13 Best American Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

8. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Upside Potential as of April 20: 20.4%

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is an American multinational oil and gas company. The company is leveraging artificial intelligence to boost efficiency and enhance overall performance across its operations.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) has been utilizing machine learning to prevent equipment failures, optimize production, and automate various tasks. AI holds significant potential in the energy sector, where breakdowns can cause costly delays, and some facilities operate without on-site personnel. The technology helps streamline processes and partially automates drilling operations. Ultimately, the company is working toward autonomous drilling, a system capable of identifying optimal conditions and carrying out drilling with minimal human intervention.

Backed by strong cash flow, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) remains a dependable dividend stock. In 2024, it generated $55 billion in operating cash flow—its third-best year over the past decade. For the fourth quarter alone, operating cash flow hit $12.2 billion, with free cash flow reaching $8 billion. The company returned $36 billion to shareholders during the year, including $16.7 billion through dividends.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), one of the best dividend stocks, currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.99 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.70%, as of April 20. The company has a strong history of paying dividends to shareholders, spanning 143 years. In addition, it has raised its payouts for 42 consecutive years.