10 Top Performing Dividend Stocks in 2024

In this article, we will discuss some of the best performing stocks in 2024.

Over time, dividend stocks have shown consistent resilience in difficult market conditions. Despite the recent focus on AI, the long-term appeal of these stocks has grown. Income investors have noticed this shift, reflected in the increasing role of dividends in personal income. A report by S&P Dow Jones Indices reveals that the share of dividend income has risen from 2.68% in the fourth quarter of 1980 to 7.88% in the second quarter of 2024, emphasizing the importance of dividends as a key income source. The report also noted that since 1936, dividends have accounted for more than a third of total equity returns in the broader market, with the rest coming from capital gains.

The dividend growth strategy seems to be working for long-term investors as these stocks have generated strong returns over the years. Considering inflation, dividends have outpaced it, suggesting that investors should focus on these stocks. A report by Wisdom Tree highlighted that from 1957 to 2023, dividends grew at an average annual rate of 5.7%, which is over 2% higher than the inflation rate. The report also pointed out that dividends have only decreased in six years during the past 64 years, and only once by more than 5%. In comparison, stock prices fell in 18 of those years, with the worst decline exceeding 40% and an average drop of over 11%. Stock prices were more than twice as volatile as dividend cash flows, as short-term price movements are more influenced by market sentiment, while long-term value is driven by the stability of cash flows.

Also read: 10 Dividend Stocks For Steady Income

This year, dividend stocks have underperformed compared to the broader market. The Dividend Aristocrat Index has gained only 6% year-to-date, while the market has surged by over 27%. Although this might seem discouraging for dividend investors, seasoned investors recognize that this presents a great opportunity to buy dividend stocks. Chris O’Keefe, a portfolio manager at Logan Capital Management, pointed out that the widening performance gap between the market and dividend stocks in 2024 creates an ideal time for investors to consider these equities. Along with O’Keefe, many analysts are encouraging investors to focus on dividend stocks due to their favorable outlook. The Dividend Aristocrats index has struggled to keep pace with the market since 2020. Dividend stocks saw a brief resurgence in 2022 as recession concerns led investors to seek out stable sectors like utilities and consumer goods, but the recovery was short-lived. By 2023, rising interest rates made bond and money-market returns more attractive than dividend yields, causing companies to adopt a more cautious stance and conserve cash amid economic uncertainty. This year, many of the top-performing stocks from the COVID era have once again driven the market to new highs.

Despite underperforming for the past two consecutive years, analysts remain optimistic about dividend stocks. They believe that dividend-paying equities could see a resurgence in 2025, as investors are increasingly seeking cash returns. The broader market’s dividend yield recently dropped to a 20-year low, falling below 1.19%, significantly lower than the long-term historical average of 4.3%. With interest rates rising on risk-free investments like Treasuries, companies are recognizing the growing competition for yield. As a result, many are responding by increasing dividends or introducing them for the first time. Notably, several major technology companies began paying dividends in 2024, signaling to the market that they are positioning themselves as value plays within a high-growth sector. Given this, we will discuss the best performing dividend stocks in 2024.

10 Top Performing Dividend Stocks in 2024

Our Methodology:

For this article, we first used a stock screener to identify stocks that have reported positive returns in 2024 so far. From this selection, we chose dividend stocks with the highest year-to-date (YTD) as of December 25. The stocks were then arranged in ascending order of their YTD gains. 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. The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 49.01%

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) is a New York-based financial services company that was established in 2007 through the merger of the Bank of New York and Mellon Financial Corporation and became the largest custodian bank globally. Unlike conventional banks that focus on commercial and consumer services such as accepting deposits and offering loans, BNY Mellon specializes in providing security services to asset owners, including other financial institutions. The stock has surged by over 49% in 2024 so far.

The bank’s performance was also highlighted by Parnassus Investments in its Q3 2024 investor letter. Here is what the firm has to say:

“The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) posted better-than-expected second-quarter profit and revenue, driven in part by higher fees. Further, the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut is expected to reduce funding costs and improve BNY’s margins.”

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) delivered solid results for the third quarter, showcasing growth across its three business segments and steady progress on its strategic goals. For the first time, assets under custody and administration surpassed $50 trillion. The company reported earnings of $1.50 per share, marking a 22% increase compared to the previous year. Adjusted for notable items, earnings per share rose to $1.52, reflecting a 20% year-over-year improvement, while the return on tangible common equity reached 23% during the quarter. Its total revenue for the quarter came in at $4.7 billion, which showed a 7% growth from the same period last year.

On October 11, The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. In 2024, the company stretched its dividend growth streak to 14 years, which makes BNY one of the best performing stocks that pay dividends. Moreover, in the most recent quarter, it returned $353 million to shareholders through dividends. The stock has a dividend yield of 2.41%, as of December 25.

At the end of Q3 2024, 45 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK), compared with 50 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a collective value of nearly $1.5 billion.

9. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 50.09%

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is an American investment banking company that offers a wide range of financial services to its consumers. A key component of the bank’s operations is its asset and wealth management division, which oversees trillions of dollars in assets and contributes significantly to its revenue. Investors are keen for Goldman to expand this segment, as its stable revenue stream often leads to higher market valuations. The firm has also been shifting this business towards a more capital-efficient model by scaling back its equity and debt investments. This approach not only simplifies growth but also enhances stability and increases reliance on fee-based income. With a YTD return of over 50%, GS is one of the best performing stocks on our list.

In the third quarter of 2024, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) reported revenue of $12.7 billion, which showed a 7.4% growth from the same period last year. Global Banking & Markets reported quarterly net revenues of $8.55 billion, driven by robust performance in Equities and record-breaking revenues in Fixed Income, Currency, and Commodities (FICC) financing. The firm maintained its top position globally in announced and completed mergers and acquisitions, as well as common stock offerings, for the year to date. Meanwhile, the Asset & Wealth Management division achieved $3.75 billion in net revenues for the quarter, supported by record-high management and other fees. Total assets under supervision grew by $169 billion during the quarter, reaching an all-time high of $3.10 trillion.

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is a strong dividend payer as the company has been making regular dividend payments since 1999. In the most recent quarter, it returned $978 million to shareholders through dividends. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $3.00 per share for a dividend yield of 2.06%, as of December 25.

The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) grew to 72 in Q3 2024, from 68 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $5.6 billion. With over 6 million shares, Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

8. Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 51.6%

Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) is an Illinois-based technology, communications, and security company that plays a pivotal role in the communications industry, focusing on mission-critical communications and analytics. In the third quarter of 2024, the company reported strong earnings, with revenue climbing to $2.79 billion, reflecting a year-over-year increase of over 9.15%. The Products and Systems Integration segment experienced an 11% boost in sales, while the Software and Services segment grew by 7%. Notably, when excluding sales to the UK Home Office, growth in the Software and Services segment rose to 13%.

Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) also maintained a solid cash position during the quarter, with operating cash flow rising to $759 million, up from $714 million in the same period last year. Free cash flow also improved, reaching $702 million compared to $649 million a year ago. The company distributed $164 million to shareholders in the form of dividends, marking 13 consecutive years of increasing payouts thanks to its strong financial performance. Its quarterly dividend comes in at $1.09 per share for a dividend yield of 0.92%, as of December 25.

Wedgewood Partners made the following comment about MSI in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) was another top contributor to performance as the Company continued its steady execution with +9% year-over-year sales growth and +22% adjusted earnings per share growth. While Motorola’s backlog for products declined, much of it was due to accelerated revenue recognition on strong deliveries for its Land Mobile Radio” (LMR) business – a critical long-term solution for emergency services around the globe. The technology behind LMR is quite simple; however, it is an extremely robust implementation that needs to withstand regular and even mega catastrophes (e.g., hurricanes) in order to guarantee uptime for the emergency services that depend on it for communications. The Company has superlative, unmatched competitive positioning in this core business and should be able to continue to expand value-added service offerings to LMR and drive attractive long-term growth.” (Click here to read the full text)

Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) is grabbing investors’ attention as the company offers integrated technologies and services across various areas, including LMR, Video Security and Access Control, and Command Center software. The company focuses on creating unified ecosystems that improve safety and security by seamlessly combining these solutions. Furthermore, its continued investment in research and development underscores its commitment to enhancing product interoperability and introducing innovations tailored to the needs of both government and commercial clients. The stock surged by nearly 52% YTD, which makes it one of the best performing stocks on our list.

As of the third quarter of 2024, 48 hedge funds, up from 42 in the previous quarter, held stakes in Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI), according to Insider Monkey’s database. These stakes are worth over $1.3 billion in total.

7. Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 53.2%

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) is an American infrastructure company that owns and operates oil and gas pipelines and terminals. The company, through its Tennessee Gas Pipeline subsidiary, has announced plans to proceed with the Mississippi Crossing Project (MSX Project), targeting commercial operations by November 2028, pending necessary permits. The company intends to invest $1.4 billion in the project’s initial phase and is exploring the possibility of increasing capacity by an additional 0.4 billion cubic feet per day. This expansion would require further investment to enhance the pipeline’s horsepower for the added gas flow. The MSX Project aims to increase natural gas supplies to Southeast markets, addressing growing demand while reducing energy costs in the region.

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) has delivered impressive returns in 2024, climbing over 53% year-to-date. This growth is largely driven by rising demand, which has maximized capacity utilization on existing pipelines and boosted contract renewal rates. The company is also reaping the rewards of high-yield expansion projects and its $1.8 billion acquisition of STX Midstream completed last year. KMI is one of the best performing dividend stocks in 2024.

Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI) showcased solid financial performance in the third quarter of 2024, concluding the period with $108 million in cash and cash equivalents, an increase from $83 million at the close of December 2023. The company generated $1.2 billion in operating cash flow, while its free cash flow totaled $0.6 billion. On October 16, Kinder Morgan announced a quarterly dividend of $0.2875 per share, maintaining the same payout as the previous quarter. It holds a seven-year track record of consistent dividend growth. The stock’s dividend yield on December 25 came in at 4.21%.

Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2024 indicated that 42 hedge funds held stakes in Kinder Morgan, Inc. (NYSE:KMI), up from 41 in the previous quarter. The total value of these stakes is nearly $1.3 billion. With over 18.2 million shares, Orbis Investment Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

6. American Express Company (NYSE:AXP)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 61.15%

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) ranks sixth on our list of the best performing stocks in 2024. The American bank holding company offers a wide range of related services to its consumers. It is a strong company due to its economic moat, which includes lasting competitive advantages that have strengthened its position in the industry and shielded it from competitors. One of the key elements of this moat is its brand, which is perceived as premium. This reputation helps the company attract high-income customers who have the means to spend more than the average consumer. By focusing on this demographic, American Express is able to charge high annual fees for its premium credit cards. Despite these costs, the number of active cards has grown steadily, increasing from 111.1 million in Q3 2014 to 145.5 million in the most recent quarter. In addition, the company has seen a 13% year-over-year increase in average fees per card in Q3.

In the third quarter of 2024, American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) reported revenue of $16.6 billion, which showed an 8% growth from the same period last year. This was the company’s 10th consecutive quarter of record revenue. It also saw a 6% increase in total Card Member spending, with card fee revenue growth accelerating to 18%. The company successfully attracted 3.3 million new premium Card Members while maintaining high retention rates, strong credit performance, and cost discipline. Based on its strong performance and the solid earnings generated by its core business, the company raised its full-year EPS guidance to $13.75 – $14.05, up from the previous range of $13.30 – $13.80. Full-year revenue growth is still expected to align with the initial guidance, around 9%.

GreensKeeper Asset Management mentioned the company’s growth in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) was our second-largest contributor this quarter, with a return of +17.1%. AXP continues to invest in its customers beyond traditional credit card rewards, recently enhancing its Global Dining Access to provide Platinum cardholders with exclusive reservations at premier restaurants worldwide. This focus on unique experiences has attracted a younger demographic, with millennials and Gen Z driving most of the customer acquisition and card spending growth in recent quarters. Exclusive events are more challenging to replicate than standard point reward systems, presenting a challenge for competing card issuers that lack AXP’s scale and concentrated base of affluent consumers. AXP has fine-tuned its offerings over decades to strengthen its network effect and shows no signs of slowing down.”

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) remained committed to its shareholder obligation as the company returned $15 million to investors through dividends in the most recent quarter. The company has raised its payouts twice this year and offers a quarterly dividend of $0.70 per share. The stock has a dividend yield of 0.92%, as of December 25.

American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) was a part of 62 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2024, compared with 68 in the previous quarter, according to Insider Monkey’s database. These stakes are valued at over $45 billion in total. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

5. Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 64.7%

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is an American software company, based in Texas. The company is mainly known for its top-notch data center infrastructure crucial to AI development and is facing demand that exceeds its current supply. The company’s efficient operations have made it a preferred partner for leading AI startups, such as OpenAI, Cohere, and Elon Musk’s xAI. Despite these efforts, Oracle is still struggling to meet the high demand, with 162 data centers either operational or under construction as of the first quarter of fiscal 2025. To address this challenge, the company plans to significantly expand, aiming to grow its data center network to between 1,000 and 2,000 in the future. The stock has surged by nearly 65% since the start of 2024, which makes it one of the best performing stocks on our list.

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) reported strong earnings in fiscal Q2 2025, with revenue totaling $14.06 billion, a 9% increase compared to the same period last year. Cloud revenue, which includes both Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), reached $5.9 billion, reflecting a 24% growth in both USD and constant currency. Within this segment, cloud infrastructure revenue (IaaS) amounted to $2.4 billion, marking an impressive 52% increase in both USD and constant currency. Oracle’s cloud revenue is expected to surpass $25 billion for the current fiscal year.

Parnassus Investments made the following comment about ORCL in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

“Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) announced second-quarter results that exceeded consensus expectations, driven by growth in its cloud infrastructure business, which is benefiting from demand for AI applications. Investor sentiment was further bolstered by the company’s announcement of a new partnership with Amazon.”

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) has a strong cash position which supports its dividend payments. The company has paid regular dividends to shareholders since 2009. Over the last 12 months, its operating cash flow was $20.3 billion and its free cash flow during this period amounted to $9.5 billion. It offers a quarterly dividend of $0.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.93%, as of December 25.

Of the 900 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey at the end of Q3 2024, 91 funds held stakes in Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), compared with 93 in the preceding quarter. These stakes are collectively valued at over $7 billion. Among these hedge funds, Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

4. Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 66.7%

Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) is a multinational technology company. With over 35 years of history, the company is a recognized leader in integrating GPS technology into a wide range of consumer and commercial products. Initially focused on creating specialized instrumentation for aircraft cockpits, it achieved global success by expanding into automotive and marine navigation systems, as well as pioneering GPS-enabled wearables for health and fitness tracking. In recent years, Garmin has made significant strides with the growing trend among major automobile manufacturers to incorporate advanced infotainment systems that not only offer navigation but also include features like driver monitoring and augmented reality heads-up displays. The stock is up by nearly 67% in 2024, which makes it one of the best performing stocks in 2024.

In the third quarter of 2024, Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) reported revenue of $1.6 billion, which showed a 24% growth from the same period last year. The revenue also beat analysts’ estimates by over $142 million. The company saw an increase in both gross and operating margins, reaching 60.0% and 27.6%, respectively. Operating income amounted to $437 million, reflecting a 62% year-over-year growth compared to the previous quarter.

Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN)’s cash position also came in strong in Q3 2024. The company generated $258 million in operating cash flow and its free cash flow came in at $219 million. The company also distributed a generous amount of $144 million to shareholders in dividends. It has been making regular dividend payments to shareholders for the past 22 years. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.75 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.42%, as of December 25.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2024, 30 hedge funds held stakes in Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN), compared with 31 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $785.3 million. With over 1.5 million shares, Select Equity Group was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

3. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 74.5%

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is an American retail corporation, based in Arkansas. The company operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount stores, and grocery stores across the country. In the third quarter of 2024, it reported revenue of $168 billion, marking a 5.5% increase from the previous year, surpassing analysts’ expectations by $1.4 billion. The company, known for its strong dividend payouts, continues to maintain a solid cash position. Year-to-date, Walmart generated $22.9 billion in operating cash flow, an increase of $3.9 billion compared to the same period last year. Its free cash flow also grew by $1.9 billion year-over-year, reaching $6.2 billion. The company has raised its dividend payouts for 51 consecutive years.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2075 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.90%, as of December 25. The company is utilizing its competitive strengths to generate significant financial returns for its investors. Its growing cash flow and profitability stem not only from gaining market share but also from the success of its profitable e-commerce segment, which has thrived following major investments in infrastructure. In addition, strategic measures like price reductions and improved inventory management have played a key role in driving these positive results.

Since the start of 2024 through December 25, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) has surged by 74.5%, significantly outperforming the broader market. Not only this, but the company also saw growth in customer traffic this year, with a 3% increase in the third quarter compared to the same period last year. This trend is a positive development for any large retailer.

With a collective stake value of over $9.7 billion, 88 hedge funds held positions in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) in the third quarter of 2024, as per Insider Monkey’s database. Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners was one of the company’s leading stakeholders in Q3.

2. Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 120.82%

An American multinational semiconductor company, Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) ranks second on our list of the best performing stocks that pay dividends. The company offers a wide range of semiconductor and infrastructure software products. It recently announced its Q4 2024 earnings and reported revenue of $14.05 billion, which showed a significant growth of over 51% from the same period last year. Semiconductor revenue reached a record $30.1 billion, fueled by $12.2 billion in AI revenue. The AI revenue, which grew 220% year-over-year, was driven by the company’s leading AI XPUs and Ethernet networking portfolio. In fiscal year 2024, adjusted EBITDA increased by 37% compared to the previous year, reaching a record $31.9 billion.

Though Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) has not provided full-year guidance, analysts anticipate the company’s revenue will grow by nearly 19% in the current fiscal year, reaching $61.1 billion. Moreover, the semiconductor specialist is expected to see a 15% increase in revenue over the next couple of fiscal years as well.

In addition to its strong earnings, Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO) also showed a solid cash position. During the quarter, the company reported an operating cash flow of over $5.6 billion, and its free cash flow came in at $5.48 billion. This cash flow represented 39% of the company’s revenue. Due to its growing cash flow, it announced an 11.3% hike in its quarterly dividend to $0.59 per share on December 12. This marked the company’s 14th consecutive year of dividend growth. As of December 25, the stock has a dividend yield of 0.98%.

As of the end of Q3 2024, 128 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:AVGO), compared with 130 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is over $14.5 billion. With more than 23.4 million shares, Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.

1. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

Year-to-Date Return as of December 25: 276.5%

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is a Texas-based electricity and power generation company. The company experienced a major boost in early 2024 through its acquisition of Energy Harbor for $3.43 billion. This deal provided the company with four nuclear power plants and the second-largest energy storage capacity in the US, totaling 1,020 megawatts (MW). The strategic timing of this acquisition positioned Vistra to capitalize on the growing interest in generative artificial intelligence. The stock has delivered a 276.5% return in 2024 so far, which makes it one of the best performing dividend stocks in 2024.

Carillon Tower Advisers highlighted this performance in its Q3 2024 investor letter:

Vistra Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. As an independent power producer (IPP), Vistra primarily generates revenue from selling its generated power at the prevailing market price. As a result of recent growth in future power demand, the company’s shares have soared on investors’ expectations for future power prices. The potential for Vistra to announce future power purchase agreements (PPAs) with large technology companies in order to satisfy the extraordinary power requirements of these companies’ artificial intelligence (AI) endeavors, in a similar manner to some of Vistra’s closest IPP peers, has also provided a tailwind for the stock.”

In the third quarter of 2024, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) reported revenue of $6.3 billion, which grew significantly by 54% from the same period last year. The company announced the upcoming acquisition of a 15% minority interest in Vistra Vision for a net present value cash purchase price of approximately $3.1 billion. This acquisition will increase shareholders’ ownership of the company’s zero-carbon nuclear, energy storage, and solar generation assets, as well as its high-performing retail business. The transaction simplifies the company’s overall structure at an appealing valuation, significantly surpassing the mid-teens levered returns threshold, while still allowing the company to focus on its capital allocation priorities and investments in core markets.

In the first nine months of 2024, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) generated $3.2 billion in operating cash flow. In addition, the company ended the quarter with $905 million available in cash and cash equivalents. This strong cash position allowed the company to grow its payouts for 12 consecutive years. It offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2215 per share, having raised it by 0.9% in October this year. The stock supports a dividend yield of 0.61%, as of December 25.

The hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q3 2024 presented a bullish stance on Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) with 97 funds investing in the company at the end of the quarter, up from 92 in the previous quarter. The stakes held by these hedge funds have a collective value of nearly $5 billion.

Overall, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) ranks first on our list of the best performing dividend stocks in 2024. While we acknowledge the potential for VST to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VST but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. 

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

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