Top Wall Street analysts like these dividend stocks for steady income
The stock market has been volatile due to rising Treasury yields and higher oil prices amid tensions in the Middle East. Amid this uncertainty, dividend stocks can help investors generate consistent portfolio income.
Top Wall Street analysts can inform investors on their search for attractive dividend stocks with the ability to generate solid cash flow and pay consistent dividends.
Here are three dividend-paying stocks highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Energy Transfer
Energy Transfer It owns and operates a diversified portfolio of energy assets with approximately 140,000 miles of pipeline and related infrastructure in the United States. The company recently announced an increase in sales. quarterly cash distribution up to roughly 34 cents per common unit. Energy Transfer It offers a 6.7% return.
Recently, TD Cowen analyst Jason Gabelman reiterated and slightly upgraded his buy rating on Energy Transfer price target $23 “We continue to see the rise of underappreciated growth potential, including underutilized assets in second-tier gas basins.”
The five-star analyst highlighted that Energy Transfer increased its full-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, guidance and that the company met its full-year optimization target in the first quarter. The revised outlook reflects bullishness driven by higher volumes, rates and spreads. Gabelman expects EBITDA to reach the highest level in the current commodity price outlook.
Additionally, Gabelman expects ET to see $200 million in EBITDA gains from some new projects and an 800 million cubic feet per day volume increase in Haynesville this year; this is expected to add $100 million to EBITDA. Interestingly, the company expects to approve multiple projects that could contribute an additional $400 million to EBITDA in 2026.
Gabelman is ranked #660 out of more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. It did well in the ratings 64% of the time and delivered an average return of 13.4%. See Energy Transfer Financials on TipRanks.
Strip
The next dividend-paying stock is the oil and gas giant Strip. The company recently announced first quarter results. It paid $6 billion in cash to shareholders in the first quarter of 2026, including $2.5 billion in share buybacks and $3.5 billion in dividends. Strip It offers a current dividend yield of 3.7%.
Wells Fargo analyst Sam Margolin reaffirmed his buy rating on CVX shares after hosting investor meetings with Chevron management. price target $222. “The company is in a positive operating posture with asset momentum driving transparent capital allocation and positive FCF/leverage results,” the analyst said.
The five-star analyst noted Chevron’s solid operating momentum, with key assets in the Permian, Kazakhstan, Australian LNG and Guyana operating at full capacity or above projected production levels. He added that CVX benefits from stronger vertical integration and access to crude sources in California and Asia, helping to ease potential feedstock constraints.
Additionally, Margolin highlighted that Chevron plans to maintain the 1 million barrels of oil equivalent per day plateau in the Permian Basin thanks to operational efficiencies achieved under its current program. He added that advanced chemical treatment of wells, including both private and third-party, provides a productivity benefit of approximately 20% in the first 10 months.
The analyst also noted that CVX is advancing the first project under its energy joint venture through an exclusivity agreement. Microsoft. Margolin believes the company’s advantage lies in being an early mover, with 5 gigawatts of turbines already on order, as well as access to the land and natural gas supply needed for power generation and data center development.
Margolin is ranked #455 out of more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Their ratings were profitable 71% of the time, with an average return of 13.3%. See Chevron Stock Buybacks on TipRanks.
Williams Companies
Williams It operates interstate natural gas pipelines and gathering and processing operations throughout the United States. The company recently announced a dividend of approximately 53 cents per share, payable on June 29. WMB It offers a 2.7% return.
Recently, UBS analyst Manav Gupta reiterated his buy rating on Williams shares and increased his shares price target $91 It starts at $89. The analyst is optimistic about the company’s Power Innovation business and noted updates on two new projects (NEO and Atlas). With the addition of these two projects, which WMB announced with its first quarter results, the company now has a Power Innovation project worth $ 9.65 billion.
The five-star analyst noted that WMB continues to stand out by expanding its Power Innovation business faster than investors and UBS expected. Based on previously announced projects (Socrates, Atlas, Apollo, Aquila, Young Socrates and Neo), Gupta expects Williams’ Energy Innovation business to grow EBITDA to $1.93 billion by 2029.
Gupta believes the addition of NEO further strengthens WMB’s position and gives it an edge over competitors like Chevron in showcasing integrated, end-to-end power solutions designed specifically for hyperscalers. The analyst emphasized that Chevron has confirmed its partnership with Meta Platforms on a project, but this agreement has not yet reached a final investment decision, which limits visibility in the near term.
“We remain constructive on WMB’s Power Innovation platform and see potential upside to 2028-2030 consensus earnings estimates as additional projects reach commercial operation and contribute to earnings growth,” Gupta said.
Gupta is ranked 168th out of more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Their ratings were 70% profitable and delivered an average return of 21.9%. See Williams Ownership Structure on TipRanks.
