicated team of experts helps customers track orders and resolve issues, ensuring transparency and authenticity. This commitment builds trust, keeping customers loyal for years. With exclusive deals and affordable prices, Ouros maximizes sales and reaches new heights. Their focus on quality and custom jewelry has also earned praise from many premium outlets, solidifying Ouros' global reputation. Iconic Collections and Future Goals Ouros Jewels leads in sustainable jewelry, crafting beautiful engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and loose diamonds. Their collection offers stunning lab-grown diamond rings, with colored diamonds like pink and yellow. The fine jewelry features bold pendants and tennis necklaces, paired with earrings from studs to drop dangles. Bracelets, including tennis and bezel-set designs, sparkle with responsibly sourced rubies and sapphires. Ouros specializes in custom jewelry, helping customers create unique pieces with antique-cut diamonds. In 2025, Ouros plans a new sustainable gemstone collection and a Seattle store, expanding its luxury jewelry brand. Visit or a boutique to explore eco-friendly luxury. Nationwide Store Presence Ouros Jewels operates boutiques in New York City, Texas, and London UK, and also consultation stores in Dubai, Japan, and India, offering elegant spaces to explore sustainable jewelry. Customers can resolve their ideas or confusion about jewelry, get help to create custom jewelry with lab-grown diamonds, or design unique pieces with expert guidance. Each location showcases eco-conscious collections like engagement rings, lab diamond earrings, statement necklaces and many other fine jewelry. For those searching jewelry stores near me, Ouros' New York City flagship provides an immersive experience. With top-quality customer service in premium countries and states, Ouros ensures every visit is exceptional. The brand plans further expansion to bring its eco-friendly vision to jewelry lovers worldwide. Success at Jewelry Shows Ouros Jewels has earned praise at top events like JCK Las Vegas, Jewellery & Gem Hong Kong Show, and HKTDC Hong Kong Show. Their 2024 eco-friendly engagement ring collection won the 'Green Innovation Award' at JCK Las Vegas, boosting their reputation as a luxury jewelry brand. These shows highlight Ouros' sustainable jewelry, showcasing bespoke jewelry like rings and necklaces made with lab-grown diamonds. The brand's innovative designs captivate buyers and industry leaders, reinforcing Ouros' leadership in eco-conscious luxury. Dedication to Eco-Friendly Practices Ouros Jewels is committed to sustainable jewelry. Every piece is carefully made with eco-friendly materials like lab-grown diamonds and recycled metals, reducing harm to the planet. Responsibly sourced gemstones add beauty while keeping the environmental footprint small. The brand's carbon-neutral operations, supported by partnerships with include planting a tree for every sale. Ouros' Green Packaging Revolution uses sustainable materials for all packaging, enhancing its eco-conscious approach. This dedication to ethical jewelry brands connects with customers who value the planet, making Ouros a leader in eco-friendly luxury. Visit Ouros Jewels to Experience Sustainable Luxury Ouros Jewels invites customers to explore its eco-conscious collections in boutiques or headquarters located worldwide, or online at As a leader in sustainable lab-grown diamond fine jewelry, Ouros Jewels continues to redefine luxury with ethical craftsmanship and innovative design.
Globe and Mail
3 hours ago
- Globe and Mail
Stocks rise, U.S. dollar tentative ahead of U.S.-China talks outcome
Stocks were buoyant and the U.S. dollar remained on guard on Tuesday as trade talks between the United States and China were set to extend to a second day, with tentative signs tensions between the world's two largest economies could be easing. U.S. President Donald Trump put a positive spin on the talks at Lancaster House in London, which wrapped up for the night on Monday and were set to resume at 0900 GMT on Tuesday. 'The fact that we're still up here near record highs, does suggest that we are seeing the market accept what has been said by Trump and when you look at some of the other comments from Lutnick and Bessent, to me it seems to suggest that they are relatively happy with the progress,' said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG. 'But the market always likes to see some concrete announcements.' As Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were set to meet for the second day with their Chinese counterparts, much of investors' focus has been on the progress of the talks. Any progress in the negotiations is likely to provide relief to markets given Trump's chaotic tariffs and swings in Sino-U.S. trade ties have undermined the world's two biggest economies and hobbled global growth. Analysis: In Trump-Xi dealings, China seems to have the upper hand Stocks advanced in Asia, extending their rise from the start of the week. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan advanced 0.5 per cent, while Nasdaq futures gained 0.62 per cent. S&P 500 futures edged 0.43 per cent higher. EUROSTOXX 50 futures and FTSE futures both added roughly 0.1 per cent each. In Tokyo, attention was also on the Japanese government bond (JGB) market, following news that Japan is considering buying back some super-long government bonds issued in the past at low interest rates. The yield on the 10-year JGB fell one basis point to 1.46 per cent in early trade, while the 30-year yield slid 5 bps to 2.86 per cent. Yields on super-long JGBs rose to record levels last month due to dwindling demand from traditional buyers such as life insurers, and jitters over steadily rising debt levels globally. 'The volatility at the super-long segment of the curve stems from a supply-demand imbalance that has been brewing since the BOJ embarked on balance sheet normalisation,' said Justin Heng, APAC rates strategist at HSBC Global Investment Research. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Tuesday the government will conduct appropriate debt management policies while communicating closely with market participants. In currencies, the dollar attempted to regain its footing after falling on Monday. Against the yen, the dollar was up 0.45 per cent to 145.25. The euro fell 0.28% to $1.1387 while sterling slipped 0.2 per cent to US$1.3523. Trump's erratic trade policies and worries over Washington's growing debt pile have dented investor confidence in U.S. assets, in turn undermining the dollar, which has already fallen more than 8 per cent for the year. The next test for the greenback will be on Wednesday, when U.S. inflation data comes due. Expectations are for core consumer prices to have picked up slightly in May, which could push back against bets of imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts. The producer price index (PPI) report will be released a day later. 'May's U.S. CPI and PPI data will be scrutinised for signs of lingering inflationary pressures,' said Convera's FX and macro strategist Kevin Ford. 'If core CPI remains elevated, expectations for rate cuts could be pushed beyond the June 18 FOMC meeting.' Traders see the Fed keeping rates on hold at its policy meeting next week, but have priced in roughly 44 bps worth of easing by December. In the oil market, prices edged up, with Brent crude futures gaining 0.24 per cent to US$67.20 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was last up 0.25 per cent at US$65.45 per barrel after hitting a more than two-month high earlier in the session. Spot gold fell 0.5 per cent to US$3,310.40 an ounce.
