In this article, we discuss 15 blue chip dividend stocks with over 4% yield. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of these stocks, go directly to 5 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks With Over 4% Yield.
To create a solid portfolio that offers an effective hedge against inflation, whilst offering a continuous stream of income, it is important to invest in quality dividend stocks. Blue chip dividend stocks are prominent industry leaders that have weathered all market highs and lows, and came out stronger. These stocks offer increasing dividends on an annual basis, have reliable balance sheets that support their dividend payout ratios, and have gained the trust of their shareholders over time.
Josh Brown, the chief executive officer of Ritholtz Wealth Management, stated that while big names have deflated in the S&P crash and uncertain economy, not all stocks have the balance sheet strength to recover and rebound to their past highs. He stressed upon the importance of looking out for companies that have fortress balance sheets, even if investors do not get the biggest returns from them.
Some of the most well known blue chip dividend stocks include Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ).
Photo by Viacheslav Bublyk on Unsplash
Our Methodology
We selected blue chip stocks with dividend yields exceeding 4%. For additional context on each company, we have mentioned the hedge fund sentiment, latest available earnings, and analyst ratings.
15 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks With Over 4% Yield
15. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 4.71%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is a Texas-based multinational natural gas and oil company, which is the largest direct descendant of John Rockefeller’s Standard Oil. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) offers brands like Coolanol, Esso, Exxon, Mobil, On the Run, and Speedpass.
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) on January 26 declared a $0.88 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on March 10, to shareholders of record on February 10. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) delivers a dividend yield of 4.71% and is one of the most notable blue chip dividend stocks to invest in.
On January 19, RBC Capital analyst Biraj Borkhataria upgraded Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) to Sector Perform from Underperform with a price target of $90, up from $70. The analyst had concerns regarding Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)’s position in the investment cycle relative to its peers, but investors may value the upstream portfolio longevity amidst a “prolonged” and “strong” commodity cycle.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q3 2021, Rajiv Jain’s GQG Partners is the largest Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) stakeholder, with 26.5 million shares worth $1.56 billion. Overall, 64 elite hedge funds in the third quarter database of Insider Monkey were bullish on Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), with stakes totaling $4.6 billion.
Here is what First Eagle Investment Management has to say about Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:
“Leading contributors in the First Eagle Global Fund this quarter included Exxon Mobil Corporation. The continued recovery in oil prices as economies reopen helped fuel another strong performance across the energy complex, including shares of Exxon Mobil. Exxon Mobil recently lost a proxy fight with an activist investor that took three of the company’s 12 board seats. While the press was focused on the investor’s concerns over Exxon Mobil’s long term energy transformation strategy, other factors fundamental to shareholder returns—like capital discipline and balance sheet management—were also at play.”
14. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 4.88%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 32
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is a Texas-based company specializing in transportation fuels, petrochemical products, and power generation. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) caters to customers across North America and the United Kingdom.
Publishing its Q4 results on January 27, Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) posted earnings per share of $2.47, exceeding estimates by $0.65. Revenue for the quarter jumped 116.23% year-over-year to $35.90 billion, outperforming estimates by $7.99 billion.
On January 20, Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share, in line with previous. The dividend will be paid on March 3, to shareholders of record on February 3. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) offers a 4.88% dividend yield as of January 28.
Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd raised the price target on Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) to $95 from $83 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares on January 25. While the multi-year bull case for crude oil is now largely consensus, few in the market are convinced of a similar, multi-year setup for the U.S. refiners, the analyst told investors in a research note.
In Q3 2021, billionaire Ken Griffin’s Citadel Investment Group was the biggest Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) stakeholder, owning 1.72 million shares worth $122 million. Overall, 32 hedge funds reported owning stakes in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) in the third quarter of 2021, totaling $289.1 million.
In addition to Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is a notable blue chip dividend stock to purchase.
13. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 4.88%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 48
Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) is a Connecticut-based Big Tobacco company that manufactures and distributes cigarettes, cigars, fine-cut rolling tobacco, snuff, rolling papers, and tubes worldwide, except the United States. Marlboro is the primary cigarette brand supplied by Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM).
Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) on December 9 declared a $1.25 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend was paid on January 10, to shareholders of record on December 23. Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) delivers a 4.88% yield as of January 28, and is one of the top blue chip dividend stocks to purchase.
On December 13, Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) announced that it will redeem all of its $500 million outstanding 2.625% notes due February 18, 2022 on January 18, 2022.
Barclays analyst Gaurav Jain on November 29 lowered the price target on Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) to $113 from $116 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares. The company has become “very aggressive” on cigarette pricing, the analyst told investors in a research note.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q3 2021, 48 funds were bullish on Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), with stakes equaling $5.92 billion. Terry Smith’s Fundsmith LLP is the largest Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) stakeholder, with 19.35 million shares worth $1.8 billion.
Here is what Broyhill Asset Management has to say about Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) in its Q2 2021 investor letter:
“Philip Morris (PM) shook off the prospects of a ban on menthol and a potential cap on nicotine and gained 23%. We shared our thoughts on these regulations during the quarter, which are available here.
‘PM Valuation. PM is up ~ 15% YTD and would have the most to gain under a nicotine cap. A cap would likely accelerate conversion to iQOS, which is 100% incremental for PM (PM also has zero exposure to combustible cigarettes in the U.S. and licenses its IQOS product for MO to distribute domestically). As such, the decline in PM was much more muted, with the stock hitting new 52 week highs a day after the Biden headline, driven by yesterday’s earnings release. It didn’t take long for investors to shift their attention back to fundamentals and the fundamentals here are best in class. In short, results beat estimates across the board (a recurring theme here), and management raised guidance for the full year (another recurring theme). IQOS continued to deliver impressive growth, recording continued market share gains on the heels of continued user acquisition growth, up 1.5M to 19.1M total users. Importantly, IQOS now represents nearly 30% of PM net revenues (management expects “smoke-free” products to represent more than half of their business by 2025, which should make the ESG folks happy), which is driving top-line growth and margin expansion. Hard to believe that they have created a product with higher margins than combustible cigarettes!! We expect PM operating margins to increase by 100bps – 200bps annually as IQOS continues to gain share. The stock trades at ~ 15x today or 2/3 of the market’s multiple for a business likely to generate $35B in cash flow – or 25% of the market cap – in just the next three years. Over the last decade, shares have traded at an average multiple of 18x and within a range of ~ 14x – 22x (+/-1 standard deviation). The stock yields 5.1% at the current price, and we expect management to resume share purchases in the back half of this year.’”
12. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 4.89%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), an American multinational telecommunications conglomerate, made it to our list of blue chip stocks with over 4% yield. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) delivers a 4.89% yield as of January 27.
On January 25, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) announced its financial results for the fourth quarter of 2021. Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) posted earnings per share of $1.31, beating estimates by $0.03. Revenue for the period totaled $34.07 billion, outperforming estimates by $30.57 million.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) declared on December 2 a $0.64 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on February 1, to shareholders of record on January 10.
Deutsche Bank analyst Bryan Kraft raised the price target on Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) to $59 from $57 and kept a Hold rating on the shares on January 26. The analyst sees about 8% upside in the stock over the next 12 months, with the target increasing on higher free cash flow estimates, notwithstanding the reduction to his 2022 estimate due to a pull forward in capex from 2023, higher working capital usage, and higher cash taxes.
Berkshire Hathaway is the biggest Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) stakeholder as of Q3 2021, owning 158.8 million shares of the company, worth $8.5 billion. Overall, 57 hedge funds were long Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) in the third quarter, with stakes totaling $10.35 billion.
In its Q1 2021 investor letter, Miller/Howard Investments mentioned Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ). Here is what the fund said:
“We sold Verizon (VZ) based on concerns over how much they might spend in ongoing spectrum auctions. Management may legitimately view spending billions of dollars to expand their spectrum holdings as necessary, but we believe the payoff will be slow and will make it challenging to grow the dividend at a good pace.”
11. International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 4.90%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41
International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is a multinational technology corporation based in New York, with operations worldwide. Among its many services are automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, consulting, blockchain, computer hardware and software, and quantum computing.
Publishing its Q4 results on January 24, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) posted earnings per share of $3.35, exceeding estimates by $0.06. The $16.70 billion revenue outperformed estimates by $730.50 million. The dividend yield on January 28 came in at 4.90%.
On January 25, BMO Capital analyst Keith Bachman raised the price target on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) to $155 from $153 and kept a Market Perform rating on the shares after its Q4 results. The analyst stated that he is “a bit more positive” on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) due to performance of the Consulting segment and his “enthusiasm for services generally”. However, the ongoing concerns about the durability of software growth keeps him on the sidelines.
Arrowstreet Capital is one of the leading International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) stakeholders, owning 2.86 million shares worth over $398 million. A total of 41 hedge funds in the Q3 database of Insider Monkey were bullish on International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM).
Just like Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ), International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) is a popular dividend blue chip stock among elite hedge funds.
Here is what St. James Investment Company has to say about International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) in its Q4 2021 investor letter:
“IBM was not the first company to build computers. The distinction belongs to Sperry-Rand’s subsidiary UNIVAC, which introduced the first commercially successful computers in the early 1950s. In this era, IBM did possess the largest research and development department of the business machines industry and quickly caught up, introducing cost-competitive computers a few years after UNIVAC. By the late 1950s, IBM held the dominant market share in computers. IBM also touted a vastly superior sales organization, which used a sales tactic called “paper machines” (the equivalent of today’s “vaporware”). If a competitor’s product was selling well in a market segment that IBM had yet to penetrate, the company would announce a competing product and start taking orders for the “paper machine” long before it was available.
One cannot overstate how powerful IBM was in the computer industry in the 1950s and 1960s. Every competitor rightly worried that if their product worked too well for too long, it was only a matter of time before an army of IBM salesforce representatives mobilized. In their easily recognizable uniforms of starched white shirts, red ties and blue suits, IBM marketers marched on their customers and offered a more expensive, but much more defensible, choice. “Nobody gets fired for buying IBM” was a common phrase. Even competitors acknowledged that the company excelled at sales. As a UNIVAC executive once complained, ‘It doesn’t do much good to build a better mousetrap if the other guy selling mousetraps has five times as many salesmen.’” (Click here to see the full text)
10. Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 4.90%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21
Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) offers housekeeping, laundry, dining, and nutritional services to the healthcare sector across the United States, in order to improve the operational and financial outcomes of its partner companies.
On October 20, Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) declared a $0.21 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend was distributed on December 23, to shareholders of record on November 19.
A total of 21 hedge funds were long Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) in the third quarter of 2021, with stakes totaling $138.75 million. AQR Capital Management holds a $32 million stake in Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG) as of Q3 2021, and is the largest stakeholder of the company.
Hedge funds are piling into blue chip dividend stocks like Healthcare Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:HCSG), in addition to Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO), Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), and Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ).
9. National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 5.00%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21
National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) is a Florida-based real estate investment trust that leases out quality establishments to more than 370 tenants across 48 states.
On January 14, National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.53 per share, in line with previous. The dividend will be paid on February 15, to shareholders of record on January 31.
BofA analyst Joshua Dennerlein downgraded National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) to Underperform from Buy and lowered his price target to $47 from $52 on January 20 as part of a broader sector note on triple-net REITs. The analyst is updating his models to reflect his view that net lease investors should focus on a mixture of dividend yield and earnings growth.
Israel Englander’s Millennium Management is the largest National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) stakeholder as of Q3 2021, with 864,311 shares worth $37.3 million. Overall, 21 hedge funds were bullish on National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN), with stakes equaling $120 million.
8. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 5.62%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) is an information storage and enterprise information management company that operates in 58 countries throughout North America, Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
On November 4, Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) declared a $0.6185 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend was paid on January 6, to shareholders of record on December 15. Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) delivers a 5.62% dividend yield as of January 28.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q3 2021, Adage Capital Management is one of the leading stakeholders of Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM), with 300,352 shares worth $13 million. Overall, 21 hedge funds were bullish on Iron Mountain Incorporated (NYSE:IRM) in the third quarter of 2021.
7. ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 6.39%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18
ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE) is an Oklahoma-based natural gas liquids company that made it to our list of blue chip dividend stocks with over 4% yield. ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE)’s dividend yield on January 28 came in at 6.39%.
On January 19, ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE) declared a $0.935 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend is payable on February 14, to shareholders of record on January 31.
Barclays analyst Theresa Chen lowered the price target on ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE) to $65 from $66 and kept an Equal Weight rating on the shares on January 20. The analyst expects “more variability” across refining results in Q4, reflective of execution during the quarter, but she has a “generally positive outlook for the group in 2022.”
In the third quarter of 2021, 18 hedge funds were long ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE), with stakes equaling $124.3 million. Hudson Bay Capital Management is one of the leading stakeholders of the company, owning 373,972 shares worth $21.6 million.
Here is what Miller Howard Investments has to say about ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE) in its Q3 2021 investor letter:
“In late August, we increased the portfolio’s cyclical exposure by trimming utilities after a period of relative outperformance and reallocating the capital to midstream energy, which had pulled back over the summer. We added ONEOK Inc. (OKE) with the expectation that it will benefit from increasing natural gas and natural gas liquids (NGL) recovery in the Bakken region.”
6. National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI)
Dividend Yield as of January 28: 6.34%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 15
National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) is a Tennessee-based real estate investment trust that invests in senior housing and medical investments such as memory care communities, skilled nursing facilities, medical office buildings, and specialty hospitals.
On November 8, National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) declared a quarterly per share dividend of $0.90 per share, which is payable on January 31, to shareholders of record on December 31.
BMO Capital analyst John Kim upgraded National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) to Outperform from Market Perform with an unchanged $68 price target on January 7. The analyst noted that while tail risk remains given Omicron and labor issues, he also sees tangible earnings upside in 2022 with National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) having finally dealt with its tenant problems. The analyst told investors that his estimate on National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) is “meaningfully above the Street” as he sees “significant” relative valuation upside.
Tudor Investment Corp holds a $3.2 million stake in National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) as of Q3 2021, and is one of the leading stakeholders of the company. Overall, 15 hedge funds were long National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) in the third quarter, with stakes totaling $19.1 million.
Click to continue reading and see 5 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks With Over 4% Yield.
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Disclosure: None. 10 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks With Over 4% Yield is originally published on Insider Monkey.
