There's no official definition of a high-yield dividend stock. However, most investors would classify it as a stock with a dividend yield higher than a common benchmark such as the S&P 500 index or a 10-year U.S. Treasury note.
In November 2025, the dividend yield on the S&P 500 averaged less than 1.1%, approaching its record low. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year note was slightly above 4%, a relatively high level compared to recent years due to the Federal Reserve maintaining elevated interest rates.
Many investors would consider a stock to have a high dividend yield if it were double the S&P 500; others would require a payout at or above the 10-year note level. Those baseline measurements aside, investors shouldn't buy a stock solely because of its dividend yield.
They need to make sure the dividend payments are sustainable. The company should be high-quality, with durable cash flow, a strong balance sheet, and visible growth potential. With all that in mind, here are 20 high-yield dividend stocks to consider buying for dividend income.
Twenty high-yield dividend stocks to watch
| Name and ticker | Annual dividend | Dividend yield | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) | $6.56 | 2.78% | Biotechnology |
| Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA) | $6.06 | 4.54% | Residential REITs |
| Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE:BIPC) | $1.70 | 3.83% | Gas Utilities |
| Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC) | $1.47 | 3.57% | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
| Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) | $4.22 | 3.44% | Electric Utilities |
| Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) | $3.02 | 5.39% | Capital Markets |
| Chevron (NYSE:CVX) | $6.84 | 4.56% | Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels |
| Enbridge (NYSE:ENB) | $2.69 | 5.62% | Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels |
| Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD) | $2.16 | 6.66% | Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels |
| Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) | $3.14 | 2.48% | Biotechnology |
| Healthpeak Properties (NYSE:DOC) | $1.12 | 6.27% | Health Care REITs |
| Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) | $1.02 | 4.07% | Banks |
| Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR) | $6.48 | 4.93% | Specialized REITs |
| NNN REIT (NYSE:NNN) | $2.36 | 5.76% | Retail REITs |
| Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) | $1.72 | 6.87% | Pharmaceuticals |
| Vici Properties (NYSE:VICI) | $1.75 | 6.06% | Specialized REITs |
| Realty Income (NYSE:O) | $3.21 | 5.67% | Retail REITs |
| Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) | $2.72 | 6.60% | Diversified Telecommunication Services |
| T. Rowe Price Group (NASDAQ:TROW) | $5.05 | 5.03% | Capital Markets |
| PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) | $5.56 | 3.80% | Beverages |
Here's a brief look at what makes each of these high-yield dividend stocks look like attractive buys in 2025.
1. AbbVie
NYSE: ABBV
Key Data Points
Drugmaker AbbVie (ABBV -2.87%) has had an excellent dividend track record since its 2013 spinoff from Abbott Labs (ABT -0.72%). From its inception through late 2025, AbbVie has increased its payout by a whopping 330%, including raising it another 5.5% in October. The company has carried on the dividend growth legacy it inherited from Abbott by boosting its payout every year.
AbbVie has invested heavily in developing new therapies. It has also made several blockbuster acquisitions, including closing its $2.1 billion deal for Capstan Therapeutics in mid-2025 to refill its pipeline and drive future growth. That puts it in excellent shape to keep the dividend income flowing and growing.
2. Mid-America Apartment Communities
NYSE: MAA
Key Data Points
As one of the largest apartment owners in the country, Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA)(MAA -0.23%) benefits from collecting steady rental income to support its high-yielding payout. The real estate investment trust (REIT) also boasts a top-tier financial profile. The company's financial strength allows it to expand its apartment portfolio by developing and acquiring new communities.
Since its 1994 initial public offering (IPO), MAA has never suspended or reduced its dividend. As of November 2025, it had raised its payment for 15 consecutive years. With demand for apartments continuing to grow, the REIT should be able to keep increasing its dividend in the coming years. The landlord had almost $800 million of apartment communities under construction to support its continued growth.
3. Brookfield Infrastructure
NYSE: BIP
Key Data Points
Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP +0.23%) operates a diversified portfolio of infrastructure businesses focused on utilities, transportation, energy (midstream), and data. The businesses generate relatively stable cash flow to support its growing dividend. The infrastructure stock delivered its 16th consecutive yearly payout increase in 2025 and has grown its dividend at a 9% compound annual rate.
Brookfield envisions increasing its dividend at an annual rate of 5% to 9% over the long term, powered by the organic growth of its existing businesses and acquisitions. The company's organic growth drivers of inflation-linked rate increases, volume growth as the global economy expands, and expansion projects should grow its funds from operations (FFO) by 6% to 9% per share over the next few years.
Meanwhile, it sees future acquisitions boosting its FFO per share growth rate above 10% annually. The company routinely recycles capital by selling mature businesses and reinvesting the proceeds into higher-return new investments.
3. Brookfield Renewable
NYSE: BEP
Key Data Points
Brookfield Renewable (BEP -0.81%) is a sibling company of Brookfield Infrastructure. Brookfield Corporation (BN +0.87%) controls both companies.
This Brookfield entity focuses on renewable energy, including hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities. The assets generate steady cash flow backed by long-term power purchase agreements with utilities and other users, supporting Brookfield's high-yield dividend.
Brookfield has grown its payout at a 6% compound annual rate since 2001, while 2025 marked its 14th straight year of raising its payment by at least 5%. The company expects to increase its payout at an annual pace of 5% to 9% over the long term.
Powering that forecast are its organic growth drivers -- including an extensive pipeline of new renewable energy projects -- and additional acquisitions. Brookfield Renewable expects to grow its FFO per share by more than 10% annually through at least 2030.
5. Duke Energy
NYSE: DUK
Key Data Points
Duke Energy (DUK -0.58%) is a leading utility. The company's electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers across six states, while its natural gas utilities provide gas to 1.6 million customers across five states. Its businesses generate very stable cash flows backed by government-regulated rate structures, enabling Duke to pay dividends to its investors for 99 consecutive years as of late 2025.
Duke has a large-scale investment program underway to expand its transmission and distribution network. These investments should grow its earnings per share by 5% to 7% annually through 2029. Earnings growth should enable the utility to continue increasing its dividends.
6. Main Street Capital
NYSE: MAIN
Key Data Points
Main Street Capital (MAIN +1.49%) is a business development company (BDC) focused on providing capital solutions (private debt and private equity) to lower middle market companies (those with annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million). It also provides debt capital to middle-market companies ($150 million+ in annual revenue).
The company's debt investments generate interest income, while most of its equity investments provide it with dividend income. As a BDC, Main Street Capital must pay out 90% of its taxable net income to shareholders. It does that through a sustainable and steadily rising monthly dividend (132% growth since its IPO in 2007). Main Street Capital also periodically pays a supplemental quarterly dividend.
7. Chevron
NYSE: CVX
Key Data Points
The big oil giant's top financial priority is to sustain and grow its dividend. In 2025, the company delivered its 38th consecutive annual dividend increase, one of the longest streaks among oil stocks. Chevron (CVX -0.15%) has delivered peer-leading dividend growth over the past decade.
Its integrated operations, low-cost oil business, and lower-carbon energy investments position Chevron to sustain and grow its dividend. The oil giant has also been an active acquirer.
It closed its acquisition of Hess in mid-2025. The deal will enhance and extend its production and free cash flow growth outlook into the 2030s. As a result, Chevron should have plenty of fuel to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend.
8. Enbridge
NYSE: ENB
Key Data Points
Canadian pipeline and utility giant Enbridge (ENB -1.29%) has been an outstanding dividend stock over the years. It has paid dividends for more than 70 years and has expanded its payout in each of the past 30 years.
While the world is transitioning its fuel supply from oil to cleaner alternatives, Enbridge is adapting by investing in infrastructure to support natural gas projects and renewable energy. The investments have the company on track to increase its cash flow per share by a 3% to 5% annual rate for the next several years, which should support continued dividend growth.
9. Enterprise Products Partners
NYSE: EPD
Key Data Points
Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.34%) ranks as one of the top players in the midstream oil and gas market. The master limited partnership (MLP) has increased its payout at least once annually for 27 consecutive years.
The company continues to invest heavily to expand its midstream operations. It's on track to place $6 billion of growth capital projects into commercial service by the end of 2025 and has more projects on the way in 2026. It also has a history of making accretive acquisitions. These and future investments should give Enterprise the fuel to continue increasing its dividend.
10. Gilead Sciences
NASDAQ: GILD
Key Data Points
Gilead Sciences (GILD -1.08%) pays one of the more attractive dividends in the biotechnology sector. The company has a solid dividend track record, having increased its payout every year since it initiated one in 2015, including by 2.6% in early 2025. Its strong HIV franchise is the biotech's anchor.
The biotechnology company also has innovative medicines to prevent and treat viral hepatitis, COVID-19, and cancer. In addition, it has several promising drugs in the pipeline that should drive sales growth in the future. Gilead also routinely acquires earlier-stage drug companies to enhance its ability to continue growing, including agreeing to acquire Interius BioTherapeutics for $350 million in August 2025.
11. Healthpeak Properties
NYSE: DOC
Key Data Points
Leading healthcare REIT Healthpeak Properties (DOC +0.06%) owns a diversified portfolio of healthcare real estate, including medical office buildings, lab space, and retirement communities. These properties generate healthy rental income, giving the REIT great income now, more later.
Healthpeak Properties switched to paying monthly dividends in 2025. It also resumed dividend growth. With ample investment capacity to continue expanding its portfolio, the healthcare REIT should deliver a steadily rising dividend in the future.
12. Regions Financial
NYSE: RF
Key Data Points
Regions Financial (RF -0.24%) is one of the country's largest banks, focusing on the South and Midwest. It has a long history of paying dividends. While the company reset its payment level during the 2008-09 financial crisis, it has increased the dividend 20-fold since that time.
It gave investors another raise in 2025 (a relatively minor one at 6%). With its banking and financial services businesses growing, Regions should be able to continue increasing its high-yielding payout in the future.
13. Extra Space Storage
NYSE: EXR
Key Data Points
Extra Space Storage (EXR -0.84%) is a REIT focused on owning, operating, and managing self-storage facilities. Over the past decade, it has been one of the best-performing stocks in the REIT sector.
A big driver is its rapidly rising dividend. Extra Space Storage has increased its payout by 110.1% over the last 10 years, and more growth seems likely. The self-storage REIT has a strong balance sheet, giving it ample flexibility to continue making new investments as opportunities arise.
14. NNN REIT
NYSE: NNN
Key Data Points
NYSE:NNN (NNN -0.24%) is a REIT focused on single-tenant retail properties secured by triple-net (NNN) leases. That lease structure provides it with very stable rental income, supporting its high-yielding dividend.
The company has one of the best dividend track records in the REIT sector. It extended its annual dividend growth streak to 36 straight years in 2025, the third-longest streak in the industry. Its strong financial profile should enable NNN REIT to continue expanding its portfolio and dividend payments.
15. Pfizer
NYSE: PFE
Key Data Points
Pfizer (PFE +0.86%) has paid dividends for 347 consecutive quarters, increasing them for 16 consecutive years. The pharmaceutical giant's investments in research and development (R&D) are paying off. The company developed one of the first vaccines against COVID-19 and followed that up with a successful oral treatment.
The commercial successes have enabled Pfizer to continue making research and development investments and strategic acquisitions (it paid $1.3 billion to China's 3SBio in 2025 for an exclusive global license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize a new cancer drug). These investments should grow Pfizer's cash flow in the future, allowing it to continue increasing its dividend payments.
16. VICI Properties
NYSE: VICI
Key Data Points
VICI Properties (VICI -0.35%) is a REIT focused on owning experiential real estate, such as casinos and bowling entertainment centers. The company leases those properties back to operating companies under long-term NNN leases. The agreements supply it with steadily rising rental income from annual rate increases.
The company also steadily invests in new gaming and nongaming real estate. VICI Properties' growing income has enabled it to increase its dividend in each of the eight years since its formation. It has grown its dividend at a peer-leading 6.6% compound annual rate since 2018, much faster than the sector's 2.3% average.
17. Realty Income
NYSE: O
Key Data Points
Realty Income (O -0.32%) lives up to its name. The REIT, which pays a monthly dividend, has made 663 consecutive payments. Even better, it has increased its payout more than 132 times since its IPO in 1994, expanding it at a 4.2% compound annual rate. That adds up to more than 30 consecutive years of steady dividend growth.
A steady diet of acquisitions has driven its growth. Realty Income purchases properties in sale-leaseback transactions, acquires larger property portfolios, and merges with other REITs to grow its portfolio, rental income, and dividend. It plans to invest $5 billion into new properties in 2025, which should increase its cash flow per share, allowing for continued dividend growth.
18. Verizon Communications
NYSE: VZ
Key Data Points
Telecommunications giant Verizon (VZ -2.47%) has been a great income stock over the years. In late 2025, the company delivered its 19th consecutive annual dividend increase, the longest current streak in the U.S. telecom sector.
Verizon should be able to continue increasing its dividend as it invests to transition its mobile network to 5G, bringing faster data speeds to its customers. The company also agreed to buy Frontier Communications (FYBR -0.29%) for $20 billion in 2024 in a deal that will increase the scale of its fiber operations and its earnings.
19. T. Rowe Price
NASDAQ: TROW
Key Data Points
Mutual fund manager T. Rowe Price (TROW +0.14%) has a long history of paying dividends.
The company raised its payment by 2.4% in early 2025, marking its 39th straight year of dividend growth. That steady dividend growth should continue as the company grows its assets under management (AUM) and its clients entrust it with more of their money.
20. PepsiCo
NASDAQ: PEP
Key Data Points
PepsiCo (PEP -0.52%) has an illustrious record of paying dividends. The global snacking and beverage giant extended its dividend growth streak to 53 in a row in 2025. That put it in the elite group of Dividend Kings, a company with 50 or more years of annual dividend increases.
The iconic company invests heavily in new product innovation, productivity enhancements, and other drivers to grow its revenue and profit margins. It also routinely buys snacking and drinks brands that consumers love (it paid almost $1.7 billion for Poppi in 2025). PepsiCo's continued investments should enable it to maintain its exceptional record of growing its high-yielding dividend.
How to invest in high-yield dividend stocks
It's easy to add a high-yield dividend stock to your portfolio. Here's a step-by-step guide on investing in high-yield dividend stocks:
- Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
- Search for the stock: Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
- Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
- Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
- Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
- Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.
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Pros and cons of investing in high-yield dividend stocks
Investing in high-yield dividend stocks has its share of benefits and drawbacks. Some of the pros include:
- More income: Investing in high-yield dividend stocks enables you to generate more dividend income from every dollar you invest compared to lower-yielding stocks or those that don't pay a dividend.
- Lower volatility: High-yielding dividend stocks tend to be slower-growing companies and are often less volatile.
- Higher long-term total return potential: Higher-yielding dividend stocks can often produce higher total returns over the long term as the dividend income adds up.
On the other hand, here are some cons of investing in higher-yielding dividend stocks:
- Potentially higher risk profile: Some higher-yielding dividend stocks are at higher risk of reducing their dividends due to high payout ratios or weaker financial profiles.
- Slower growth: Most higher-yielding dividend stocks tend to be slower-growing companies.
Great income now, more later
All 20 of these dividend stocks offer an above-average yield, making them stand out in a time when many companies don't pay very high dividends. Even better, each one has a solid track record of steadily increasing its dividend and showing no signs of stopping. That makes them great income stocks to buy and hold for the long haul.
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