Investors love dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends, and distributions realized over time. In other words, the total return on an investment or portfolio consists of income and stock appreciation. At 24/7 Wall St., we have focused on dividend stocks for over 15 years because, despite the stock market’s ups and downs, many people need reliable passive income streams to supplement their income from employment or other sources such as Social Security and pensions.
The more passive income helps cover rising costs like mortgages, insurance, taxes, and other expenses, the easier it is for investors to save for future needs as they prepare for retirement. Dependable recurring dividends from quality, high-yield stocks are a recipe for success. The five highest-yielding Nasdaq 100 stocks offer incredible, dependable yields from quality companies you can buy and hold forever. All are rated Buy at the top Wall Street firms we cover.
Why do we cover the highest-yielding Nasdaq 100 dividend stocks?
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%). The five highest-yielding Nasdaq 100 stocks are ideal choices for investors seeking dependable dividends.
Kraft Heinz
Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ: KHC | KHC Price Prediction) is North America’s third-largest food and beverage company and fifth-largest globally. Even in difficult times, everybody needs to eat, and this company consistently benefits while paying a substantial 6.31% dividend. The company was formed via the merger of H.J. Heinz and Kraft Foods, and it manufactures and markets food and beverage products worldwide through its eight consumer-driven product platforms:
- Taste Elevation
- Easy Ready Meals
- Hydration
- Meats
- Cheeses
- Substantial Snacking
- Desserts
- Coffee and other grocery products
The company has two reportable segments defined by geographic region: North America and International Developed Markets. Its other segments, West and East Emerging Markets (WEEM) and Asia Emerging Markets (AEM), are combined and reported as Emerging Markets.
Kraft Heinz brands include:
- Kraft
- Oscar Mayer
- Heinz
- Philadelphia
- Lunchables
- Velveeta
- Ore-Ida
- Capri Sun
- Maxwell House
- Kool-Aid
- Jell-O
- Golden Circle
- Wattie’s
- Plasmon
- ABC
- Master
- Quero
- Pudliszki
The company manufactures its products from a wide variety of raw materials and sells them through its sales organizations and independent brokers, agents, and distributors.
In February 2026, Kraft Heinz scrapped its planned corporate split. New CEO Steve Cahillane cited worsening conditions in the food industry, while emphasizing that the company’s challenges are “fixable and within our control.” Rather than breaking up, the company is intensifying its turnaround efforts. It is committing $600 million to marketing, sales, and research and development to drive the strategy. The decision follows a 3.5% decline in net sales in 2025, with further declines expected in 2026. By canceling the split, Kraft Heinz is now fully focused on stabilizing and rebuilding the business. CEO Greg Abel indicated that Berkshire Hathaway is no longer planning to sell its stake in Kraft Heinz.
The swift reversal is being viewed as a reflection of Abel’s more hands-on management approach, as he reportedly expressed dissatisfaction, prompting the company to change direction quickly. For now, Berkshire appears committed to holding its position, although the registered shares could still be sold if conditions shift. If they don’t, and the transition is successful, this could be a contrarian home run for investors.
DZ Bank has a Strong Buy rating with a $31 target price.
Comcast
This top media and entertainment company remains a Wall Street favorite and pays a solid 5.56% dividend. Comcast (NASDAQ: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that operates through four segments:
- Residential Connectivity & Platforms
- Business Services Connectivity
- Media, Studios
- Theme Parks
The Residential Connectivity & Platforms segment provides residential broadband and wireless connectivity services, residential and business video services, sky-branded entertainment television networks, and advertising.
The Business Services Connectivity segment offers connectivity services for small business locations, including broadband, wireline voice, and wireless services. It also offers solutions for medium-sized customers, larger enterprises, and small business connectivity services in the United Kingdom.
The Media segment operates NBCUniversal’s television and streaming business, including:
- National and regional cable networks
- The NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks
- Owned local broadcast television stations
- Peacock, a direct-to-consumer streaming service
It also operates international television networks, including the Sky Sports networks, as well as other digital properties.
The Studios segment operates NBCUniversal and Sky film and television studio production and distribution operations.
The Theme Parks segment operates Universal theme parks in:
- Orlando, Florida
- Hollywood, California
- Osaka, Japan
- Beijing, China
Citigroup has a Buy rating and a $35.50 target price.
Paychex
While off the radar for many investors, this company offers a solid 4.48% dividend and significant upside potential. Paychex (NASDAQ: PAYX) is a human capital management (HCM) company that delivers a full suite of technology and advisory solutions in human resources, employee benefits, insurance, and payroll to clients and their employees in the United States and parts of Europe.
It offers integrated HCM solutions covering the employee life cycle for businesses and their employees. It supports clients through its proprietary Paychex Flex platform, Paycor, and SurePayroll software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution.
The company’s services include:
- Payroll services
- Time and attendance
- Employee benefits
- Human resources
- Professional employer organization
- Talent management, business insurance, and payment processing
Its talent management includes:
- Recruiting
- Hiring and onboarding
- Performance management
- Learning and development
- Compensation management
- Employee engagement and recognition
- Employee benefits
Argus has a Buy rating with a $110 price target.
PepsiCo
This top consumer staples stock reported solid first-quarter earnings and will continue to supply all the goods for summer picnics and parties. PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) is a global food and beverage company with a very solid 3.95% dividend yield and a forward P/E of 16.92. Activist investor Elliott Investment Management took a $4 billion stake in PepsiCo last September, revealing a strategy to unlock value within the company’s iconic brand by focusing on core strengths, such as innovation and brand marketing, rather than its capital-intensive bottling operations. This move caused PepsiCo’s stock to surge, with Elliott believing the company could see over 50% upside if its proposed strategic changes were implemented. However, these changes would involve a very long-term transformation.
Its Frito-Lay North America segment offers:
- Lays and Ruffles potato chips
- Doritos, Tostitos, and Santitas tortilla chips
- Cheetos cheese-flavored snacks, branded dips
- Fritos corn chips
The company’s Quaker Foods North America segment provides:
- Quaker Oatmeal
- Grits
- Rice cakes
- Natural granola and oat squares
- Pearl Milling mixes and syrups
- Quaker Chewy granola bars
- Cap’n Crunch cereal
- Life cereal
- Rice-A-Roni side dishes
PepsiCo’s North America Beverages segment offers beverage concentrates, fountain syrups, and finished goods under these brands:
- Pepsi
- Gatorade
- Mountain Dew
- Diet Pepsi
- Aquafina
- Diet Mountain Dew
- Tropicana Pure Premium
- Sierra Mist
- Mug
Goldman Sachs has a Buy rating with a $183 price objective.
Mondelez
This consumer staples giant is always a safe bet when the going gets tough, especially with a 3.33% dividend yield. Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is a snack company. The company’s core business is the manufacture and sale of chocolate, biscuits, and baked snacks. It also has additional businesses in adjacent, locally relevant categories, including
- Gum and candy
- Cheese
- Grocery
- Powdered beverages
Its portfolio includes global and local brands such as Oreo, Ritz, LU, Clif Bar, and Tate’s Bake Shop biscuits and baked snacks, as well as Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka, and Toblerone chocolate.
Mondelez segments include Latin America, AMEA, Europe, and North America. It sells its products in over 150 countries and operates in approximately 80 of them, with 147 principal manufacturing and processing facilities. The company sells its products to:
- Supermarket chains
- Wholesalers
- Supercenters
- Club stores
- Mass merchandisers
- Distributors
- Convenience stores
- Gasoline stations
- Drug stores
- Value stores
- Retail food outlets
J.P. Morgan has an Overweight rating and a $70 price target.
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