Three Premium Dividend-Paying Stocks Worth Adding to Your 2026 Portfolio

Finding Reliable Income Without Sacrificing Safety

The quest for steady, high dividend yield stock returns often forces investors into uncomfortable choices. Higher yields typically correlate with greater risk—but this doesn’t have to be your reality. The right selections combine compelling income generation with fortress-like financial fundamentals, allowing you to sleep soundly at night while your portfolio works for you.

Verizon Communications: Telecom Dominance Meets Reliable Payouts

Verizon Communications stands as a telecommunications heavyweight with an unmatched competitive moat. Operating across millions of customer accounts globally, the company controls market dynamics through its infrastructure scale. The barriers to entry—substantial capital requirements and spectrum licenses—effectively eliminate most would-be competitors.

The growth story here deserves attention. While near-term revenue expansion appears modest (1.5% year-over-year in Q3 2025, with adjusted EPS climbing 1.7%), the company’s trajectory could accelerate. 6G deployment and emerging technologies like holographic communications may unlock fresh revenue streams as we move deeper into the decade.

Most compelling for income seekers: Verizon’s forward dividend yield reaches 6.8%, and the company just marked its 19th consecutive year of dividend increases. The math works, too. Expanding free cash flow provides more than enough cushion to sustain and grow these payouts, making this one of the more reliable high dividend yield stocks available.

Realty Income: Three Decades of Uninterrupted Shareholder Returns

Realty Income presents an extraordinary track record that weathered—and thrived through—significant market turbulence. The company logged 29 consecutive years of positive total operational returns, a span that included both the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic disruption.

This resilience stems from portfolio diversification. As the world’s sixth-largest REIT, Realty Income owns 15,542 properties distributed across 1,647 corporate tenants spanning 92 different industries. This fragmentation minimizes concentration risk. Institutional credit raters validate this strength: both Moody’s (A3) and S&P Global (A-) assign investment-grade ratings.

The dividend narrative alone justifies consideration. The company achieved 30 consecutive years of annual dividend increases and has raised distributions for 133 consecutive quarters straight—an almost unbelievable record in modern markets. Since its 1994 NYSE debut, dividends have expanded at a 4.2% compound annual rate. Today’s forward yield sits near 5.8%, placing it among the most attractive high dividend yield stocks for serious income investors. Future growth prospects brighten with expanding data center demand and European expansion opportunities.

Enbridge: Energy Infrastructure With Utility-Grade Stability

Enbridge operates the world’s most extensive pipeline network, making it an indispensable physical infrastructure player. The company transports substantial portions of North America’s crude oil and natural gas supply—functioning as essential plumbing for continental energy markets.

Recent acquisitions expanded capabilities significantly. Enbridge now ranks as the continent’s largest natural gas utility by volume, cementing its position as an energy sector cornerstone. This diversification and strategic positioning enable a unique combination: over the past two decades, total shareholder returns exceeded the S&P 500, yet volatility remained comparable to traditional utility stocks—well below broader market indices.

What explains this superior risk-adjusted performance? The company’s self-described “low-risk” and “utility-like” operational characteristics deliver. Predictable, contracted cash flows provide stability. The dividend yield approaches 5.8%, with the company announcing its 31st consecutive annual increase last month. Management projects 5% annual dividend growth extending beyond 2026, offering visibility into future income streams.

The Sustainability Question

These three companies share a crucial characteristic: they’re not yielding high rates while burning cash or cutting corners. Verizon’s growing free cash flow, Enbridge’s contracted revenue streams, and Realty Income’s diversified tenant base all support dividend sustainability. Each represents a different sector approach—telecom, REITs, and energy infrastructure—providing portfolio balance alongside compelling income generation.

For investors prioritizing both current yield and capital preservation, this high dividend yield stock trio offers a compelling combination rarely found in today’s market environment.