One great thing about a crash or downturn in the markets is that it can allow you to go bargain hunting fairly easily. Many stocks have been falling this year, and if you're a dividend investor, you know that means yields are rising as a result. When prices fall, it costs less to lock in a dividend, which results in a higher yield.

Three stocks that offer yields of more than 3% and which are trading near their 52-week lows today are Merck (MRK 0.91%), NextEra Energy (NEE 0.69%), and Comcast (CMCSA 0.41%). Here's why they can be solid investments to add to your portfolio right now.

Merck

Pharma giant Merck provides investors with an attractive dividend yield of 3.9% right now, which is nearly three times the S&P 500 average of 1.4%. As of April 28, shares of Merck were down more than 16% since the start of the year, as it gets closer to its 52-week low of $75.93.

The company's sales were down by 2% through the first three months of 2025, and investors likely also aren't happy with the $200 million hit it expects to take this year due to tariffs. It could be a tough year for the business due to the uncertainty in global markets.

But with a top cancer drug in Keytruda, and Merck growing its portfolio through new products, including Winrevair (a treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension), it can still make for a great option for long-term investors.

The stock's payout ratio is around 45%, which suggests that even if its earnings decline this year, Merck's dividend will still be safe given the comfortable buffer.

NextEra Energy

Energy stock NextEra has fallen by a more modest 8% this year, but at around $66, it's getting close to its 52-week low of $61.72. The company's portfolio focuses on North America, and NextEra says it invests "more in America's energy infrastructure than any other company." That could make the stock a benefactor of President Donald Trump's policies and his focus on American investments.

Not only does NextEra have the potential to be a fairly safe stock to own amid the threat of tariffs, but it's also a solid dividend stock to hang on to. At 3.4%, it gives investors another high-yielding investment for their portfolios today. Its payout ratio of 79% is higher than Merck's but is sustainable nonetheless.

Over the trailing 12 months, the company has generated $5.5 billion in profit on revenue totaling $25.3 billion, for a profit margin of just under 22%. With strong fundamentals and a great dividend, NextEra can make for a no-brainer buy right now.

Comcast

Media and entertainment company Comcast yields 3.9% and is yet another solid income stock for the long haul. Its low payout ratio of 31% gives it a big buffer, allowing management to reinvest profits into its growth without having to worry too much about the dividend getting in the way.

Although it's a fairly stable business to invest in, the stock is down 10% this year and is a couple of dollars away from its 52-week low of $31.44. With shares trading at just 8 times trailing earnings, investors aren't willing to pay any premium whatsoever for the business.

But with its new Epic Universe theme park opening in May, that could be a great catalyst for both the business and the stock this year. During the first three months of 2025, Comcast's sales declined by 0.6% to $29.9 billion. An improvement on the top line, potentially from the launch of the new park, could be just the thing to give the stock a much-needed boost this year.

With a diversified business model that involves media and theme parks, plus a solid dividend, Comcast is a stock that looks well worth its modest valuation.