20 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy in 2026

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 early January 2026, the dividend yield on the S&P 500 averaged around 1.1%, approaching its record low. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year note was around 4.2%, down from its recent peak above 4.8% in early 2025 after the Federal Reserve started lowering interest rates.

Drugmaker AbbVie (ABBV -0.31%) has had an excellent dividend track record since its 2013 spinoff from Abbott Labs (ABT -1.43%). From its inception through early 2026, 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

As one of the largest apartment owners in the country, Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA)(MAA +1.17%) 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 early 2026, it had raised its payment for 16 consecutive years, growing it at an 8.3% compound annual rate over the last five 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

3. Brookfield Renewable

Brookfield Renewable (BEP +0.71%) is a sibling company of Brookfield Infrastructure. Brookfield Corporation (BN +0.06%) 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

Main Street Capital (MAIN -0.20%) 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 (136% growth since its IPO in 2007). Main Street Capital also periodically pays a supplemental quarterly dividend. The company has increased its base monthly dividend payment by 4% over the past year, including a 2% increase in November 2025.

7. Chevron

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 +0.07%) 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, with Chevron expected to grow its free cash flow at a more than 10% compound annual rate through 2030. As a result, Chevron should have plenty of fuel to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend.

8. Enbridge

Canadian pipeline and utility giant Enbridge (ENB +1.67%) has been an outstanding dividend stock over the years. It has paid dividends for over 70 years and has increased its payout (in Canadian dollars) in each of the past 31 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. Enbridge raised its dividend payment by 3% in December 2025.

9. Enterprise Products Partners

Enterprise Products Partners (EPD +0.86%) 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. Its latest raise in January 2026 was 2.8% above the level it paid in early 2025.

The company continues to invest heavily to expand its midstream operations. It placed $6 billion of growth capital projects into commercial service during the second half of 2025 and had 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

Leading healthcare REIT Healthpeak Properties (DOC +2.19%) 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 and 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

Regions Financial (RF -2.63%) 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

Extra Space Storage (EXR +1.18%) 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 (NNN +1.02%) 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

VICI Properties (VICI +1.97%) 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

Realty Income (O +1.15%) 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 133 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 planned to invest $6 billion into new properties in 2025, which should increase its cash flow per share, allowing for continued dividend growth.

18. Verizon Communications

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.