Investors love dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends, and distributions realized over time. In other words, the total return on an investment or portfolio consists of income and stock appreciation. At 24/7 Wall St., we have focused on dividend stocks for over 15 years because, despite the stock market’s ups and downs, many people need reliable passive income streams to supplement their income from employment or other sources such as Social Security and pensions.
With fourth-quarter earnings in the final lap of the year, we decided to run our 24/7 Wall St. high-yield Dividend Kings screen for companies that pay big, dependable dividends and also beat analysts’ fourth-quarter earnings expectations. Five companies that are among the best ideas for Boomer and retiree Social Security recipients to supplement retirement income look like strong stocks to own in 2026 and beyond. All are rated Buy at the top Wall Street firms that we cover.
Chevron
Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX | CVX Price Prediction) is an American multinational energy company primarily focused on oil and gas. This integrated giant is a safer option for investors looking to position themselves in the energy sector and pays a substantial 3.98% dividend, which was raised by 5% earlier this year. Chevron operates integrated energy and chemicals businesses worldwide, and the company reported solid fourth-quarter 2025 results. Earnings topped analyst estimates despite revenue declines and lower year-over-year profit, driven by lower oil prices.
The company operates in two segments. The Upstream segment is involved in the following:
- Exploration, development, production, and transportation of crude oil and natural gas
- Processing, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification associated with liquefied natural gas
- Transportation of crude oil through pipelines, and transportation, storage
- Marketing of natural gas, as well as operating a gas-to-liquids plant
The Downstream segment engages in:
- Refining crude oil into petroleum products
- Marketing crude oil, refined products, and lubricants
- Manufacturing and marketing renewable fuels
- Transporting crude oil and refined products by pipeline, marine vessel, motor equipment, and rail car
- Manufacturing and marketing of commodity petrochemicals, plastics for industrial uses, and fuel and lubricant additives
It also involves cash management, debt financing, insurance operations, real estate, and technology businesses.
Bank of America has a Buy rating with a $180 target price.
Comcast
Comcast Corp. (NYSE: CMCSA) remains a favorite on Wall Street. This American multinational telecommunications and media conglomerate has a 4.51% dividend yield. The global media and technology company beat fourth-quarter 2025 earnings expectations, reporting an adjusted earnings of $0.84 per share, which exceeded analyst forecasts of $0.75. The company achieved revenue of $32.31 billion, in line with forecasts, driven by growth in Peacock, theme parks, and wireless, despite broadband customer losses.
It operates through four segments:
- Residential Connectivity & Platforms
- Business Services Connectivity
- Media, Studios
- Theme Parks segments
The Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment offers residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, as well as residential and business video services, Sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising.
The Business Services Connectivity segment provides connectivity services for small-business locations, including broadband, wireline voice, and wireless. It also provides solutions for medium-sized customers, larger enterprises, and small businesses, as well as connectivity services in the United Kingdom.
The Media segment operates NBCUniversal’s television and streaming business, including:
- National and regional cable networks
- The NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks
- Owned local broadcast television stations
- Peacock, a direct-to-consumer streaming service
It also operates international television networks, including the Sky Sports networks, as well as other digital properties.
The Studios segment operates NBCUniversal and Sky film and television studio production and distribution operations.
The Theme Parks segment operates Universal theme parks in:
- Orlando, Florida
- Hollywood, California
- Osaka, Japan
- Beijing, China
TD Cowen has a Buy rating and a $39 price target.
Comerica
Comerica Bank, a regional commercial bank based in Dallas, is a fast-growing banking center giant that pays a substantial 3.06% dividend. Note that Comerica Inc. (NYSE: CMA) provides a range of financial products and services. The company beat fourth-quarter earnings expectations, driven by higher net interest income and fee income, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.46 easily topping the estimated $1.25 to $1.29 range. Revenue was $850 million, also beating expectations.
The company operates through these segments:
- Commercial banking
- Retail banking
- Wealth management
- Finance
The Commercial Bank segment offers:
- Commercial loans and lines of credit
- Deposits
- Cash management
- Capital market products
- International trade finance
- Letters of credit
- Foreign exchange management services
- Loan syndication services
- Payment and card services for small and middle-market businesses, multinational corporations, and governmental entities
The Retail Bank segment provides:
- Personal financial services, such as consumer lending
- Consumer deposit gathering
- Mortgage loan origination and various
- Consumer products that include deposit accounts, installment loans, credit cards, student loans, and home equity lines of credit
- Residential mortgage loans and commercial products and services to micro-businesses
The Wealth Management segment offers products and services comprising:
- Fiduciary
- Private banking
- Retirement
- Investment management and advisory
- Investment banking and brokerage services
- Annuity products and life, disability, and long-term care insurance products
The Finance segment engages in securities portfolio and asset and liability management activities.
Comerica operates in:
- Texas
- California
- Michigan
- Arizona
- Florida
- Canada
- Mexico
UBS has a Buy rating with a $106 target price.
UPS
The delivery giant announced it is cutting its shipping volume for e-commerce giant Amazon by more than 50% by the second half of 2026. United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) was one of the worst performers among top dividend picks, with a dividend yield now at 6.12%. UPS provides a range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 200 countries and territories.
UPS faced headwinds from the discontinuation of its Amazon business and expectations of slower economic growth. The company said the move is part of its broader strategy to focus on more profitable, less risky business segments. It topped analyst expectations in the fourth quarter on both the earnings and revenue front, thanks to disciplined cost management and a focus on higher-quality revenue streams — even as total revenue dipped compared to the prior year. The company posted adjusted earnings per share of $2.38, comfortably beating the $2.20 estimate, while revenue came in at $24.5 billion, edging past the $24.0 billion forecast.
Its segments include U.S. Domestic Package and International Package. The former offers a range of domestic air and ground package transportation services within the United States. Its air portfolio offers time-definite, same-day, next-day, two-day, and three-day delivery alternatives as well as air cargo services. UPS’s ground network enables customers to ship using its day-definite ground service. And UPS SurePost provides residential ground service for non-urgent, lightweight shipments.
The International Package segment comprises its small package operations in Europe, the Indian subcontinent, the Middle East and Africa, Canada, Latin America, and Asia. It offers a selection of guaranteed day- and time-definite international shipping services. Its supply chain solutions include forwarding, logistics, and related services.
Citigroup has a Buy rating with a $120 price objective.
Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is an American multinational telecommunications company. Its stock continues to offer tremendous value, as it trades at 9.13 times estimated 2026 earnings and comes with a 6.90% dividend. Verizon provides a range of communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and government entities worldwide.
Verizon’s trailing 12-month interest coverage ratio is 4.6× to 5.0×, providing ample cushion for dividend payments. With a very predictable revenue stream from telecom services, the company has less exposure to commodity cycles. In addition, the large scale helps in financing and absorbing shocks. Wall Street expectations were surpassed in the fourth quarter, with revenue reaching $36.4 billion — a 2% jump from the year before — and an adjusted per-share of $1.09, both clearing analyst forecasts. The strong top-line performance was driven by robust wireless service revenue and meaningful broadband momentum, highlighted by the addition of 319,000 new fixed wireless subscribers during the quarter.
It operates in two segments. The Consumer segment provides wireless services across the United States through Verizon and TracFone networks, as well as through wholesale and other arrangements. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its wireless networks and related equipment and devices, such as:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Smartwatches and other wireless-enabled connected devices
The segment also offers wireline services in the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States through its fiber-optic network, Verizon Fios product portfolio, and copper-based network.
The Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including:
- FWA broadband
- Data
- Video and conferencing
- Corporate networking
- Security and managed network
- Local and long-distance voice
Network access services to deliver various IoT services and products to businesses, government customers, and wireless and wireline carriers in the United States and internationally.
TD Cowen has a Buy rating and a $51 price target.
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