In this article, we will be taking a look at 5 most popular dividend stocks among hedge funds. To read our detailed analysis of dividend investing, you can go directly to see the 10 Most Popular Dividend Stocks Among Famous Hedge Funds.
5. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74
Dividend Yield: 2%
Number of Years of Dividend Growth: 10
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is a financial giant in the investment banking and brokerage industry.
Morgan Stanley analyst Betsy Graseck holds an Equal Weight rating on shares of Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) as of this December, alongside a $479 price target.
According to the company’s earnings history, it had an EPS of $14.93, beating estimates by $4.92 in the fiscal third quarter of 2021. Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) also had a revenue of $13.61 billion, beating estimates by $1.99 billion.
According to our hedge fund data, 74 hedge funds held stakes in Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) in the third quarter of 2021, worth $5.5 billion.
4. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 77
Dividend Yield: 3.8%
Number of Years of Dividend Growth: 11
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) is a global pharmaceuticals company operating through its Pharmaceutical and Animal Health segments.
This December, Guggenheim analyst Seamus Fernandez placed a Neutral rating on Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) shares.
The EPS for Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) in the fiscal third quarter of 2021 was $1.75, and it beat analyst estimates by $0.20. Similarly, its revenue beat estimates as well, by $833.53 million.
In the third quarter of 2021, 77 hedge funds held stakes in Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) worth $4.6 billion.
3. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 81
Dividend Yield: 4.6%
Number of Years of Dividend Growth: 8
AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) is a biotech company that sells pharmaceuticals globally.
JPMorgan’s Chris Scott reiterated an Overweight rating and a $140 price target on AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) shares this December.
The company’s consistently positive financial performance was cemented in the fiscal third quarter of 2021 when it showed an EPS of $3.33, beating estimates by $0.11, and a revenue of $14.34 billion, also beating estimates by $43.28 million. AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) has gained 8.16% in the past six months.
2. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88
Dividend Yield: 2.6%
Number of Years of Dividend Growth: 59
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is also a healthcare company that gained critical acclaim for its vaccine against COVID-19. The stock had 88 hedge funds holding stakes in it in the third quarter.
Credit Suisse’s Matt Miksic holds an Outperform rating on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) shares as of this November.
According to the company’s earnings report for the fiscal third quarter of 2021, it had an EPS of $2.6 beating estimates by $0.25.
For Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), our hedge fund data shows 88 hedge funds holding stakes in the stock worth $6.9 billion in the third quarter.
1. JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 101
Dividend Yield: 2.5%
Number of Years of Dividend Growth: 8
JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) is another financial company on our list and with 101 hedge funds found to be holding stakes in it, it is among the most popular dividend stocks among hedge funds.
Wells Fargo analyst Mike Mayo holds an Overweight rating on shares of JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) as of this October, and also has a price target of $210 on it.
In their latest fiscal third quarter of 2021 earnings report, JP Morgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM) had an EPS of $3.55, beating estimates by $0.55.
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