Stocks with the Highest Dividends To Investors in 2025

If you’re an investor looking to add some income to your portfolio, it’s natural to wonder which dividend stocks pay the most over time. You might ask, “What factors determine the highest dividend payouts in stocks?” or “How can investors maximize dividend income from stocks?” It all starts with understanding how dividends work and which companies have a solid history of rewarding shareholders.

Below, we’ll explore what dividends are, why they’re so helpful to investors, and how factors like earnings, interest rates, and company strategy influence a stock’s dividend yield. Then, we’ll walk through 20 of the best dividend stocks for investors based on total payout. Each one showcases a strong commitment to consistent shareholder returns.

Use this breakdown to find stocks with the best dividend yields, figure out which high-yield dividend stocks are most reliable, and see how dividend yields compare among top companies. While these aren’t official recommendations to buy or sell, they’re a starting point to answer a key question for many investors: “Which dividend stocks consistently provide high dividends?”

What Are Dividends?

Dividends are simply portions of a company’s profits shared with people who own the stock. They’re usually set by the board of directors and paid on a regular schedule—often quarterly—although some companies pay them monthly. The amount is typically shown as a rate per share, and the dividend yield is that rate divided by the share price.

Many investors appreciate these payouts because they can collect income without selling their shares. This arrangement can be especially appealing to retirees or anyone who wants a steady cash flow. Some companies, such as fast-growing tech firms, might skip dividends and reinvest profits back into the business. Others, particularly large, mature firms, prefer to return cash to shareholders as a way to show confidence and reward loyalty.

Why Dividends Are Beneficial

Dividends can make a huge difference in your overall returns. You could take them as cash or reinvest them to buy more shares, which may boost future returns through compounding. Plus, reliable dividend-paying stocks often have a track record of consistent earnings. That’s why many refer to them as reliable dividend stocks—these firms show a commitment to sharing profits even when the market has its ups and downs. Over time, well-chosen dividend payers can deliver both price appreciation and ongoing income.

Key Factors Influencing Dividend Yield

Company Earnings & Profitability

Strong, steady earnings support a company’s ability to offer dividends—especially if they plan to raise the payout regularly. Firms often track the dividend payout ratio, which is the fraction of earnings used for dividends. A lower ratio means there’s more cushion if earnings take a temporary dip, while a higher ratio indicates the dividend is generous but may be tougher to keep up if profits slip.

Interest Rates

When interest rates climb, other income options like bonds start looking more attractive. That can push some investors to demand higher dividend yields from stocks to compensate. Conversely, in lower-rate environments, high yield dividend stocks often attract more attention, since other income investments may offer less competitive returns.

Economic Conditions

In a strong economy, it’s easier for businesses to maintain or grow dividends. During tough times, companies sometimes pause or reduce payouts to preserve cash. Defensive industries—like consumer staples or utilities—have often managed to hold dividends steady even when the market slumps, while cyclical companies may be quicker to cut back.

Company Strategy and Cash Flow

Some firms aim for consistent annual dividend increases. Others tie the payout directly to a percentage of earnings each year. Either way, companies need steady cash flow to keep paying. For example, established sectors like energy or telecom can generate enough free cash to maintain impressive payouts for shareholders, but it all depends on business conditions and corporate priorities.

20 Stocks with the Highest Dividends to Investors

Let’s begin exploring a list of U.S.-based companies known for the highest dividend payouts in total dollar terms (rather than just yield). This rundown includes large, well-known businesses many consider among the top dividend stock picks. Each listing includes bullet points on dividend details, plus a quick paragraph on the company’s background.

Please note: Dividend amounts, payout ratios, and earnings figures reflect recent data and may change over time. Always review up-to-date financials before making any investing decision.

1. Microsoft (MSFT)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $3.32 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $22+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Approximately 0.8%

Microsoft stands out as a global technology leader, offering software, cloud services, and hardware. Although its dividend yield is modest, Microsoft’s enormous market cap results in one of the biggest total dividend outlays. The company’s low payout ratio means plenty of earnings remain for innovation in areas like cloud computing and AI.

2. Exxon Mobil (XOM)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $3.96 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $16+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 3.6%

Exxon Mobil is one of the largest integrated oil and gas producers worldwide. Its dividend yield is higher than many tech and financial firms, partly due to the cyclical nature of energy markets. However, Exxon has paid a dividend since the late 1800s and has famously maintained or raised it even when oil prices slump.

3. Apple (AAPL)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $1.00 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $15+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 0.4%

Apple, the maker of the iPhone, generates tremendous revenue and profit, enabling a large absolute dividend payout. Even though the yield is relatively small, Apple’s sheer size means the total dollar amount given to shareholders is significant. The company also returns a substantial portion of its cash to investors via share repurchases.

4. JPMorgan Chase (JPM)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $5.00 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $14+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: About 1.9%

JPMorgan Chase is the biggest U.S. bank by assets, operating across consumer lending, investment banking, and wealth management. It delivers a steady dividend and keeps the payout ratio relatively low. That approach positions the company to handle various economic shifts and continue its dividend streak even through regulatory stress tests.

5. Chevron (CVX)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $6.84 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $11+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: About 4.3%

Chevron, another heavy hitter in the integrated oil and gas space, boasts a high dividend yield. Management has a long-standing commitment to keep paying—sometimes dipping into reserves during downturns. Like other oil majors, its results can vary with commodity prices, but its track record of dividend increases spans decades.

6. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $4.76–$4.96 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $11+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 3.0%

Johnson & Johnson, a healthcare conglomerate, has raised dividends each year for more than six decades. Its broad portfolio of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer products helps stabilize earnings through different market conditions. Even if its yield isn’t as high as some energy stocks, J&J’s consistency draws income-focused investors.

7. Verizon Communications (VZ)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $2.71 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $11+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Roughly 6.3%

Verizon is a telecom giant providing wireless services across the U.S. Its dividends rank among the highest yields in large-cap stocks. That said, the telecom sector can be capital-intensive, so investors keep an eye on debt levels. Still, Verizon’s strong subscriber base and stable cash flow have historically supported this big payout.

8. AbbVie (ABBV)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $6.56 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $10+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 3.1%

AbbVie is a major pharmaceutical firm best known for its immunology and oncology drugs. It inherited a dividend history from Abbott Labs and has boosted its payout aggressively in the past decade. While the payout ratio sometimes appears high, investors count on AbbVie’s research pipeline to keep funds flowing for dividends.

9. Pfizer (PFE)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $1.72+ per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $9+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: About 6.5%

Pfizer produces a wide range of medicines and vaccines. During the pandemic, it saw a revenue surge from COVID-related products, but that has since tapered off. Management is determined to maintain the dividend even though current earnings are down. Potential future developments in its pipeline could bolster this high yield.

10. Procter & Gamble (PG)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $3.76–$4.03 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $9+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Roughly 2.3%

Procter & Gamble, a consumer staples powerhouse, sells household brands like Tide, Pampers, and Gillette. Though its yield is moderate, P&G has an incredibly long record of increases—almost seven decades. Because of its enormous scale, the total cash it returns to shareholders remains among the highest in the market.

11. The Coca-Cola Company (KO)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $1.96–$2.04 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $8+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: About 2.8%

Coca-Cola, a global beverage leader, has been raising its dividend for more than 60 years. Known for staple soda products, Coke benefits from strong brand loyalty and a robust distribution network. While growth is modest, its reliable earnings let the company distribute a large portion of profits, making it a favorite among income seekers.

12. Home Depot (HD)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $8.00–$9.00 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $8+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 2.3%

Home Depot is the largest home improvement retailer in the U.S. It enjoyed a surge in sales during the pandemic, and though that wave has calmed, it still generates significant cash flow. The company regularly raises its dividend alongside buybacks, so its overall return of capital to shareholders remains sizable.

13. Philip Morris International (PM)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $5.40 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $8+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Approximately 3.5%

Philip Morris sells tobacco products like Marlboro outside the U.S., plus smoke-free options such as heated tobacco devices. It consistently returns most of its profits to shareholders. Demand for traditional cigarettes has been declining, but PM has managed to offset that through price increases and growth in alternative products.

14. AT&T (T)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $1.11 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $7+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: About 6.0% (sometimes higher if the share price dips)

AT&T is another giant in telecommunications with a well-known high yield. After restructuring and spinning off its media business, it slashed the dividend in 2022. Even so, the current distribution remains notable. AT&T plans to focus on wireless and broadband, using part of its free cash flow to pay dividends and reduce debt.

15. PepsiCo (PEP)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $5.40–$5.70 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $7+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 3.5%

PepsiCo owns not just the famous soda brand, but also Frito-Lay, Quaker, and other snack lines. It’s considered one of the best dividend stocks for investors seeking stable consumer staples. Although the payout ratio is somewhat high, the firm’s broad product portfolio and pricing power support regular dividend growth.

16. Bank of America (BAC)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $0.96–$1.04 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $7+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 3.0%

Bank of America is one of the largest banks in the U.S. by assets and serves a wide range of customers. Its dividend yield lands in the moderate range, but the bank’s large share count keeps total payouts high. Management keeps a relatively low payout ratio, leaving room for share repurchases and further dividend increases.

17. Altria Group (MO)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $3.92–$4.08 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $7+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Roughly 7.3%

Altria sells Marlboro cigarettes in the U.S. and has made various investments in vaping and cannabis. It’s known for a high yield and a long tradition of boosting dividends each year. However, high payout ratios mean the company uses most of its earnings to fund these dividends, leaving less capital for other pursuits.

18. Merck & Co. (MRK)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $2.92–$3.12 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $7+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 3.5%

Merck is a pharmaceutical firm widely recognized for oncology drugs and vaccines. Though its official yield can vary depending on one-time earnings charges, Merck has regularly raised its dividend over the past decade. Its strong pipeline in cancer treatments and vaccines continues to support shareholder payouts.

19. Cisco Systems (CSCO)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $1.60–$1.64 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $6+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: Around 2.5%

Cisco is a prominent networking hardware and software provider. It’s somewhat unique among tech names in offering a respectable dividend that has grown steadily since being introduced. Cisco’s significant free cash flow helps fund both dividend payments and share buybacks, making it a popular pick for those seeking technology exposure with an income component.

20. Walmart (WMT)

• Dividend Amount (annual): $2.28 per share
• Total Dividend Payout (recent year): $6+ billion
• Payout Frequency: Quarterly
• Yield: About 1.5%

Walmart is the world’s largest retailer by revenue, operating supercenters and e-commerce platforms worldwide. Its dividend increases are modest, but extremely consistent. While the yield is smaller than some high-yield dividend stocks, Walmart’s dependable revenue and brand strength support this dividend strategy. The overall payout still lands it on the list of most dividend-rich stocks in absolute dollar terms.

What is in your portfolio?

Investors wondering, “How can I find stocks with the best dividend yields?” can look to well-established companies with steady earnings, manageable payout ratios, and a tradition of rewarding shareholders. Some of these stocks might offer a lower yield but rank among the highest dividend payers overall because of their size and profitability. Others come with higher yields but require careful monitoring of factors like cash flow and debt.

No matter which route you choose, dividend stocks can provide a welcome stream of income. They might be especially appealing in times of market uncertainty or if you’re hoping to plan for retirement. Just remember that investing always involves risk, so review each company’s finances and strategy before buying. By focusing on consistent dividend payers with robust business models, you can look for ways to build a dependable income portfolio over the long run.