Billionaire Jim Simons’ Top High-Dividend Stock Picks

#3 Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR)

Shares Owned by Renaissance Technologies (as of September 30): 2.47 Million Shares

Value of Renaissance’s Position (as of September 30): $160.67 Million

Current Dividend Yield: 5.17%

At the end of October, Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.85 per share, which gives its stock a dividend yield of 5.17%. Jim Simons’ hedge fund significantly increased its exposure to the integrated energy company during the third quarter by 1.02 million shares, despite its disappointing performance. In the meantime, the shares of Entergy have lost 25% since the beginning of the year. Just recently, the company raised its full-year operating earnings guidance to the range of $5.50 to $6.10 per share, from the previously-anticipated range of $5.10 to $5.90. Richard S. Pzena’s Pzena Investment Management held its position in Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) unchanged during the third quarter at 796,411 shares.

#2 Ventas Inc. (NYSE:VTR)

Shares Owned by Renaissance Technologies (as of September 30): 3.16 Million Shares

Value of Renaissance’s Position (as of September 30): $177.24 Million

Current Dividend Yield: 5.84%

Multi-billion dollar Renaissance Technologies cut its stake in Ventas Inc. (NYSE:VTR) by 38,183 shares during the September quarter, remaining with roughly 3.16 million shares. The healthcare real estate investment trust has experienced a terrible year in terms of stock performance, with its shares declining by 30% year-to-date. The REIT issues an annualized dividend distribution of $2.92 per share, which offers its stock a dividend yield of 5.84%. At the end of October, BMO Capital Markets cut its price target on the stock to $61 from $65, citing disappointing third-quarter financial results. The REIT reported earnings per share of $0.07 on revenue of $827.6 million, compared to analysts’ estimates of EPS of $0.28 on revenue of $826.6 million. Jeffrey Furber’s AEW Capital Management slightly increased its position Ventas Inc. (NYSE:VTR) during the third quarter, ending the three-month period with 2.34 million shares.

#1 Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK)

Shares Owned by Renaissance Technologies (as of September 30): 3.06 Million Shares

Value of Renaissance’s Position (as of September 30): $220.46 Million

Current Dividend Yield: 4.9%

Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK) represents the fifteenth-largest equity holding in Renaissance’s portfolio at the end of the third quarter. Jim Simons’ hedge fund firm increased its holdings in the energy company by 916,100 shares during the latest quarter. Duke Energy pays out an annualized dividend of $3.30 per share, and has paid cash dividends for 89 consecutive years. Consequently, the energy company offers a current dividend yield of 4.9%. The stock is down nearly 20% for the year, but it is currently trading an attractive P/E ratio of 19.91. The largest electric power company in the U.S. has a forward P/E ratio of 13.92 (the S&P 500 has a ratio of 17.25), which might point to the fact that the stock is slightly undervalued at the moment relative to the broader market (assuming that analysts’ earnings estimates are accurate). Cliff Asness’ AQR Capital Management owned 1.02 million shares in Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK) as of June 30.

Disclosure: None