10 Safest Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

4. Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED)

Beta: 0.28

Dividend Yield: 3.08%

No. of Hedge Funds: 44

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) is a major investor-owned energy company serving over 10 million people across New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Operating from New York through subsidiaries like Con Edison and Orange & Rockland, the company offers electric, gas, and steam services. The focus of the company is heavily laid on increasing urban energy resilience and transitioning to cleaner energy sources, which gains its competitive advantage used for supporting the company’s long-term sustainability.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) offers a classic example of safe investing by providing a 52-week performance that exceeds the market’s 3%. The adjusted earnings for Q4 2024 increased to $5.40 per share, up from $5.07 during the same period the previous year. Generating a net income of $190 million, the company has also announced a dividend of $0.79 per share. Based on its investment plans, the company will make a capital investment of $5.12 billion in 2025 and $8.07 billion in 2026, adding value to its stocks. As per their 2025 guidance, a 6% to 7% growth rate is anticipated with respect to adjusted EPS.

The beta of 0.28 exhibits remarkable stability against the changing market environment. Its 3.08% dividend yield further boosts its credibility. Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED) has attracted 44 hedge funds, as per Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database, making it an appealing candidate for the safest stocks to buy in a volatile economic environment.