5 Best Performing Dividend Stocks To Invest In Now

In this article, we discuss 5 best performing dividend stocks to invest in. If you want to read our detailed analysis of dividend stocks and their performance over the years, go directly to read 13 Best Performing Dividend Stocks To Invest In Now. 

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

12-Month Returns as of February 26: 26.18%

The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) is a multinational home improvement retailer. The company pays a quarterly dividend of $2.25 per share, having raised it by 7.7% in February this year. This marked the company’s 14th consecutive year of dividend growth. The stock’s dividend yield came in at 2.41%, as of February 26. The stock delivered a return of 26.18% in the past 12 months, which makes HD one of the best performing stocks on our list.

As of the end of Q4 2023, 70 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD), compared with 76 in the preceding quarter. These stakes have a consolidated value of nearly $6 billion.

4. Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX)

12-Month Returns as of February 26: 32.8%

Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) is a global data, analytics, and technology company that specializes in providing information solutions and services to businesses, governments, and consumers. The stock returned 32.8% in the past 12 months, coming through as one of the best performing stocks that pay dividends. The company has been making regular dividends to shareholders since 1987 and currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.39 per share. As of February 26, the stock has a dividend yield of 0.59%.

The number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey owning stakes in Equifax Inc. (NYSE:EFX) grew to 32 in Q4 2023, from 29 in the preceding quarter. The total value of these stakes is over $2.76 billion. With roughly 4 million shares, Generation Investment Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q4.

3. Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN)

12-Month Returns as of February 26: 36.7%

With a 12-month return of 36.7%, Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) is next on our list of the best performing stocks that pay dividends. The multinational tech company declared a 3% hike in its quarterly dividend on February 23 to $0.75 per share. The stock offers a dividend yield of 2.17%, as of February 26.

Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN) was a part of 27 hedge fund portfolios at the end of Q4 2023, up from 22 in the preceding quarter, as per Insider Monkey’s database. The stakes owned by these hedge funds have a collective value of over $555 million.

2. The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW)

12-Month Returns as of February 26: 46.3%

The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW) is a global leader in the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of paints, coatings, and related products. The company hiked its quarterly dividend by 18.2% on February 14, which made its quarterly dividend $0.715 per share. Through this increase, the company stretched its dividend growth streak to 45 years. The stock’s dividend yield came in at 0.88%, as of February 26.

At the end of December 2023, 72 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported having stakes in The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW), up from 71 in the previous quarter. The overall value of these stakes is over $3.62 billion. Among these hedge funds, D E Shaw was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q4.

1. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE)

12-Month Returns as of February 26: 83.4%

General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) tops our list of the best performing stocks. The diversified global conglomerate pays a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.21%, as of February 26.

Of the 933 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey at the end of Q4 2023, 92 funds held stakes in General Electric Company (NYSE:GE), growing significantly from 76 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a consolidated worth of over $12.2 billion.

You can also take a look at 13 Best Environmental Dividend Stocks To Invest In According To Analysts and 13 Best Consumer Cyclical Dividend Stocks To Invest In