15 Best S&P 500 Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

9. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 67

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) is an American multinational fast food chain. The company delivered a weak quarterly performance, falling short of investor expectations. One factor behind the disappointing results was an E. Coli outbreak that impacted certain menu items, including the widely popular Quarter Pounder. However, while this incident contributed to the downturn, the company’s challenges were not limited to just the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) reported $6.4 billion in revenue, reflecting a slight decline of 0.2% compared to the previous year. The figure also fell short of analysts’ expectations by more than $88 million. Same-store sales worldwide saw a modest increase of 0.4%, measuring the performance of locations open for at least a year. However, its key U.S. market faced a 1.4% decline in same-store sales, indicating a slowdown in growth and challenges in sustaining strong sales momentum. The stock has surged by nearly 6% since the start of 2025.

Despite these hurdles, McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) remains attractive to investors due to its solid dividend history and financial stability. By the end of FY24, the company held over $1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, with total assets nearing $12 billion. In addition, it has consistently increased its dividend payouts for 48 consecutive years, coming through as one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $1.77 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.28%, as of February 27.