Top Wall Street analysts pick these 3 stocks for reliable income

Investors continue to grapple with stock market volatility due to tensions in the Middle East. Those looking for a steady stream of passive income amid ongoing uncertainty can add shares of some well-established dividend-paying companies to their portfolios.

In this context, the opinions of top Wall Street analysts can help investors choose attractive dividend stocks; because these experts’ ratings are backed by in-depth analysis of a company’s financial health and growth prospects.

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.

ConocoPhillips

The first dividend-paying stock this week was an oil and natural gas exploration and production company ConocoPhillips (POLICE). The energy company is scheduled to report first-quarter results on Thursday. COP paid a dividend of 84 cents per share for the first quarter of 2026 and offers a dividend yield of 2.64%.

Jefferies analyst Lloyd Byrne reiterated his buy rating on ConocoPhillips shares and upgraded them in his Q1 earnings preview note price target $160 It starts at $129. He expects the company to beat first-quarter expectations due to higher oil volumes.

Additionally, the 5-star analyst highlighted that his Q1 2026 earnings per share forecast of $1.89 is higher than the Street’s consensus of $1.70 (which he expects to be revised to $1.80). While higher realized pricing was the biggest driver of the sequential improvement in the first quarter of 2026, Byrne noted that natural gas realization in the Lower 48, at a discount of about 6 cents compared to standard prices, is a headwind that could persist throughout the year.

Byrne believes COP is well positioned to benefit from the volatility triggered by the US-Iran conflict, given that approximately 57% of the company’s production (the highest under its scope) is exposed to crude oil and TTF (the Title Transfer Facility index is the key benchmark for wholesale natural gas prices in Europe).

“If we use ~$90 Brent and $16 TTF at 26, we see that COP has an attractive FCF [free cash flow] “There is an increase compared to 25,” Byrne said. Specifically, the analyst expects ConocoPhillips to make $8.5 billion worth of buybacks and add $3 billion to the $90 Brent balance sheet in 2026. It highlighted that its estimated $8 billion in incremental free cash flow is the highest among its peers.

Byrne is ranked #225 out of more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. It did well in the ratings 61% of the time and delivered an average return of 20.9%. See ConocoPhillips Share Buybacks on TipRanks.

Viper Energy

Viper Energy (VNOM) is a subsidiary of. Diamondback Energy (FANG) owns and purchases mining and concession rights, especially in the Permian Basin. In February 2026, the company announced that it was increasing its annual base dividend by 15% to $1.52 per share. Considering the base and variable dividends declared last year, VNOM offers a dividend yield of 4.6%.

In an earnings preview report, Roth Capital analyst Leo Mariani reaffirmed a buy rating on Viper Energy shares and upgraded the shares price target up 4% to $50 To reflect higher cash flows resulting from rising commodity prices. His bullish stance is supported by VNOM’s “highest organic growth rate compared to its peers, solid and growing dividend rate, strong free cash flow even at low oil prices, and visibility into multi-year operations that its peers do not have.”

The 5-star analyst expects Viper to deliver strong first quarter results; Oil production is expected to exceed consensus by 0.8% and approach the upper end of the company’s forecast of 62,500 to 64,500 bopd (barrels of oil per day). Mariani also expects the company’s total production in the first quarter of 2026 to exceed the Street’s consensus estimate by 0.4%.

Additionally, Mariani predicts Viper’s first-quarter results will reflect solid oil price realizations. But given that Diamondback Energy has already reported lower prices, it expects weaker prices for gas and NGLs (natural gas liquids). Still, he expects the Viper to continue to outperform the Diamondback on gasoline and NGL.

Regarding shareholder returns, Mariani estimates cash distributions of 60 cents per share and stock repurchases of $90 million in the first quarter of 2026. Interestingly, the analyst expects Viper’s capital return plan to rely slightly less on share buybacks this year, with variable dividends taking priority given the strength in oil prices.

Mariani is ranked 23rd out of more than 12,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. It did well in the ratings 72% of the time and delivered an average return of 35.4%. See Viper Energy Ownership Structure on TipRanks.

Kinetic Holding

Finally, let’s look at this Kinetic Holding (KNTK), a midstream operator in the Delaware Basin. The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of 81 cents per share, payable May 1. Based on an annual dividend of $3.24 per share, Kinetik offers a dividend yield of 6.74%.

Ahead of first-quarter results on May 6, RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto reiterated a buy rating on Kinetik shares and slightly upgraded the stock price. price target $50 At $49, reflecting higher commodity price expectations.

The 5-star analyst expects lower volumes due to weak Waha prices to continue weighing on Kinetik’s performance until increased pipeline capacity becomes available in the second half of 2026. However, Scotto expects this headwind to be offset by higher commodity prices and marketing gains from pricing differentials.

Meanwhile, Scotto upgraded its forecasts based on information from its quarterly make-up call and RBC’s new commodity price deck. The analyst now expects Kinetik to deliver adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of $236 million, $1.014 billion and $1.194 billion in the first quarters of 2026, 2026 and 2027, respectively; This figure is higher than previous estimates of $234 million, $1.011 billion and $1.184 billion.

Overall, Scotto remains bullish on Kinetics given its Permian Basin focus, high-quality assets and pipeline connectivity. The analyst believes “KNTK will pay an attractive dividend that may grow over time as leverage and coverage improve.”

Scotto is ranked #162 out of more than 12,200 analysts followed by TipRanks. Their ratings were successful 70% of the time, with an average return of 16%. Check out Kinetik Holdings Option Activity on TipRanks.