We recently compiled a list of the 10 Dividend Knights that Beat The Market Last 3 Years. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) stands against the other dividend stocks that beat the market in the last 3 years.

The broader market has been performing strongly this year, rising by nearly 30% since the beginning of 2024. According to Morningstar Direct, the S&P 500’s return has exceeded this level in only 17 of the past 74 years. For instance, in 1954, the index saw a gain of over 52%, and in 1989, it increased by about 31%. However, analysts caution investors to manage their expectations, as years with such exceptional returns are uncommon. Cathy Curtis, a certified financial planner and the founder and CEO of Curtis Financial Planning made the following comment about the market’s performance this year in one of her recent interviews with CNBC:

“Investors should know that the stock market has an average annualized return of over 10% for decades. The past year has seen growth way over this amount and it would be highly unusual for that to continue for a multi-year timeframe.”

Regardless of where the market ends up, dividend stocks have strong potential, as demonstrated over the years. During past periods of inflation, dividend stocks performed better compared to other asset classes. Since the 1940s, dividends have accounted for 40% of the market, with this share increasing during times of higher inflation, according to Hartford Funds. The report also highlighted the performance of dividend stocks in the 1970s, when they made up 73% of the market’s returns. Additional studies, including one from Fidelity International, showed that dividends typically grow faster than inflation. Fidelity’s research indicated that since 1900, the 10-year annual average growth of dividends in the market has outpaced CPI growth nearly 73% of the time.

In addition to their considerable impact on overall market returns, dividend stocks provide investors with a way to mitigate risks linked to market volatility. According to DWS Group, over the past 20 years, the monthly volatility of dividend returns was just 0.10%, compared to 3.75% for price returns. The report also noted that despite market fluctuations, investors have seen positive overall returns during this period. While riskier factors played a significant role in these returns, it was the dividend stream that proved to be a more stable and safer option amid the uncertainties of the stock market.

Also read: 10 Best Consistent Dividend Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Although dividend stocks have recently lagged behind the broader market, they remain a popular investment choice due to their strong long-term returns. The Dividend Aristocrats Index has grown by just nearly 11% this year, but the outlook for dividend growth among US companies is promising. According to Howard Silverblatt, Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, large-cap stocks outperformed many others in the first three quarters of 2024, driven by record earnings and an anticipated record dividend payout for the year. He further added that the market’s large caps are expected to see a 6% increase in dividend payments for 2024, compared with 5.1% in 2023 and 10.8% in 2022.

When it comes to dividend investing, investors often prefer companies with a strong track record of dividend growth and solid returns as they help prepare for challenging market conditions. Additionally, investors focus on a company’s ability to generate cash flow and maintain a strong balance sheet, as these factors support the sustainability of future dividend payouts. In view of this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend knights that have outperformed the market in the last three years.

Our Methodology:

For this list, we used a stock screener and selected dividend companies that have outperformed the market in the past three years. These companies also have strong dividend growth track records under their belt. We also considered hedge fund sentiment around each stock using Insider Monkey’s data for Q3 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of their three-year returns.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here).

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)

3-Year Share Price Gains as of  December 4: 107.6%

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is an Arkansas-based retail corporation that operates a chain of hypermarkets, discount stores, and grocery stores across the country. The company is leveraging its competitive advantages to deliver substantial financial gains for its investors. Its improving cash flow and profitability are not only a result of gaining market share but also from the company’s profitable e-commerce segment, which has become successful after significant infrastructure investments. Moreover, strategic actions such as price cuts and more efficient inventory management have contributed to these positive outcomes.

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) delivered a 107.6% return in the past three years, significantly outperforming the broader market during this period. In addition, the company experienced growth in customer traffic this year, with a 3% increase in the third quarter compared to the same time last year. This is a favorable trend for any large retailer.

In the third quarter of 2024, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) reported revenue of $168 billion, reflecting a 5.5% increase from the previous year. This performance exceeded analysts’ expectations by $1.4 billion. Known for its strong dividend payouts, the company maintains a healthy cash position. Year-to-date, it has generated $22.9 billion in operating cash flow, up by $3.9 billion compared to the same period last year. Its free cash flow also rose by $1.9 billion year-over-year, reaching $6.2 billion. The company has raised its payouts for 51 years in a row. It currently offers a quarterly dividend of $0.2075 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.87%, as of December 5.

As per Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2024, 88 hedge funds owned stakes in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), compared with 95 in the previous quarter. The total value of these stakes is more than $9.7 billion.

Overall WMT ranks 5th on our list of the best dividend knights that beat the market in the last 3 years. While we acknowledge the potential for WMT 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 WMT but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. 

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.