We recently published a list of Dividend Contenders List: Top 15. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) stands against other top dividend contenders.
Dividend stocks have remained a popular choice among investors due to the steady income they provide, becoming even more attractive when payouts grow over time. Many investors look for companies with a track record of consistently increasing dividends, as this ensures rising income in the long run. However, maintaining steady dividend growth is no easy feat. For example, “dividend aristocrats” are companies that have raised their dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, a distinction achieved by only about 68 US companies. This highlights the difficulty of sustaining such a standard. Nonetheless, numerous companies continue to build strong, albeit shorter, histories of dividend growth, demonstrating resilience and the potential to reach new milestones. “Dividend contenders” are those that have consistently increased their dividends for at least 10 years, though they have yet to attain the 25-year benchmark required to be classified as long-term dividend growers.
Dividend stocks appeal to investors because they help cushion portfolios against market downturns while still offering growth opportunities. Historically, investment strategies centered around dividends have demonstrated stability across various regions and market cycles. A report by Franklin Templeton noted that over the three years leading up to December 31, 2024, companies that pay dividends experienced lower volatility and smaller declines compared to the broader market in global, US, and European markets. When inflation and interest rate concerns reemerged in August 2024, dividend stocks remained relatively steady.
Companies that pay regular dividends often belong to non-cyclical industries such as consumer staples, utilities, and healthcare, which tend to be more resilient during economic downturns. As 2025 began, growing concerns over rising inflation and slowing economic growth led investors to increase their exposure to defensive stocks, aiming to protect their portfolios from potential market volatility.
Ned Davis’s Clissold and his team made the following comment on the situation:
“One would expect that companies that pay dividends are more stable and have lower growth rates. As a result, they should rally less in up markets and decline less in down markets. In other words, they have lower betas than non-dividend-payers. … As a group, dividend-payers have a beta of 0.99 versus 1.11 for nonpayers.”
Investors tend to favor companies with a track record of consistently increasing their dividend payouts. A study by Nuveen found that firms initiating or raising dividends have historically outperformed in the three years following a Federal Reserve interest rate hike. Dividend growth is often linked to solid corporate earnings. In February, the overall market faced challenges, slipping more than 2% as investors reacted to inflation worries, potential tariffs linked to former President Donald Trump, and rising geopolitical tensions. On February 28, the major index briefly turned negative for the year. However, fourth-quarter earnings reports have emerged as a new driving force, helping to support market sentiment.
Companies continued to boost their dividend payouts in the fourth quarter of 2024. According to a report from S&P Dow Jones Indices, a total of 635 companies raised their dividends during the quarter, amounting to $14.2 billion. Over the full year, total dividend increases climbed to $71.4 billion, up from $65.1 billion the year before. Given this, we will take a look at some of the best stocks in our dividend contenders list.
Our Methodology
This list focuses on dividend contenders—companies known for raising their dividends consistently for 10 years but less than 25. From this group, we selected prominent companies with the highest dividend yields as of March 12 and ranked from lowest to highest yield.
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A couple watching their favorite show on TV, enjoying the entertainment network service.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA)
Dividend Yield as of March 12: 3.75%
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is a Pennsylvania-based telecommunications company that offers a wide range of mobile phone and cable TV services. The company has strengthened its position as a leading provider of connectivity services, delivering broadband and wireless solutions while maintaining a strong foothold in the media industry through NBC, Telemundo, and the Peacock streaming platform. By enhancing its network infrastructure and expanding its content offerings, it aims to stay competitive in the fast-changing media landscape.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) reported nearly $32 billion in revenue, reflecting a 2.1% increase from the previous year. This growth was supported by solid performance across its six key business segments. Despite a highly competitive environment, connectivity revenue grew by 5%, while mobile services expanded with 1.2 million new lines added. Moreover, Business Services saw a 5% rise in revenue.
Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ:CMCSA) is one of the best dividend contenders on our list as the company has been growing its payouts for 17 consecutive years. The company’s solid cash position has allowed it to maintain consistent dividend growth. In the latest quarter, operating cash flow exceeded $8 billion, up from $6 billion in the same period a year earlier. Free cash flow also experienced substantial growth, rising to $3.26 billion from $1.7 billion the previous year. Additionally, the company returned $1.2 billion to shareholders through dividend payments. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.75%, as of March 12.
Overall, CMCSA ranks 10th on our list of top dividend contenders. While we acknowledge the potential for CMCSA 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 CMCSA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
