8 Unstoppable Dividend Stocks to Invest in

1. Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST)

12-Month Return as of January 27: 228.2%

Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) is an American electricity and power generation company, based in Texas. In early 2024, the company gained significant momentum with its $3.43 billion acquisition of Energy Harbor. This purchase added four nuclear power plants to its portfolio, along with the second-largest energy storage capacity in the US, totaling 1,020 megawatts (MW). The timing of this strategic move has positioned Vistra to take advantage of the increasing demand for generative artificial intelligence. With a 12-month return of over 228%, VST is one of the best unstoppable stocks to invest in.

In the third quarter of 2024, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) posted $6.3 billion in revenue, marking a 54% increase compared to the same quarter the previous year. The company also revealed plans to acquire a 15% minority stake in Vistra Vision for a cash price of approximately $3.1 billion in net present value. This move will enhance shareholders’ ownership in the company’s zero-carbon nuclear, energy storage, and solar generation assets, alongside its strong retail business. The transaction simplifies Vistra’s structure at an attractive valuation, delivering returns well above the mid-teens range while allowing the company to maintain its focus on core market investments and capital allocation priorities.

In the first nine months of 2024, Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) reported $3.2 billion in operating cash flow. By the end of the quarter, the company held $905 million in cash and cash equivalents. This robust financial position has enabled Vistra to consistently increase its payouts for 12 straight years. The company currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.2215 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.61%, as of January 27.

The hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q3 2024 presented a bullish stance on Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) with 97 funds investing in the company at the end of the quarter, up from 92 in the previous quarter. The stakes held by these hedge funds have a collective value of nearly $5 billion.

Overall Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST) ranks first on our list of the best high-dividend stocks under $100. While we acknowledge the potential for VST as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VST but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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