8 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Invest in

2. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

12-Month Return as of January 27: 76.33%

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is an Arkansas-based retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount stores, and grocery stores across the US. The stock has surged by over 76% in the past 12 months, significantly outperforming the broader market. This was the best year for Walmart stocks since 1998.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) continues to expand its digital operations, generating revenue through membership fees, commissions from third-party merchants on their online sales, and payments from advertisers seeking to reach its customer base. This higher-margin digital growth is significantly boosting the company’s operating income.

In the third quarter of 2024, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) saw a 3% YoY increase in customer traffic, reflecting positive momentum for the retail giant. Revenue reached $168 billion, marking a 5.5% growth from the same period last year and surpassing analysts’ projections by $1.4 billion. With a strong dividend track record, the company maintains a robust financial position, generating $22.9 billion in operating cash flow year-to-date—$3.9 billion higher than the prior year. Its free cash flow also rose by $1.9 billion to $6.2 billion. The company has consistently increased its dividend for 51 consecutive years. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.2075 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.85%, as of January 27.

According to Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2024, 88 hedge funds held stakes in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), compared with 95 in the previous quarter. These stakes have a consolidated value of over $9.7 billion. Among these hedge funds, Fisher Asset Management was the company’s leading stakeholder in Q3.