Walmart (WMT +0.77%) isn't your typical dividend stock, since it's been acting like a growth stock lately. It's underperforming this year, but it's beaten the market over the past three years, gaining 128% versus 76% for the S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.79%).
However, it is indeed a great dividend stock, and it's a Dividend King, which means it has raised its dividend for at least 50 years straight. 2026 is the 53rd year of raising the dividend annually.
Image source: Walmart.
Walmart's dividend yield isn't high, though, especially at its higher price. It has steadily decreased from a high of 3% 10 years ago to 0.85% today.
At its recent price, $10,000 gets you 87 shares, and Walmart pays $0.99 per share as of the new raise, up from $0.94 last year, so 87 shares only get you $86.13 in annual dividends. That's not much, which is why $10,000 isn't enough for a retirement portfolio, but it's reliable passive income that will grow every year and can be a solid component of a larger dividend portfolio.
NASDAQ: WMT
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In Walmart's case, unlike many dividend stocks that offer value in place of growth, you also have the potential for high gains. If you'd invested $10,000 in Walmart stock three years ago, you'd have $22,000 today, more than double your investment, and you'd also have been paid dividends along the way.
