Top Wall Street analysts say buy these dividend stocks for enhanced returns

The continued market volatility continues so as to add to buyers’ woes, making it tough for them to select the fitting shares.

Nevertheless, it’s all the time higher to have a longer-term funding horizon and search for names that may improve whole returns with protected dividends and capital appreciation.

To that finish, listed here are 5 enticing dividend shares, in accordance with Wall Road’s high specialists on TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts primarily based on their previous efficiency.

This week we’ll first take a look at a high-dividend yield inventory Ares Capital (ARCC). Ares is a enterprise growth firm that gives a variety of financing options to the center market. The corporate lately reported a beat on third-quarter earnings, pushed by greater rates of interest and continued steady credit score high quality.

The corporate additionally declared a dividend of 48 cents per share for the fourth quarter, payable on Dec. 28. ARCC provides a dividend yield of 9.8%.  

Commenting on the Q3 outcomes, RBC Capital analyst Kenneth Lee famous that credit score efficiency remains to be good, with loans on non-accrual standing declining barely quarter-over-quarter to a really low 1.2% of the portfolio (on an amortized value foundation). That mentioned, he thinks that non-accruals might rise someday subsequent yr.

The analyst highlighted different positives for Ares Capital, together with portfolio diversification. The analyst additionally thinks that the corporate’s dividends are strongly backed by its core earnings per share era and potential internet realized positive aspects.

Lee reiterated a purchase score on ARCC inventory with a value goal of $21 saying, “We nonetheless favor ARCC’s sturdy observe report of managing dangers by means of the cycle, well-supported dividends, and scale benefits.”

Lee ranks No. 251 amongst greater than 8,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His scores have been worthwhile 57% of the time, with every delivering a median return of 12.6%. (See ARCC Inventory Charts on TipRanks)  

Subsequent on this week’s record is banking large Citigroup (C). In October, the financial institution delivered better-than-anticipated outcomes for the third quarter, fueled by power in its institutional purchasers and private banking items. Citi lately introduced an enormous reorganization that might simplify its working mannequin and improve its enterprise.

The financial institution introduced a quarterly dividend of 53 cents per share, payable on Nov. 22. Citi’s dividend yield stands at 5%.

BMO Capital analyst James Fotheringham famous that Citi’s Q3 outcomes had been pushed by higher-than-projected income (with internet curiosity revenue coming in 5% above consensus), decrease working bills, and decreased credit score prices.

The analyst raised his core earnings per share estimates for 2023, 2024, and 2025 by 11%, 6%, and three%, respectively, to replicate decrease than previously-modeled credit score prices and a slower-than-expected decline in internet curiosity margin.

Fotheringham additionally elevated his value goal for the inventory to $66 from $61 and reiterated a purchase score, saying, “C is our high choose amongst large-cap banks; shares commerce on the largest low cost (by far) to TCE [total capital employed] among the many money-center banks.”   

Fotheringham holds the 372nd place amongst greater than 8,500 analysts on TipRanks. Furthermore, 56% of his scores have been worthwhile, with every producing a median return of 9.4%. (See Citigroup Blogger Opinions & Sentiment on TipRanks)

Dividend aristocrat McDonald’s (MCD) lately reported its third-quarter outcomes. The fast-food chain exceeded Wall Road’s expectations, because of greater costs that helped offset weak spot within the site visitors at U.S. eating places.

In early October, MCD introduced a ten% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.67 per share, which will probably be payable on Dec. 15. The corporate has elevated its dividends for 47 consecutive years. The corporate pays a dividend yield of two.5%.

BTIG analyst Peter Saleh, who ranks No. 667 amongst greater than 8,500 analysts on TipRanks, highlighted that the gross sales and earnings upside in MCD’s Q3 outcomes was coupled with moderately cautious feedback in regards to the U.S. site visitors. Site visitors had declined barely as a consequence of decreased frequency from lower-income clients and strain within the “breakfast daypart.”

Nonetheless, the analyst famous that MCD nonetheless skilled vast geographic power and stays higher positioned than its rivals. Trying forward, Saleh expects the corporate to speed up its U.S. growth subsequent yr, along with his checks indicating that MCD has about 250 items within the pipeline. He additionally expects the corporate to have a higher concentrate on worth and digital engagement, in addition to an growth of its automated order-taking know-how in 2024.

“We view McDonald’s as one of many strongest restaurant ideas on this planet that’s within the center phases of a multi-year gross sales restoration,” mentioned Saleh.

Saleh reiterated a purchase score on McDonald’s inventory with a value goal of $300. His scores have been profitable 52% of the time, with every score delivering a median return of seven.9%. (See McDonald’s Monetary Statements on TipRanks)

We now transfer to telecommunications large AT&T (T), which galvanized buyers by reporting sturdy subscriber additions for the third quarter, because of promotions and telephone upgrades. Moreover, the corporate raised its full-year free money stream steerage to about $16.5 billion from $16 billion. AT&T provides a pretty dividend yield of seven%.

On Oct. 26, Tigress Monetary Companions analyst Ivan Feinseth reiterated a purchase score on AT&T inventory with a value goal of $28. The analyst highlighted that the rise in Q3 subscribers and money stream mark a major flip in AT&T’s enterprise efficiency traits.

He added that whereas 2022 was a transitional yr, the corporate’s income, money stream and profitability will rise considerably in 2023 and past, with the long-term progress pushed by ongoing 5G and broadband rollout in enterprise communications.

“AT&T will more and more leverage its 5G high-speed fiber community to drive ongoing subscriber progress and additional improve its Edge Computing capabilities,” mentioned Feinseth.

The analyst famous that AT&T decreased its debt by over $3 billion in Q3 2023, which would cut back curiosity expense and drive greater funding in its connectivity enterprise. He thinks that the corporate will additional optimize its dividend payout ratio such that it could possibly assist ongoing investments whereas returning money to shareholders.

Feinseth holds the 453rd place amongst greater than 8,500 analysts on TipRanks. Furthermore, 54% of his scores have been profitable, with every producing a median return of 8.2%. (See AT&T Hedge Fund Buying and selling Exercise on TipRanks)

Feinseth can be bullish on one other dividend inventory: big-box retailer Goal (TGT). The analyst thinks that near-term pressures create a pretty alternative to purchase the inventory, as the corporate is well-positioned to drive income progress and profitability over the long run and additional improve shareholder worth.

The analyst expects Goal’s a number of strengths — together with its loyal buyer base, working efficiencies and enhanced achievement capabilities — to assist it navigate ongoing client headwinds, advertising and marketing errors and stock shrink troubles.

Feinseth additionally highlighted that the retailer is enhancing its product choices by including a number of new merchandise throughout its main product strains. It is usually increasing its footprint by opening new shops whereas transforming current ones. (See Goal Insider Buying and selling Exercise on TipRanks)    

He identified that TGT initiated its dividend in 1967 and has elevated its dividend yearly since 1971. In June 2023, the corporate raised its quarterly dividend by about 2% to $1.10 per share, following an enormous 20% improve in June 2022 to $1.08 per share. TGT’s dividend yield stands at 3.9%.

Feinseth lowered TGT’s value goal to $180 from $215 as a consequence of near-term challenges however maintained a purchase score, saying, “Rising worth focus in client spending traits, and moderation in inflationary pressures and enter prices, will drive a reacceleration in Enterprise Efficiency traits.”