15 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

2. Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 101

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) is an American multinational investment banking company, which offers a wide range of related services and products to its consumers. The company structures its operations into several key business segments: Global Consumer Banking, Institutional Clients Group, and Treasury and Trade Solutions. With a focus on strengthening its competitive advantage, the company leverages its extensive global presence and broad client base. In the past year, the stock has surged by nearly 44%.

In fiscal year 2024, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C)’s net income surged nearly 40% to $12.7 billion, exceeding its annual revenue target. This growth was driven by strong performances across its Services, Wealth, and US Personal Banking divisions. The company effectively managed expenses, improved its efficiency ratio, and successfully carried out a major restructuring. Annual revenue reached $81.1 billion, reflecting a 3% increase from the previous year.

Demonstrating its commitment to shareholder returns, Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) distributed $6.7 billion in 2024 through dividends and share repurchases. With a 34-year track record of uninterrupted dividend payments, C is one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.56 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.83%, as of February 27.