There's no official definition of a high-yield dividend stock. However, most investors would classify it as a stock with a dividend yield higher than a common benchmark such as the S&P 500 index or a 10-year U.S. Treasury note.
In November 2025, the dividend yield on the S&P 500 averaged less than 1.1%, approaching its record low. Meanwhile, the yield on the 10-year note was slightly above 4%, a relatively high level compared to recent years due to the Federal Reserve maintaining elevated interest rates.
Many investors would consider a stock to have a high dividend yield if it were double the S&P 500; others would require a payout at or above the 10-year note level. Those baseline measurements aside, investors shouldn't buy a stock solely because of its dividend yield.
They need to make sure the dividend payments are sustainable. The company should be high-quality, with durable cash flow, a strong balance sheet, and visible growth potential. With all that in mind, here are 20 high-yield dividend stocks to consider buying for dividend income.
Twenty high-yield dividend stocks to watch
| Name and ticker | Annual dividend | Dividend yield | Industry |
|---|---|---|---|
| AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) | $6.56 | 2.94% | Biotechnology |
| Mid-America Apartment Communities (NYSE:MAA) | $6.06 | 4.59% | Residential REITs |
| Brookfield Infrastructure (NYSE:BIPC) | $1.72 | 3.71% | Gas Utilities |
| Brookfield Renewable (NYSE:BEPC) | $1.49 | 3.85% | Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers |
| Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK) | $4.22 | 3.66% | Electric Utilities |
| Main Street Capital (NYSE:MAIN) | $3.03 | 4.85% | Capital Markets |
| Chevron (NYSE:CVX) | $6.84 | 4.56% | Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels |
| Enbridge (NYSE:ENB) | $2.69 | 5.66% | Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels |
| Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD) | $2.16 | 6.72% | Oil, Gas and Consumable Fuels |
| Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) | $3.14 | 2.61% | Biotechnology |
| Healthpeak Properties (NYSE:DOC) | $1.12 | 6.73% | Health Care REITs |
| Regions Financial (NYSE:RF) | $1.03 | 3.73% | Banks |
| Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR) | $6.48 | 4.82% | Specialized REITs |
| NNN REIT (NYSE:NNN) | $2.36 | 5.83% | Retail REITs |
| Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) | $1.72 | 6.65% | Pharmaceuticals |
| Vici Properties (NYSE:VICI) | $1.75 | 6.10% | Specialized REITs |
| Realty Income (NYSE:O) | $3.22 | 5.57% | Retail REITs |
| Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) | $2.72 | 6.66% | Diversified Telecommunication Services |
| T. Rowe Price Group (NASDAQ:TROW) | $5.05 | 4.81% | Capital Markets |
| PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) | $5.62 | 3.73% | Beverages |
Here's a brief look at what makes each of these high-yield dividend stocks look like attractive buys in 2025.
1. AbbVie
NYSE: ABBV
Key Data Points
Drugmaker AbbVie (ABBV -0.29%) has had an excellent dividend track record since its 2013 spinoff from Abbott Labs (ABT +1.77%). From its inception through late 2025, AbbVie has increased its payout by a whopping 330%, including raising it another 5.5% in October. The company has carried on the dividend growth legacy it inherited from Abbott by boosting its payout every year.
AbbVie has invested heavily in developing new therapies. It has also made several blockbuster acquisitions, including closing its $2.1 billion deal for Capstan Therapeutics in mid-2025 to refill its pipeline and drive future growth. That puts it in excellent shape to keep the dividend income flowing and growing.
2. Mid-America Apartment Communities
NYSE: MAA
Key Data Points
As one of the largest apartment owners in the country, Mid-America Apartment Communities (MAA)(MAA -0.64%) benefits from collecting steady rental income to support its high-yielding payout. The real estate investment trust (REIT) also boasts a top-tier financial profile. The company's financial strength allows it to expand its apartment portfolio by developing and acquiring new communities.
Since its 1994 initial public offering (IPO), MAA has never suspended or reduced its dividend. As of November 2025, it had raised its payment for 15 consecutive years. With demand for apartments continuing to grow, the REIT should be able to keep increasing its dividend in the coming years. The landlord had almost $800 million of apartment communities under construction to support its continued growth.
3. Brookfield Infrastructure
NYSE: BIP
Key Data Points
Brookfield Infrastructure (BIP -1.00%) operates a diversified portfolio of infrastructure businesses focused on utilities, transportation, energy (midstream), and data. The businesses generate relatively stable cash flow to support its growing dividend. The infrastructure stock delivered its 16th consecutive yearly payout increase in 2025 and has grown its dividend at a 9% compound annual rate.
Brookfield envisions increasing its dividend at an annual rate of 5% to 9% over the long term, powered by the organic growth of its existing businesses and acquisitions. The company's organic growth drivers of inflation-linked rate increases, volume growth as the global economy expands, and expansion projects should grow its funds from operations (FFO) by 6% to 9% per share over the next few years.
Meanwhile, it sees future acquisitions boosting its FFO per share growth rate above 10% annually. The company routinely recycles capital by selling mature businesses and reinvesting the proceeds into higher-return new investments.
3. Brookfield Renewable
NYSE: BEP
Key Data Points
Brookfield Renewable (BEP -0.57%) is a sibling company of Brookfield Infrastructure. Brookfield Corporation (BN -1.98%) controls both companies.
This Brookfield entity focuses on renewable energy, including hydroelectric, wind, solar, and energy storage facilities. The assets generate steady cash flow backed by long-term power purchase agreements with utilities and other users, supporting Brookfield's high-yield dividend.
Brookfield has grown its payout at a 6% compound annual rate since 2001, while 2025 marked its 14th straight year of raising its payment by at least 5%. The company expects to increase its payout at an annual pace of 5% to 9% over the long term.
Powering that forecast are its organic growth drivers -- including an extensive pipeline of new renewable energy projects -- and additional acquisitions. Brookfield Renewable expects to grow its FFO per share by more than 10% annually through at least 2030.
5. Duke Energy
NYSE: DUK
Key Data Points
Duke Energy (DUK +0.80%) is a leading utility. The company's electric utilities serve 8.2 million customers across six states, while its natural gas utilities provide gas to 1.6 million customers across five states. Its businesses generate very stable cash flows backed by government-regulated rate structures, enabling Duke to pay dividends to its investors for 99 consecutive years as of late 2025.
Duke has a large-scale investment program underway to expand its transmission and distribution network. These investments should grow its earnings per share by 5% to 7% annually through 2029. Earnings growth should enable the utility to continue increasing its dividends.
6. Main Street Capital
NYSE: MAIN
Key Data Points
Main Street Capital (MAIN -0.39%) is a business development company (BDC) focused on providing capital solutions (private debt and private equity) to lower middle market companies (those with annual revenues between $10 million and $150 million). It also provides debt capital to middle-market companies ($150 million+ in annual revenue).
The company's debt investments generate interest income, while most of its equity investments provide it with dividend income. As a BDC, Main Street Capital must pay out 90% of its taxable net income to shareholders. It does that through a sustainable and steadily rising monthly dividend (132% growth since its IPO in 2007). Main Street Capital also periodically pays a supplemental quarterly dividend.
7. Chevron
NYSE: CVX
Key Data Points
NYSE: ENB
Key Data Points
Canadian pipeline and utility giant Enbridge (ENB +0.29%) has been an outstanding dividend stock over the years. It has paid dividends for more than 70 years and has expanded its payout in each of the past 30 years.
While the world is transitioning its fuel supply from oil to cleaner alternatives, Enbridge is adapting by investing in infrastructure to support natural gas projects and renewable energy. The investments have the company on track to increase its cash flow per share by a 3% to 5% annual rate for the next several years, which should support continued dividend growth.
9. Enterprise Products Partners
NYSE: EPD
Key Data Points
NASDAQ: GILD
Key Data Points
NYSE: DOC
Key Data Points
NYSE: RF
Key Data Points
NYSE: EXR
Key Data Points
14. NNN REIT
NYSE: NNN
Key Data Points
NYSE: PFE
Key Data Points
NYSE: VICI
Key Data Points
NYSE: O
Key Data Points
18. Verizon Communications
NYSE: VZ
Key Data Points
NASDAQ: TROW
Key Data Points
NASDAQ: PEP
Key Data Points
Pros and cons of investing in high-yield dividend stocks
Investing in high-yield dividend stocks has its share of benefits and drawbacks. Some of the pros include:
- More income: Investing in high-yield dividend stocks enables you to generate more dividend income from every dollar you invest compared to lower-yielding stocks or those that don't pay a dividend.
- Lower volatility: High-yielding dividend stocks tend to be slower-growing companies and are often less volatile.
- Higher long-term total return potential: Higher-yielding dividend stocks can often produce higher total returns over the long term as the dividend income adds up.
On the other hand, here are some cons of investing in higher-yielding dividend stocks:
- Potentially higher risk profile: Some higher-yielding dividend stocks are at higher risk of reducing their dividends due to high payout ratios or weaker financial profiles.
- Slower growth: Most higher-yielding dividend stocks tend to be slower-growing companies.
Great income now, more later
All 20 of these dividend stocks offer an above-average yield, making them stand out in a time when many companies don't pay very high dividends. Even better, each one has a solid track record of steadily increasing its dividend and showing no signs of stopping. That makes them great income stocks to buy and hold for the long haul.
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