Investing
Passive Income Investors Love The 5 Highest Yielding Dividend Kings

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Over the last two years, interest rates have jumped from historical lows of literally 0% to the highest level since 2007 at 5.5%. 30-year FHA Mortgages have jumped from 2.65% in January of 2021 to the current 7.24% rate. During that period, any stock that was the least sensitive to interest rates got hammered, and the damage trail covered several sectors.
While it was a tough stretch for shareholders, 2024 could be the year many interest rate-sensitive stocks bounce back with a vengeance. While the possibility of one final interest rate hike still looms, as inflation has risen again, many across Wall Street feel that the Federal Reserve will begin to lower rates later this year.
For those seeking dividend dependability, investors may be drawn to the Dividend Kings. These are the 53 companies that have raised the dividends they pay shareholders a stunning 50 consecutive years in a row or longer.
We screened the 2024 Dividend Kings list, looking for the highest-yielding stocks to provide passive income investors with a steady stream of dependable income. Five top companies look like great opportunities now.
This maker of tobacco products offers value investors a great entry point now and a rich 9.56% dividend. Altria Group Inc. (NYSE: MO) manufactures and sells smokable and oral tobacco products in the United States through its subsidiaries.
The company provides cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand:
It sells its tobacco products primarily to wholesalers, including distributors and large retail organizations, such as chain stores.
Altria owns over 10% of Anheuser-Busch InBev (NYSE: BUD), the world’s largest brewer.
While somewhat off-the-radar, this stock has almost been cut in half over the last year, offering massive upside potential and a fat 8.94% dividend. Leggett & Platt Incorporated (NYSE: LEG) designs, manufactures, and markets engineered components and products worldwide.
It operates through three segments:
The company offers
Leggett & Platt also provides:
This top company could jump with an economic pick-up and pay a very rich 6.60% dividend. 3M Company (NYSE: MMM) is a diversified technology company worldwide.
It operates through four segments:
The Safety and Industrial segment offers:
The 3M Transportation and Electronics segment provides Ceramic solutions;
Italy, the company’s Healthcare segment offers:
The Consumer segment provides:
It offers its products through e-commerce and traditional wholesalers, retailers, jobbers, distributors, and dealers.
While this company’s products, like Altria’s, may not be for everyone, they have strong demand, have been in business for almost 150 years, and offer shareholders a hefty 6.70% dividend. Universal Corporation (NYSE: UVV) processes and supplies leaf tobacco and plant-based ingredients worldwide.
The company operates through two segments:
It is involved in procuring, financing, processing, packing, storing, and shipping leaf tobacco for sale to manufacturers of consumer tobacco products.
The company contracts, purchases, processes, and sells flue-cured, burley, and oriental tobaccos that are primarily used in the manufacture of cigarettes and dark air-cured tobaccos principally used in the manufacture of cigars, naturally wrapped cigars and cigarillos, smokeless and pipe tobacco products.
Universal Corporation also provides value-added services, including:
This off-the-radar utility stock is suitable for worried conservative investors and pays a solid 5.25% dividend. Northwest Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN), through its subsidiary, Northwest Natural Gas Company, provides regulated natural gas distribution services to residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation customers in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
The company also operates:
In addition, it engages in gas storage, water, non-regulated renewable natural gas, and other investments and activities.
The company provides:
If you’re one of the over 4 Million Americans set to retire this year, you may want to pay attention.
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