14 Best Performing Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

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1. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM)

Year-to-Date Return as of March 7: 25.18%

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is a multinational tobacco company, serving customers with a wide range of related products. The company delivered strong fourth-quarter results for 2024, reporting $9.7 billion in revenue, a 7.3% increase from the previous year. Operating income grew 14.8% year-over-year to $3.3 billion. The company’s shift toward smoke-free alternatives continues to gain momentum, with shipments of heated tobacco units (HTU) and oral nicotine products surpassing 40 billion units in a single quarter for the first time.

One of the key growth drivers for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) has been Zyn, a nicotine pouch brand that uses nicotine powder and flavoring instead of traditional tobacco. Since acquiring the brand in late 2022, PM has seen surging demand, with Zyn’s sales volume rising 46.2% in the fourth quarter to 183.8 million cans. The company expects this upward trend to continue, forecasting shipments between 780 million and 820 million cans in 2025—an increase of 34% to 41% from the previous year.

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) remains a popular choice for dividend investors, offering a quarterly payout of $1.35 per share. As of March 6, the stock had a dividend yield of 3.58%. With 15 consecutive years of dividend increases, it is among the best performing stocks that pay dividends.

Overall, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) ranks first on our list of the best performing dividend stocks. While we acknowledge the potential for PM as an investment, 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 PM but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

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