The Standard & Poor’s 500 is a stock market index that tracks the performance of the 500 biggest companies in the United States. It is considered a top indicator of the U.S. stock market’s health. It is a market-capitalization-weighted index of the 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. Typically, larger companies significantly impact the index. As we have seen over the last year, technology stocks in the index have accounted for a large share of the index’s gains. In fact, the information technology and communication services sectors were responsible for 63.1% of the S&P 500’s total return in 2025. Without those two sectors, the index would have returned just 6% rather than its actual 17.9%.
Given those results, we decided to screen the S&P 500 for quality, well-known companies that pay substantial dividends but trade at a major discount to their intrinsic value. As we suspected, some top names are trading at significant discounts for various reasons, offering growth and income opportunities for investors and creating intriguing entry points. Five companies that investors are very familiar with look like outstanding total return candidates. All are rated Buy at top Wall Street firms that we cover here at 24/7 Wall St.
Why do we cover high-yielding S&P 500 dividend stocks?
Since 1926, dividends have accounted for approximately 32% of the S&P 500’s total return, while capital appreciation has accounted for 68%. Therefore, sustainable dividend income and the potential for capital appreciation are essential to total return expectations. A study by Hartford Funds, in collaboration with Ned Davis Research, found that dividend stocks delivered an annualized return of 9.18% over the past 50 years (1973 to 2023). Over the same timeline, this was more than double the annualized return for non-payers (3.95%).
Clorox
With products that never go out of style, and a massive 5.22% dividend, this is the perfect buy for conservative investors. Clorox (NYSE: CLX | CLX Price Prediction) is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer and professional products. Despite some earnings turbulence in recent years, Clorox has maintained its dividend streak and is expected to cross the 50-year mark in 2026. Clorox trades at a 45% discount to Morningstar’s $163 fair value estimate, with mid-single-digit annual dividend growth expected over the next decade. An ERP transition and weak near-term sales guidance have weighed on the stock. Still, the final phase of the U.S. ERP implementation was completed in January 2026, and a deal to acquire GOJO Industries (maker of Purell) opens up a new growth avenue.
The company operates through four segments:
- Health and Wellness
- Household
- Lifestyle
- International
The Health and Wellness segment consists of cleaning, disinfecting, and professional products marketed and sold under these brands:
- Clorox
- Clorox2
- Pine-Sol
- Scentiva
- Tilex
- Liquid-Plumr
- Formula 409
Its Household segment consists of bags and wraps, cat litter, and grilling products marketed and sold under the Glad, Fresh Step, Scoop Away, and Kingsford brands in the United States. The Lifestyle segment consists of food, water-filtration, and natural personal care products marketed and sold under the Hidden Valley, Brita, and Burt’s Bees brands. International products consist of those sold outside the United States. Its products in this segment include laundry additives, home care products, bags and wraps, cat litter, water filtration products, and others.
Jefferies has a Buy rating with a $125 target price.
Healthpeak Properties
This leading company invests in real estate in the healthcare industry, including senior housing, life sciences, and medical offices, and is trading at a 40% discount to fair value. Healthpeak Properties (NYSE: DOC) is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) with a solid 6.29% dividend. Morningstar’s chief U.S. market strategist recommends it as a 5-star stock trading at a discount to fair value with a highly dependable yield.
The company acquires, develops, owns, leases, and manages healthcare real estate across the U.S. It owns, operates, and develops real estate focused on healthcare discovery and delivery. Healthpeak Properties segments include:
- Lab
- Outpatient medical
- Continuing care retirement community (CCRC)
The Outpatient medical segment owns, operates, and develops outpatient medical facilities, hospitals, and laboratory facilities. The Lab segment properties contain laboratory and office space, and are leased primarily to:
- Biotechnology
- Medical device and pharmaceutical companies
- Scientific research institutions
- Government agencies
- Organizations involved in the life science industry
Its CCRC segment comprises a retirement community offering independent living, assisted living, memory care, and skilled nursing units, providing a continuum of care within an integrated campus.
BMO Capital Markets has an Outperform rating with a $24 target price.
McCormick
Home cooks are very familiar with this company’s products, and investors enjoy a tasty 3.82% dividend. McCormick (NYSE: MKC) manufactures, markets, and distributes herbs, spices, seasonings, condiments, and flavors to the entire food and beverage industry, including retailers, food manufacturers, and foodservice businesses. The shares have fallen nearly 39% over the past year, creating a significant discount to intrinsic value. FY2026 guidance calls for net sales growth of 13% to 17%, and the dividend has grown without interruption for over 25 years.
It operates through two segments. The Consumer segment sells to retail channels, including grocery, mass merchandise, warehouse clubs, discount and drug stores, and e-commerce under the McCormick brand and a variety of brands around the world, including:
- French’s
- Frank’s RedHot
- Lawry’s
- Zatarain’s
- Simply Asia
- Thai Kitchen
- Ducros
- Vahine
- Cholula
- Schwartz
- Club House
- Kamis
- DaQiao
- La Drogheria
- Stubb’s
- OLD BAY
- Gourmet Garden
In its Flavor Solutions segment, it provides a range of products to multinational food manufacturers and foodservice customers. The company supplies foodservice customers with branded, packaged products both directly and indirectly through distributors.
J.P. Morgan has an Overweight rating with a $63 target price.
Realty Income
Realty Income (NYSE: O) is a real estate investment trust that has paid monthly dividends consistently for years. It owns over 15,000 properties leased primarily to defensive retailers. This is an ideal stock for growth and income investors seeking a safer contrarian idea for the rest of 2026, trading at a 20% discount to fair value and yielding 5.20%. Realty Income is an S&P 500 company that acquires and manages freestanding commercial properties that generate rental revenue under long-term net lease agreements with its commercial clients.
It is engaged in a single business activity: leasing property to clients, generally on a net basis. This business activity spans various geographic boundaries and encompasses a range of property types and clients across multiple industries. Widely considered the gold standard of monthly dividend stocks, Realty Income has been paying dividends since 1969. It has paid 667 consecutive monthly dividends as of early 2026 and increased its dividend 132 times since its 1994 IPO.
The company owns or holds interests in approximately 15,621 properties in all 50 U.S. states and:
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Ireland
- Italy
- Portugal
- Spain
With clients operating in 89 industries, its property types include retail, industrial, gaming, and other categories such as agriculture and office. Its primary industry concentrations include:
- Grocery stores
- Convenience stores
- Dollar stores
- Drug stores
- Home improvement stores
- Restaurants
- Quick service
Jefferies has a Buy rating with a $69 target price.
Verizon
Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) is an American multinational telecommunications company that continues to offer tremendous value. It trades at 9.13 times its estimated 2026 earnings and at a 25% discount to intrinsic value, and pays a 6.03% dividend. Verizon provides a range of communications, technology, information, and entertainment products and services to consumers, businesses, and government entities worldwide.
Verizon’s trailing 12-month interest coverage ratio is 4.6× to 5×, providing ample cushion for dividend payments. With a highly predictable revenue stream from telecom services, the company has less exposure to commodity cycles. In addition, the large scale helps in financing and absorbing shocks.
It operates in two segments. The Consumer segment provides wireless services across the United States through Verizon and TracFone networks, as well as through wholesale and other arrangements. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its wireless networks and related equipment and devices, such as:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Smartwatches
- Other wireless-enabled connected devices
The segment also offers wireline services in the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States through its fiber-optic network, Verizon Fios product portfolio, and copper-based network.
The Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including:
- FWA broadband
- Data
- Video and conferencing
- Corporate networking
- Security and managed network
- Local and long-distance voice
Network access services to deliver various IoT services and products to businesses, government customers, and wireless and wireline carriers in the United States and internationally.
Raymond James has an Outperform rating with a $56 target price.
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