While organizing materials on U.S. stock dividend rankings recently, I found that even from the beginning of 2025 to now, there are still many undervalued high-dividend stocks worth paying attention to. The overall dividend yield of the S&P 500 is only 1.2%, the lowest in nearly 20 years, but for investors like us who want stable cash flow, there are still good targets in the market with yields of 5% or more.

I picked a few more representative names to share. First is Brookfield Renewable. The company has the world’s largest pure renewable energy investment portfolio, with installed capacity of over 6,700 megawatts, spanning 13 power markets, and it has a dividend yield of 5.6%. There is also Enbridge, which has increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years, with a yield as high as 6%. The Royal Bank of Canada also raised its target price from $59 to $63.

In the real estate trust (REIT) segment, Realty Income is also a strong option, holding more than 12,000 commercial real estate properties, with a dividend yield of 5.8%. Verizon, as the largest telecommunications company in the United States, has a dividend yield of nearly 7%. Although its stock price performance over the past five years has been mediocre, it is still worth allocating to as a defensive holding. Finally, there is Vici Properties, which focuses on casino and entertainment assets. Its dividend yield is 5.89%, and its market capitalization is also substantial.

The common thread among these five stocks is that they all have stable cash flow and a long track record of paying dividends. U.S. stock dividend rankings may look complicated, but the core logic is actually to find mature companies with stable earnings and plenty of cash. Starting in 2025, major investment banks are bullish on dividend growth. Goldman Sachs expects the earnings per share of S&P 500 constituent stocks to grow by 11%, which also means dividends will rise along with earnings.

When choosing stocks like these, my suggestion is to first select 1–3 industry leaders you’re interested in, and then check whether their dividend records over the past 5–10 years have been steady. In the U.S. stock dividend rankings, companies that have managed to keep paying dividends through economic cycles typically have relatively lower risk. Then compare the dividend yield with their historical payout policies, and finally, consider analysts’ ratings before making a decision.

The benefits of investing in high-dividend stocks are clear: first, they provide stable cash returns; second, these companies are usually mature businesses with strong resilience to risk. However, you should also be aware that companies with high debt ratios or unstable earnings may face the risk of dividend adjustments. So when screening for stocks in the U.S. stock dividend rankings, you must do your homework, assess your own risk tolerance, and don’t rush in just because the yield is high. These stocks are well suited as the defensive portion of an investment portfolio, balancing holdings with high growth potential but greater volatility.