Top 20 Dividend Stocks Ranked by Marvin's Scores
Marvin's rules picked 20 established dividend payers. AngloGold Ashanti, Dorian LPG, Provident Financial and WesBanco share the top overall score. Each is listed with its key figures and a caution.
There is no single best dividend stock, but Marvin's rules give a clear starting list. This page shows 20 established companies that pay a dividend above a minimum yield, ranked by Marvin's overall score. They span gold mining, banks, real estate, consumer brands, utilities and more.
A dividend is only as reliable as the business behind it. So for each stock we show figures such as profit margins, return on equity, revenue growth and debt. Strong margins and low debt can suggest a company has room to keep paying. Slow growth, thin margins or heavy borrowing are things to look at more closely.
Some figures are missing for some companies, and the blurbs say so. Marvin's scores compare each company with others in its own industry today. They are not predictions, and this list is a place to start your own research, not advice.
The list
How Marvin ranked these stocks
Marvin chose these stocks using a simple rule: the top-ranked dividend payers that yield more than a set minimum, among established companies. They are ordered by overall score, which blends a quality score and an opportunity score. All scores are relative to each company's industry, so a bank is compared with other banks and a utility with other utilities. A high score means a company looks strong against its industry peers, not that it beats every company on the list.
Marvin's Favorite Dividend Stocks: the top-ranked established companies that pay a dividend
The stocks, one by one
AngloGold Ashanti Plc AU
AngloGold Ashanti, a gold miner, has an overall score of 97 and a quality score of 96. Revenue grew 70.8% last fiscal year, return on equity is 39.2%, and debt-to-equity is low at 0.28. Caution: operating and free cash flow margins are unavailable, so the profit picture is incomplete.
Dorian LPG Ltd. LPG
Dorian LPG, an oil and gas midstream company, scores 97 overall. Its operating margin is 57.6%, return on equity is 26.0%, and revenue growth is 36.3%, all strong, with moderate debt-to-equity of 0.52. Caution: free cash flow margin is unavailable, so cash generation is unclear.
Provident Financial Services, Inc. PFS
Provident Financial Services, a regional bank, scores 97 overall with quality at 92. Return on equity is 10.8% and revenue grew 25.3%, a steady pace. Caution: its free cash flow margin of not reported is unusually high, and that figure is hard to interpret for a bank.
WesBanco, Inc. WSBC
WesBanco, another regional bank, has an overall score of 97 and a quality score of 95. Return on equity is 8.7%, a modest profit on shareholder money. Caution: growth, margin and debt figures are unavailable, so the picture here is thin.
CareTrust REIT, Inc. CTRE
CareTrust REIT, a healthcare facilities property company, grew revenue 60.8% and has a quality score of 96. Debt-to-equity is low at 0.27. Caution: return on equity is modest at 7.9%, and margin figures are unavailable.
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. EPRT
Essential Properties Realty Trust, a diversified REIT, has an operating margin of 62.8% and revenue growth of 24.8%, both solid. Debt-to-equity is moderate at 0.67. Caution: return on equity is only 6.1%, a low return on shareholder money.
Hercules Capital, Inc. HTGC
Hercules Capital, an asset manager, has an overall score of 95 and return on equity of 16.8%, a healthy level. Debt-to-equity is 1.03, a fairly high level of borrowing against equity. Caution: growth and margin figures are unavailable.
Smithfield Foods, Inc. SFD
Smithfield Foods, a packaged foods company, grew revenue 9.8% and earns return on equity of 15.1%. Caution: its operating margin of 8.6% and gross margin of 13.4% are thin, leaving less room for error, and debt data is unavailable.
The Buckle, Inc. BKE
The Buckle, an apparel retailer, shows a strong operating margin of 20.8% and return on equity of 45.2%, with growth of 6.6%. Caution: growth is modest, and its opportunity score of 67 sits well below its overall score of 95.
EPR Properties EPR
EPR Properties, a specialty REIT, has a high operating margin of 55.1% but slow revenue growth of 2.9%. Caution: its free cash flow margin is negative at not reported, meaning more cash went out than came in after investment spending.
Altria Group, Inc. MO
Altria, a tobacco company, has very strong profitability: operating margin 46.8%, gross margin 63.0% and free cash flow margin 38.8%. Caution: revenue growth was -3.1%, a decline, and return on equity and debt figures are unavailable.
Sonoco Products Company SON
Sonoco Products, a packaging company, posted revenue growth of 41.7% and return on equity of 28.5%, both strong, with a quality score of 41. Caution: margin and debt figures are unavailable, so profitability and borrowing cannot be judged fully.
Verizon Communications Inc. VZ
Verizon, a telecommunications company, has an operating margin of 20.5%, a healthy profit on sales, and an overall score of 95. Caution: revenue growth is slow at 2.5%, and debt and return on equity figures are unavailable.
DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. DKS
DICK'S Sporting Goods grew revenue 28.1% and earns return on equity of 14.7%. Caution: operating margin of 5.5% and free cash flow margin of 1.1% are thin, and its quality score of 78 is below its opportunity score of 96.
Paychex, Inc. PAYX
Paychex, a staffing and employment services company, has an operating margin of 39.2%, free cash flow margin of 30.5% and return on equity of 48.7%, signs of a very profitable business. Caution: debt-to-equity of 1.25 is on the higher side.
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. SIRI
Sirius XM, a broadcaster, has an operating margin of 19.1%, free cash flow margin of 18.0% and quality score of 93. Caution: revenue growth was -1.6%, a small decline, and return on equity is modest at 7.4%.
Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. CQP
Cheniere Energy Partners, an oil and gas midstream company, grew revenue 23.6%, with an operating margin of 33.6% and free cash flow margin of 24.2%. Caution: debt and return on equity figures are unavailable, and its opportunity score of 86 trails its quality score of 96.
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated PEG
Public Service Enterprise Group, a regulated electric utility, grew revenue 18.3% and has an operating margin of 23.1%. Caution: its free cash flow margin is just 2.2%, and debt figures are unavailable, which limits how much these numbers can show.
PepsiCo, Inc. PEP
PepsiCo, a non-alcoholic beverage company, has a gross margin of 54.2% and return on equity of 48.9%, both strong. Caution: revenue growth is slow at 2.3%, operating margin is a moderate 15.3%, and debt data is unavailable.
Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. FIS
Fidelity National Information Services, an IT services company, has a free cash flow margin of 23.1% and return on equity of 21.0%. Caution: debt-to-equity of 1.33 is among the higher levels here, and revenue growth is modest at 5.4%.
Common questions
Does a high Marvin score mean the dividend is safe?
No. The scores show how a company compares with others in its industry today, using things like profitability, growth and debt. They do not promise that a dividend will continue. Check each company's own dividend history and cash flow.
Why are some figures missing for certain stocks?
Not every financial measure applies to or is reported for every company. Banks, for example, often lack standard margin or debt figures. When a figure is unavailable we say so rather than guess, and treat the picture as incomplete.
What should I check besides yield when looking at dividend stocks?
Look at whether the business earns enough profit and cash to cover its payout. Steady margins, manageable debt and stable or growing revenue are good signs. A high yield alone can sometimes signal that a business is under pressure.
Keep reading
- Top 20 Mid-Cap Stocks Right Now, Ranked by Marvin Scores
- Top 20 Top-Rated Stocks Right Now: Marvin's Favorites
- Top 20 Stocks to Hold for the Long Term, Ranked by Marvin
- Top 20 Growth Stocks Right Now
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Marvin's scores (0-100) compare each company with others in its industry today. Growth and margin figures come from SEC filings. This is general information, not personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Do your own research.