12 Best Long-Term Dividend Stocks to Invest in Right Now

1. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 112

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) tops our list of the best dividend stocks for the long term. The American multinational healthcare and insurance company has been facing challenges recently as investors grapple with the backlash following the tragic murder of the company’s CEO Brian Thompson. The long-term consequences of this event remain uncertain, and it is unclear whether it will have any lasting impact on the health insurance industry. At present, however, the situation has garnered significant national attention, with investors appearing taken aback by the extent of the outrage directed at the company. The stock is down by over 1% since the start of 2024.

That said, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) has demonstrated exceptional performance over the years. The stock has surged by over 420% in the last ten years, outperforming the market. This track record underscores the reliability of investing in a leading healthcare company, particularly as the sector is expected to see continued growth in spending. UnitedHealth Group has attracted investors by executing effective expansion strategies, including expanding into areas like home healthcare and analytics to diversify its operations. These initiatives are designed to provide greater value to both its partners and patients.

On November 6, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) declared a quarterly dividend of $2.10 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. Overall, the company has been rewarding shareholders with growing dividends for the past 15 years. The stock’s dividend yield on December 11 came in at 1.57%.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) was included in 112 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q3 2024, compared with 114 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey’s database. The total value of these stakes is more than $15 billion. Among these hedge funds, GQG Partners was the company’s largest stakeholder in Q3.

Overall, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) ranks first on our list of the best dividend stocks. While we acknowledge the potential for UNH 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 UNH but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. 

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