In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks with yields above 7%.

Investors focused on dividends should be cautious about simply selecting stocks with the highest yields, as this approach can be risky. An unusually high yield often signals potential trouble, since dividend yields rise when stock prices fall. In many cases, an exceptionally high yield may be the result of a stock experiencing a significant decline in value. When a company’s share price drops sharply, it raises concerns about whether its dividend payments can be maintained at their current levels.

Dan Lefkovitz, a strategist for Morningstar Indexes, made the following comment about extremely high yields in the firm’s recent report:

“It’s really critical to be selective when it comes to buying dividend-paying stocks and chasing yield. Looking for the most yield-rich areas of the market can often lead you into troubled areas and dividend traps—companies that have a nice-looking yield that is ultimately unsustainable. You have to screen for dividend durability and reliability going forward.”

However, this has not always been the case. Many companies have maintained strong dividend yields along with consistent dividend growth histories. In addition, high yields are not inherently negative. In fact, dividend yield is a key factor in dividend investing, as it indicates the income an investor can expect relative to the stock’s price.

To fully capitalize on high-yield stocks, investors should also evaluate other metrics such as cash flow, payout ratio, and dividend growth. When these fundamentals are strong, high-yield stocks can remain attractive. Some studies highlight the long-term benefits of high-yield stocks, suggesting that as dividend yields rise, overall returns tend to increase while risk declines. Research from Hartford Funds, which considered annualized standard deviation as a measure of return volatility, found that between December 1969 and March 2024, high-dividend portfolios achieved an annualized return of 12.3%, compared to 10.5% for mid-dividend portfolios and 9.7% for low-dividend portfolios. The respective annualized standard deviations were 14.1%, 16%, and 20.8%, indicating that higher-yield portfolios experienced lower historical risk.

Also read: 10 Best Foreign Stocks With Dividends For Passive Income

In addition, a company’s dividend payout ratio serves as an important indicator of its capacity to manage its dividend policy. Firms that only just cover their dividends or allocate most of their earnings to dividends could face risks due to competitive pressures, as their cash flow might not be sufficient to meet operational needs. Companies with high payout ratios may experience slower growth in the future, which could affect both their stock price appreciation and their ability to increase dividends. A study by Nuveen, covering the period from December 2003 to December 2023, found that companies with the highest payout ratios have not been the strongest long-term performers. In contrast, companies with medium to medium-high payout ratios tended to perform better over time. This suggests that companies with strong balance sheets and solid fundamentals make for more promising dividend investments in a portfolio. In view of this, let’s discuss some of the best dividend stocks with yields above 7% according to analysts.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we screened for dividend stocks with yields higher than 7% as of February 5. From this group, we further refined our selection criteria by identifying stocks with a projected upside potential of over 6% based on analyst price targets, as of February 5. The stocks are ranked according to their upside potential. We also considered hedge fund sentiment around each stock using Insider Monkey’s data for Q3 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

10. Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO)

Upside Potential as of February 5: 6.67%

Dividend Yield as of February 5: 7.76%

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) is a Virginia-based tobacco company that manufactures a wide range of related products including cigarettes and other nicotine products. The tobacco industry has undergone notable transformations in recent years. Although smoking rates have declined worldwide, a growing number of consumers are turning to smoke-free alternatives such as e-cigarettes and oral tobacco, which are seen as less harmful and have gained traction. Altria Group, the company behind well-known brands like Marlboro and Parliament, appears to be effectively adjusting to these changes by expanding its portfolio of smoke-free products. In the past 12 months, the stock has surged by over 30%.

In its Q4 2024 earnings report, Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) reported revenue of $5.11 billion, marking a 1.63% increase from the same quarter the previous year. This figure also surpassed analysts’ expectations by $59.6 million. Strong performance from its leading brands contributed to solid income growth and margin expansion in its core tobacco segment, while the company continued making strategic investments for long-term growth. Looking ahead to 2025, it expects adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) to range between $5.22 and $5.37, representing a 2% to 5% increase from the 2024 baseline of $5.12.

Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO) has consistently prioritized shareholder returns. In fiscal year 2024, the company distributed $6.8 billion in dividends to investors. Moreover, it has maintained a strong track record of dividend growth for more than 55 years. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share and has a dividend yield of 7.76%, as of February 5.

At the end of Q3 2024, 32 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were bullish on Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), compared with 36 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $2.27 billion. With over 22 million shares, Arrowstreet Capital was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

9. TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU)

Upside Potential as of February 5: 7.26%

Dividend Yield as of February 5: 7.68%

TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) is a Canadian IT company that mainly offers television, data, and internet services to its consumers. The company has several initiatives aimed at benefiting its investors. It is enhancing its advanced connectivity solutions, including 5G and fiber optic networks, which play a key role in its long-term expansion. In addition, TELUS has launched new services like TELUS Smart Energy and TELUS Home View to appeal to a broader audience and adapt to evolving market needs.

In November 2024, TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) introduced its PureFibre Internet service in Ontario and Quebec, offering customers high-speed internet access. This service delivers download speeds of up to 1.5 Gbps and upload speeds of 1.0 Gbps. By integrating a fiber-to-the-home network with Wi-Fi 6 technology, PureFibre Internet ensures a fast and reliable connection with minimal lag.

In addition, TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) has maintained a strong customer-focused approach, which has contributed to significant subscriber growth. In the third quarter of 2024, the company recorded 347,000 total net customer additions. This included 130,000 new mobile phone subscribers and 159,000 net additions in connected devices, driven by advancements in 5G and IoT solutions.

TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU) is a strong company from a dividend point of view. The company has been growing its payouts for 27 consecutive years, which makes it one of the best dividend stocks on our list. It also remained committed to its shareholder value, returning approximately $21 billion in dividends since 2004. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of C$0.4023 per share for a dividend yield of 7.68%.

As of the close of Q3 2024, 16 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in TELUS Corporation (NYSE:TU), compared with 17 in the previous quarter. The collective value of these stakes is over $154.7 million. With over 3 million shares, Arrowstreet Capital was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.