Recently, I’ve been researching high-dividend U.S. stocks and found a few options worth paying attention to. The average dividend yield of the S&P 500 is only 1.2%, but the market still has some instruments offering returns of 5% or more—I’ve compiled a list.

After carefully comparing a dozen or so candidate stocks, I ultimately narrowed it down to 5 that are relatively more interesting: Brookfield Renewable (BEPC). Its renewable energy portfolio is very solid, with an annualized return of 5.6%; Enbridge (ENB), which has been growing its dividends for 22 consecutive years, with a yield just above 6%; Realty Income (O), a real estate trust that holds more than 12,000 properties, with a dividend payout rate of 5.8%; Verizon (VZ), a telecom leader, with a dividend payout rate close to 7%; and VICI Properties, which focuses on casino and hotel assets, with a dividend payout rate of 5.89%.

What are the common characteristics of these high-dividend U.S. stocks? First, their income is especially stable—these are leading companies in mature industries with ample cash flow. Second, their historical dividend payment records are also strong; some have continued increasing dividends for more than a decade. On top of that, the companies themselves are still growing, and there’s room for their stock prices to rise—so investors may benefit from both dividends and potential capital appreciation.

My own stock-picking approach is as follows: first, select 2–3 industry leaders in the sectors I’m interested in; then look at the stability of their dividends over the past 5–10 years, and compare whether the dividend yield is reasonable. Finally, I listen to what analysts are saying to confirm the timing for entry.

Starting in 2025, U.S. earnings growth is clearly expected to accelerate, which usually drives dividend growth after about 3 quarters. Wall Street is generally optimistic, and some institutions predict dividend growth could reach 8–12%. So if there’s pressure on the economy to pull back, high-dividend U.S. stocks could actually become a good defensive choice. Of course, risks also need to be considered: companies with high debt or unstable earnings may adjust their dividends—so you still need to do your homework before taking action.