The Dow Jones, formally known as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), is one of the U.S. stock market's three main indexes, alongside the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite. It tracks 30 of the largest American companies on the market, aiming to give insight into the health of the U.S. stock market.
Since the Dow Jones typically tracks large, mature companies, those companies generally pay a dividend. The only exceptions are Amazon, which has never paid one, and Boeing, which suspended its dividend in 2020.
However, if you're looking for a high-yield dividend stock in the Dow Jones, there are several to choose from today. Below are the Dow Jones' top five highest-paying dividend stocks and whether or not they make for a sound investment going into the new year.
VZ Dividend Yield data by YCharts
1. Verizon: 6.66%
Verizon Communications (VZ +1.16%) is one of the largest telecom companies in the world and also boasts one of the highest dividends that you'll find on the market. Stock price growth is nice, yes, but when you invest in Verizon, it's generally to take advantage of its dividend.
Verizon's payout is higher than you'd receive from a high-yield savings account or government bonds, so it's a smart place to put money to work. If the Federal Reserve continues to cut interest rates, Verizon's dividend will look even more attractive to those seeking passive income.
2. Chevron: 4.55%
Chevron (CVX 0.70%) is a cash cow that has stood the test of time, regardless of how cyclical the oil industry can be with its volatile prices. Over the past four quarters, it has generated close to $187 billion in revenue, so if there's one thing to know about Chevron's dividend, it's that the business fully supports it.
Chevron stands out as one of the top energy companies to invest in because it operates in all three phases of the oil and gas ecosystem: upstream (finding and producing), midstream (transporting and storing), and downstream (turning into fuels and marketing).
CVX Revenue (Quarterly) data by YCharts
3. Merck: 3.23%
Merck (MRK 0.02%) is a pharmaceutical company known for drugs such as Keytruda and Gardasil. In addition to those, it has a robust pipeline of new drugs in the works, including those focused on treating cancer and fighting heart disease.
It will lose the patent for one of its best sellers, the cancer drug Keytruda, in 2028, but the company is working to diversify its drug portfolio to help offset potential revenue loss.
Even so, investors don't have to worry about Merck's dividend being affected. It has a history of being shareholder-friendly and keeping the dividend in line with earnings growth.
NYSE: MRK
Key Data Points
4. Amgen: 3%
Amgen (AMGN 0.05%) is the other pharmaceutical company on the list, and has surprisingly outperformed the market so far this year after lagging a bit in previous years. It has a couple of medicines, Repatha and Tezspire, that are driving a lot of its current growth, but it has drugs in its pipeline that will hopefully help as it approaches losses to key patents.
Amgen has increased its annual dividend every year since it started paying them in 2011, and that's a streak I expect to continue. Its current payout ratio is below 50%, so its financials support its dividend with ease.
5. Coca-Cola: 2.92%
Coca-Cola (KO +0.48%) is undoubtedly the best-known company on the list, boasting one of the most recognizable brands in the world, regardless of industry. With 63 consecutive years of annual dividend increases, Coca-Cola is also the only Dividend King on the list (a company with at least 50 consecutive years of increases).
When you invest in Coca-Cola, you know you're investing in a company that has a trifecta: a brand moat, products that sell regardless of economic conditions, and a reliable dividend. It's a company that has been, and should continue to be, a staple in many investors' portfolios.
NYSE: KO
Key Data Points
Should you invest in these stocks?
There's a bullish case to be made for each stock on this list. However, if any companies stood out as buys heading into the new year, it would be Chevron, Merck, and Coca-Cola.
If you're interested in investing in the Dow Jones as a whole, a good option is the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (DIA +0.34%). Its dividend yield is only 1.46%, but that's still higher than the S&P 500 average, and ETF investing removes the risks that come with investing in individual stocks.
