15 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

Published on May 7, 2024 at 2:50 pm by Vardah Gill in Dividend Stocks, Hedge Funds, News

In this article, we discuss 15 best S&P 500 dividend stocks to buy now. You can skip our detailed analysis of dividend stocks in the S&P 500 and their past performance, and go directly to read 5 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy Now.

It’s been a dynamic first quarter for the stock market. The S&P 500, one of the leading stock indexes in the world, gained 10.2% in the first three months of 2024, achieving its best first-quarter performance in five years. The impressive performance sparked greater interest among investors in the stock market. In March, investors poured roughly $50 billion into funds focused on purchasing stocks in the US, as reported by EPFR Global Data. That said, it is important to bear in mind that it is the bigger companies that are driving the market upward, especially those that are attentive to the ongoing artificial intelligence wave. The ‘Magnificent Seven’ accounted for 40% of the market’s overall gains in the first three months, according to data by S&P Dow Jones Indices. Meta’s remarkable returns of over 40% during the period were massively driven by the company’s announcement of its first-ever dividend earlier this year.

Dividends play an important role in the investment landscape, with approximately 80% of the companies in the S&P 500 paying dividends to shareholders. However, consistently increasing payouts is a challenging feat. In fact, just 13% of the companies in the index are included in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, an elite group that tracks the performance of companies growing their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years. Investors also favor dividend growth stocks due to their strong performance over the years, particularly during periods of high interest rates. In our article titled 25 Things Every Dividend Investor Should Know, we cited Abrdn’s data and reported that from December 2002 to December 2022, dividend growers and initiators delivered a compounded return of 10.68%, compared with a 2.70% return of dividend cutters and eliminators. We also mentioned that non-dividend payers also underperformed dividend growers during this period, returning 9.25%. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) are some of the best dividend stocks that have consistently raised their dividends over the years.

The combination of dividend growth and high yields presents investors with strong investment opportunities. S&P 500 High Dividend Growth Index, which tracks the performance of companies that have raised their dividends for five consecutive years with an average dividend yield of 3%, has delivered an annualized return of 11.94% from 2010 to 2022, according to a report by S&P Dow Jones Indices. The report also mentioned that during this period, the index grew its dividend at an annual average rate of 13.8%, exceeding the US long-term inflation rate.

In this, we will discuss some of the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500.

Image by Sergei Tokmakov Terms.Law from Pixabay

Our Methodology:

For this list, we scanned the list of the S&P 500 companies and picked dividend stocks with dividend yields above 2%, as of May 7. From that list, we picked 15 dividend stocks with the highest number of hedge fund investors, according to Insider Monkey’s database of 933 hedge funds, as of Q4 2023. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds having stakes in them. Hedge funds’ top 10 consensus stock picks outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here).

In addition to covering topics like the best S&P 500 dividend stocks to buy, at Insider Monkey, we scour multiple sources to uncover the next great investment idea. For example, artificial intelligence technology is on the cusp of earth-shattering breakthroughs, so we identified the cheapest AI stock that is trading at less than 5 times its market value excluding cash and investments with the potential to deliver 100x returns. Even though we recommend positions in only a tiny fraction of the companies we analyze, we check out as many stocks as we can. Now, let’s take a look at the 15 best S&P 500 dividend stocks to buy according to analysts.

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

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 2.48%

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is an American investment banking company that provides related services to individuals, businesses, and financial institutions. The company remained committed to its shareholder obligation in the first quarter of 2024 as it returned approximately $929 million to investors through dividends. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $2.75 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.48%, as recorded on May 7. It is among the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500.

At the end of Q4 2023, 69 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey held stakes in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS), up from 68 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of over $6.33 billion. Among these hedge funds, Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q4.

14. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 69

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 3.01%

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is a multinational biotech company that specializes in the manufacturing of innovative therapies. On March 6, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $2.25 per share, which was in line with its previous dividend. Overall, it has been growing its dividends for the past 11 consecutive years, which makes AMGN one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The stock has a dividend yield of 3.01%, as of May 7.

The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) grew to 69 in Q4 2023, from 60 in the previous quarter. The consolidated value of these stakes is nearly $1.8 billion.

13. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 2.63%

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is a Georgia-based home improvement company that sells related tools and products to its consumers. The company’s cash position remained strong in FY23 as it generated over $21 billion in operating cash flow. It also returned $8.3 billion to shareholders through dividends during this period.

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD), one of the best dividend stocks, has been raising its dividends consistently for the past 14 years. Moreover, it has never missed a dividend in 148 quarters. Currently, it pays a quarterly dividend of $2.25 per share for a dividend yield of 2.63%, as of May 7.

As of the close of Q4 2023, 70 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD), down from 76 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a total value of roughly $6 billion. With over 8.7 million shares, Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q4.

12. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 2.45%

An American multinational consumer goods manufacturing company, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) is next on our list of the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500. The company has been growing its dividends for the past 68 years and offers a quarterly dividend of $1.0065 per share. As of May 7, the stock has a dividend yield of 2.45%.

In the first quarter of 2024, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) reported an operating cash flow of $4.1 billion and its adjusted free cash flow productivity was 87%. During the quarter, the company returned approximately $3.3 billion to shareholders, including $2.3 billion in dividends.

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) was a part of 71 hedge fund portfolios, compared with 75 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey’s database. The stakes held by these hedge funds have a consolidated value of nearly $6 billion.

11. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 71

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 4.02%

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) is a California-based petroleum refinery company. At the end of Q4 2023, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway was the largest stakeholder in the company, owning over 126 million shares. Overall, 71 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database held stakes in the company in Q4, with a collective value of more than $21.6 billion.

In the first quarter of 2024, Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) paid nearly $3 billion in dividends to shareholders, which makes CVX one of the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500. Moreover, the company maintains a 37-year streak of consistent dividend growth. It offers a quarterly dividend of $1.63 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.02%, as of May 7.

10. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 72

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 2.33%

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is an American multinational financial services company that offers a wide range of services in banking, mortgages, loans, and credit cards. It is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as the company has been paying regular dividends to shareholders since 1988. Its current quarterly dividend comes in at $0.35 per share for a dividend yield of 2.33%, as of May 7.

Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2023 indicated that 72 hedge funds held stakes in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), down from 77 in the previous quarter. These stakes are worth over $5.5 billion in total. With more than 23 million shares, Harris Associates was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q4.

9. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 76

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 3.81%

AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is an Illinois-based pharmaceutical company that specializes in drug and treatment discovery. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $1.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.81%, as of May 7. With a dividend growth streak of 51 years, ABBV is one of the best dividend stocks on our list.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q4 2023, 76 hedge funds held stakes in AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV), up from 73 in the previous quarter. These stakes are valued at over $3.5 billion in total.

8. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 79

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 5.97%

A global pharmaceutical company, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) is engaged in the development and research of medicines and consumer health products. On April 24, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.42 per share, which fell in line with its previous dividend. Its dividend growth streak currently spans over 14 years, which makes PFE one of the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500. The stock’s dividend yield on May 7 came in at 5.97%.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) was a popular stock among hedge funds at the end of Q4 2023, with hedge fund positions jumping to 79, from 73 in the preceding quarter, as per Insider Monkey’s database. These stakes have a total value of more than $2.2 billion.

7. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 3.34%

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is an American consumer health company that specializes in related products and different pharmaceuticals. The company declared a 4% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.24 per share on April 16. This marked the company’s 62nd consecutive annual dividend hike, which places JNJ on our list of the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500. As of May 7, the stock has a dividend yield of 3.34%.

At the end of December 2023, 81 hedge funds in Insider Monkey’s database owned stakes in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), down from 84 in the previous quarter. These stakes are worth nearly $4 billion. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q4.

6. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 85

Dividend Yield as of May 7: 3.25%

An American natural gas and energy company, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) ranks sixth on our list of the best dividend stocks in the S&P 500. The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.95 per share on April 25, which was consistent with its previous dividend. It has never missed a dividend payment since 1882 and has raised its payouts consistently for the past 41 years. The stock has a dividend yield of 3.25%, as of May 7.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2024, 85 hedge funds held stakes in Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), growing from 79 in the previous quarter, as per Insider Monkey’s database. These stakes are collectively valued at over $4.47 billion.

Click to continue reading and see 5 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy Now.

AI, Tariffs, Nuclear Power: One Undervalued Stock Connects ALL the Dots (Before It Explodes!)

Published on June 23, 2025 at by Inan Dogan, PhD

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal!

AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous.

Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink.

Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and building the digital future. But there’s one urgent question few are asking:

Where will all of that energy come from?

AI is the most electricity-hungry technology ever invented. Each data center powering large language models like ChatGPT consumes as much energy as a small city. And it’s about to get worse.

Even Sam Altman, the founder of OpenAI, issued a stark warning:

“The future of AI depends on an energy breakthrough.”

Elon Musk was even more blunt:

“AI will run out of electricity by next year.”

As the world chases faster, smarter machines, a hidden crisis is emerging behind the scenes. Power grids are strained. Electricity prices are rising. Utilities are scrambling to expand capacity.

And that’s where the real opportunity lies…

One little-known company—almost entirely overlooked by most AI investors—could be the ultimate backdoor play. It’s not a chipmaker. It’s not a cloud platform. But it might be the most important AI stock in the US owns critical energy infrastructure assets positioned to feed the coming AI energy spike.

As demand from AI data centers explodes, this company is gearing up to profit from the most valuable commodity in the digital age: electricity.

The “Toll Booth” Operator of the AI Energy Boom

It owns critical nuclear energy infrastructure assets, positioning it at the heart of America’s next-generation power strategy.
It’s one of the only global companies capable of executing large-scale, complex EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction) projects across oil, gas, renewable fuels, and industrial infrastructure.
It plays a pivotal role in U.S. LNG exportation—a sector about to explode under President Trump’s renewed “America First” energy doctrine.

Trump has made it clear: Europe and U.S. allies must buy American LNG.

And our company sits in the toll booth—collecting fees on every drop exported.

But that’s not all…

As Trump’s proposed tariffs push American manufacturers to bring their operations back home, this company will be first in line to rebuild, retrofit, and reengineer those facilities.

AI. Energy. Tariffs. Onshoring. This One Company Ties It All Together.

While the world is distracted by flashy AI tickers, a few smart investors are quietly scooping up shares of the one company powering it all from behind the scenes.

AI needs energy. Energy needs infrastructure.

And infrastructure needs a builder with experience, scale, and execution.

This company has its finger in every pie—and Wall Street is just starting to notice.

Wall Street is noticing this company also because it is quietly riding all of these tailwinds—without the sky-high valuation.

While most energy and utility firms are buried under mountains of debt and coughing up hefty interest payments just to appease bondholders…

This company is completely debt-free.

In fact, it’s sitting on a war chest of cash—equal to nearly one-third of its entire market cap.

It also owns a huge equity stake in another red-hot AI play, giving investors indirect exposure to multiple AI growth engines without paying a premium.

And here’s what the smart money has started whispering…

The Hedge Fund Secret That’s Starting to Leak Out

This stock is so off-the-radar, so absurdly undervalued, that some of the most secretive hedge fund managers in the world have begun pitching it at closed-door investment summits.

They’re sharing it quietly, away from the cameras, to rooms full of ultra-wealthy clients.

Why? Because excluding cash and investments, this company is trading at less than 7 times earnings.

And that’s for a business tied to:

The AI infrastructure supercycle
The onshoring boom driven by Trump-era tariffs
A surge in U.S. LNG exports
And a unique footprint in nuclear energy—the future of clean, reliable power

You simply won’t find another AI and energy stock this cheap… with this much upside.

This isn’t a hype stock. It’s not riding on hope.

It’s delivering real cash flows, owns critical infrastructure, and holds stakes in other major growth stories.

This is your chance to get in before the rockets take off!

Disruption is the New Name of the Game: Let’s face it, complacency breeds stagnation.

AI is the ultimate disruptor, and it’s shaking the foundations of traditional industries.

The companies that embrace AI will thrive, while the dinosaurs clinging to outdated methods will be left in the dust.

As an investor, you want to be on the side of the winners, and AI is the winning ticket.

The Talent Pool is Overflowing: The world’s brightest minds are flocking to AI.

From computer scientists to mathematicians, the next generation of innovators is pouring its energy into this field.

This influx of talent guarantees a constant stream of groundbreaking ideas and rapid advancements.

By investing in AI, you’re essentially backing the future.

The future is powered by artificial intelligence, and the time to invest is NOW.

Don’t be a spectator in this technological revolution.

Dive into the AI gold rush and watch your portfolio soar alongside the brightest minds of our generation.

This isn’t just about making money – it’s about being part of the future.

So, buckle up and get ready for the ride of your investment life!

Act Now and Unlock a Potential 100+% Return within 12 to 24 months.

We’re now offering month-to-month subscriptions with no commitments.

For a ridiculously low price of just $9.99 per month, you can unlock our in-depth investment research and exclusive insights – that’s less than a single fast food meal!

Here’s why this is a deal you can’t afford to pass up:

Access to our Detailed Report on our AI, Tariffs, and Nuclear Energy Stock with 100+% potential upside within 12 to 24 months
BONUS REPORT on our #1 AI-Robotics Stock with 10000% upside potential: Our in-depth report dives deep into our #1 AI/robotics stock’s groundbreaking technology and massive growth potential.
One New Issue of Our Premium Readership Newsletter: You will also receive one new issue per month and at least one new stock pick per month from our monthly newsletter’s portfolio over the next 12 months. These stocks are handpicked by our research director, Dr. Inan Dogan.
One free upcoming issue of our 70+ page Quarterly Newsletter: A value of $149
Bonus Content: Premium access to members-only fund manager video interviews
Ad-Free Browsing: Enjoy a month of investment research free from distracting banner and pop-up ads, allowing you to focus on uncovering the next big opportunity.
Lifetime Price Guarantee: Your renewal rate will always remain the same as long as your subscription is active.
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: If you’re not absolutely satisfied with our service, we’ll provide a full refund within 30 days, no questions asked.

Space is Limited! Only 1000 spots are available for this exclusive offer. Don’t let this chance slip away – subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter today and unlock the potential for a life-changing investment.

Here’s what to do next:

1. Head over to our website and subscribe to our Premium Readership Newsletter for just $9.99.

2. Enjoy a month of ad-free browsing, exclusive access to our in-depth report on the Trump tariff and nuclear energy company as well as the revolutionary AI-robotics company, and the upcoming issues of our Premium Readership Newsletter.

3. Sit back, relax, and know that you’re backed by our ironclad 30-day money-back guarantee.

Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! Subscribe now and take control of your AI investment future!

Subscribe Now!

No worries about auto-renewals! Our 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee applies whether you’re joining us for the first time or renewing your subscription a month later!

Insider Monkey Ads

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

Published on June 13, 2025 at by Insider Monkey Staff

I work for one of the largest independent financial publishers in the world – representing over 1 million people in 148 countries.

We’re independently funding today’s broadcast to address something on the mind of every investor in America right now…

Should I put my money in Artificial Intelligence?

Here to answer that for us… and give away his No. 1 free AI recommendation… is 50-year Wall Street titan, Marc Chaikin.

Marc’s been a trader, stockbroker, and analyst. He was the head of the options department at a major brokerage firm and is a sought-after expert for CNBC, Fox Business, Barron’s, and Yahoo! Finance…

But what Marc’s most known for is his award-winning stock-rating system. Which determines whether a stock could shoot sky-high in the next three to six months… or come crashing down.

That’s why Marc’s work appears in every Bloomberg and Reuters terminal on the planet…

And is still used by hundreds of banks, hedge funds, and brokerages to track the billions of dollars flowing in and out of stocks each day.

He’s used this system to survive nine bear markets… create three new indices for the Nasdaq… and even predict the brutal bear market of 2022, 90 days in advance.

Click to continue reading…

Insider Monkey Ads

Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

Log In

Sign Up

15 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

Published on May 7, 2024 at 2:50 pm by Vardah Gill in Dividend Stocks, Hedge Funds, News

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

14. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)

13. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)

12. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)

11. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

10. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC)

9. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)

8. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

7. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

6. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

AI, Tariffs, Nuclear Power: One Undervalued Stock Connects ALL the Dots (Before It Explodes!)

Published on June 23, 2025 at by Inan Dogan, PhD

Here’s why this is a deal you can’t afford to pass up:

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

Published on June 13, 2025 at by Insider Monkey Staff

Markets

Insider Trading

Hedge Funds

Retirement

Opinion

Premium

Log In

Sign Up

15 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks To Buy Now

Published on May 7, 2024 at 2:50 pm by Vardah Gill in Dividend Stocks, Hedge Funds, News

Share

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

14. Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)

13. The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD)

12. The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG)

11. Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

10. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC)

9. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)

8. Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

7. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)

6. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Share

AI, Tariffs, Nuclear Power: One Undervalued Stock Connects ALL the Dots (Before It Explodes!)

Published on June 23, 2025 at by Inan Dogan, PhD

Here’s why this is a deal you can’t afford to pass up:

A New Dawn is Coming to U.S. Stocks

Published on June 13, 2025 at by Insider Monkey Staff