12 Best Safe Dividend Stocks for 2025

9. The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 66

5-Year Average Payout Ratio: 18.86%

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) is an American multinational healthcare and insurance company. Over the past year, the stock has fallen by almost 8%, impacted by a turbulent insurance sector facing unexpected medical costs, heightened regulatory oversight, and rising investor doubt. CDC data indicated that the percentage of Americans without health insurance has climbed to over 8% this year, following record lows during the pandemic. That said, the company’s recent quarterly earnings demonstrate its strong position in the sector.

In the third quarter of 2024, The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) reported revenue of $63.7 billion, which showed a 30% growth from the same period last year. The company’s total customer relationships rose by 12% compared to December 31, 2023, reaching 183.5 million. During the same period, total pharmacy customers grew by 22% to 120.0 million, driven by new sales and the ongoing expansion of existing relationships.

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), one of the best dividend stocks, has been growing its dividends for four consecutive years. The company’s five-year average payout ratio comes in at nearly 19%. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.98%, as of January 13.

Of the 900 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey at the end of Q3 2024, 66 funds held stakes in The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI), the same as in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of nearly $4.6 billion. With over 3.2 million shares, GQG Partners was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.