In this article, we discuss the 15 Best Stocks To Invest In For Retirement. 

It is common knowledge that retirees with private sources of income, pension, or alternate employment are faring better than those relying only on social security. According to the Federal Reserve, Americans in the workforce were rather confident about their retirement savings in 2023. That year, 27% of adults had already retired in the United States, with 15% of them still working in some capacity. Retirees were working part-time rather than full-time. However, those with disabilities or low education were less prone to finding employment after retirement. 51% of adults retired to pursue passion projects or spend time with family, and 46% attributed their decision to retire to health issues, caregiving roles, or downsizing at work.

While social security remained the primary source of income for retirees, 80% of them had private sources of income as per the Fed’s 2023 report. 56% of them had pensions, 48% relied on investment income – which includes interest, dividends, or rental income, and 33% had labor income to fall back on. 92% of retirees in this 12-month survey were in the age bracket of 65 or above.

Over the last few decades, private companies have largely eliminated pension plans, shifting the onus of retirement savings to employees via 401(k)s. In 2022, only 15% of private industry workers had access to a pension. Retirement satisfaction has also dropped, with only 48% of retirees aged 62-75 commenting that they are very satisfied in 2023, down from 62% in 2020. Rising inflation has cut into retirees’ spending power, and 68% of them are burdened with credit card debt, up from 43% in 2020.

Sam Dogen, a millionaire who retired early and founded Financial Samurai, told CNBC that dividends are a source of reliable income. He commented:

“Stock dividends are my favorite passive income strategy because it is 100% passive.”

While young investors tend to reinvest dividend payouts, retirees can very well use it as a source of steady income. Dogen pointed out the consistent stock market growth over time and stated that dividend stocks are thus a dependable source of income over the long run. Given this, we will now take a look at some of the best stocks to buy for retirement.

Our Methodology 

For this article, we used the Finviz stock screener to filter out stocks with dividend yields over 2% and dividend payout ratios under 30% as of February 19. We focused on picking stocks with a consistent record of paying dividends, offering dividend growth over the years, and being financially stable to steer clear of yield traps. The list below is ranked in ascending order of the hedge fund sentiment as of Q4 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 363.5% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 208 percentage points (see more details here).

15. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG)

Dividend Yield as of February 19: 2.20%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 12

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG) is a Japanese global bank holding company that provides banking, trust, securities, digital financial services, credit cards, M&A advisory, lending, and investment solutions. On February 17, MUFG’s subsidiary, MUMSS, launched MUFG Morgan Stanley Credit Solutions to expand its private credit business and offer better financing solutions to wholesale customers. With private credit booming in the US and Europe, the company sees big potential for growth in Japan, both as an alternative to traditional bank loans and as a new investment option. The new subsidiary aims to provide innovative solutions to support industry growth and financial reforms in Japan.

For the quarter ending December 31, 2024, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG) saw record-breaking profits, with net operating profits hitting ¥1,714.6 billion, up ¥194.4 billion year-over-year, reaching 87% of its FY24 target. Net income surged to ¥1,748.9 billion, a ¥451.0 billion increase year-over-year, achieving 99% of the annual goal. This marks MUFG’s highest profits ever, driven by strong customer segment growth, gains from equity sales, and earnings from equity method investments. For the fiscal year ending March 2025, MUFG paid an interim dividend of ¥25 per share on December 5, 2024. It is one of the best stocks to buy for an income portfolio.

According to Insider Monkey’s Q4 data, 12 hedge funds held stakes in Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:MUFG), compared to 18 funds in the prior quarter. Ken Fisher’s Fisher Asset Management is the biggest stakeholder in the company, with 7.8 million shares valued at nearly $92 million.

14. Radian Group Inc. (NYSE:RDN)

Dividend Yield as of February 19: 3.11%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

Radian Group Inc. (NYSE:RDN) is an American provider of mortgage and real estate services. The company specializes in private mortgage insurance, credit risk management, title services, underwriting, and brokerage. The stock has climbed 19% in the last 12 months, which makes it one of the best stocks to buy.

Radian Group Inc. (NYSE:RDN) closed last year strong with $1.3 billion in total revenue, up 4% from 2023, including $316 million in the fourth quarter. Its mortgage insurance in force hit a record $275 billion, growing 2% year-over-year. Net premiums earned reached $939 million, showcasing a 3% increase. Radian also returned $376 million to shareholders through buybacks and dividends, with $543 million still available for repurchases until June 2026.

On February 12, Radian Group Inc. (NYSE:RDN) announced a quarterly per-share dividend of $0.255, a 4.1% increase from the previous dividend of $0.245. The dividend will be distributed on March 11, to shareholders on record as of February 24. The stock offers a dividend yield of 3.11% as of February 19. It is one of the best stocks to buy for retirement.

According to Insider Monkey’s fourth quarter database, 21 hedge funds were long Radian Group Inc. (NYSE:RDN), compared to 20 in the prior quarter. Billionaire Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group was the leading position holder in the company, with a stake worth $24.8 million.

13. Avnet, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVT)

Dividend Yield as of February 19: 2.45%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 22

Avnet, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVT) is an Arizona-based provider of electronic components and technology solutions. The company supplies semiconductors, interconnects, electronic and industrial automation components, and testing equipment to engineers. It also provides embedded solutions for the automotive, medical, defense, and telecommunications industries. The company will participate in the 46th Annual Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference on March 3, 2025.

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2025, Avnet brought in $338 million in cash from operations. The company spent $29 million on capital projects, staying within its usual budget. Avnet, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVT) remains committed to rewarding shareholders, paying out a $0.33 per share dividend, or $29 million total, and buying back $51 million in shares. With $515 million still available for repurchases, Avnet is on track to reduce its outstanding shares by at least 5% this fiscal year. AVT is one of the best stocks to buy for retirement.

Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey’s Q4 data, 22 funds reported owning stakes in Avnet, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVT), compared to 26 funds in the prior quarter. Richard Pzena’s Pzena Investment Management is the biggest stakeholder in the company, with 7.2 million shares worth $380.3 million.