Top Wall Street analysts recommend these 3 dividend stocks for stable returns

Fears astir the interaction of a authorities shutdown, a slowing labour market, and elevated banal valuations are weighing connected capitalist sentiment. Given the ongoing uncertainty, investors looking for unchangeable returns tin see adding dividend stocks to their portfolios.

Top Wall Street analysts' recommendations tin assistance investors prime stocks of dividend-paying companies that person beardown fundamentals to enactment accordant dividend payments.  

Here are three dividend-paying stocks, highlighted by Wall Street's apical pros as tracked by TipRanks, a level that ranks analysts based connected their past performance.

First connected this week's dividend database is Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP), a planetary infrastructure institution that owns and operates diversified, long-life assets successful the utilities, transport, midstream, and information sectors. BIP paid a dividend of 43 cents per portion connected Sept. 29, reflecting a 6% year-over-year increase. At an annualized dividend of $1.72 per unit, BIP banal offers a dividend output of 5.2%.

Following the precocious held Investor Day event, BMO Capital expert Devin Dodge reiterated a bargain standing connected Brookfield Infrastructure banal with a price forecast of $42. The 5-star expert stated that the presentations by absorption astatine the lawsuit reflected the robust underlying integrated maturation trends crossed BIP's portfolio, which helium expects to go much evident successful the upcoming quarters.

Dodge highlighted that the fig of high-growth platforms successful BIP's portfolio continues to increase, and determination are important concern opportunities crossed astir of its sectors. In particular, helium mentioned the robust integer infrastructure concern opportunity. With hyperscalers' superior spending estimated to summation by 50% this year, determination is simply a beardown maturation imaginable for BIP's information halfway platforms implicit the intermediate term.

The expert pointed retired that BIP's funds from operations per portion (FFO/unit) maturation is nearing an inflection point. He noted that implicit the past 5 years, BIP's FFO/unit has accrued astatine a compound yearly maturation complaint of astir 10% contempt overseas speech headwinds and precocious involvement rates. However, Dodge expects these challenges to easiness successful the adjacent term, which could thrust disposable FFO growth.  

"As FFO/unit maturation shifts higher, we judge determination are affirmative implications for organisation maturation and valuation," said Dodge. Interestingly, TipRanks' AI Analyst has a "neutral" standing connected BIP banal with a terms people of $33.

Dodge ranks No. 377 among much than 10,000 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings person been palmy 73% of the time, delivering an mean instrumentality of 13.2%. See Brookfield Infrastructure Statistics connected TipRanks.

We determination to Ares Capital (ARCC), a specialty concern institution that provides nonstop loans and different investments to backstage middle-market companies. Ares pays a quarterly dividend of 48 cents per share. At an annualized dividend of $1.92 per share, ARCC banal offers a output of 9.4%.

In an update connected concern improvement companies, RBC Capital expert Kenneth Lee reiterated a bargain standing connected Ares Capital banal with a price people of $24. Interestingly, TipRanks' AI Analyst has an "outperform" standing connected ARCC banal with a terms people of $25.

In the existent scenario, Lee prefers ARCC, Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (BXSL), and Sixth Street Specialty Lending (TSLX) stocks. "ARCC has a agelong way grounds of successfully managing risks done cycles," noted Lee.

The 5-star expert specified that ARCC is simply a market-leading BDC with scale. He believes that the company's entree to the Ares planetary recognition level is 1 of its large competitory advantages. Lee is assured astir Ares Capital's imaginable to make supra peer-average instrumentality connected equity.

Lee views Ares Capital's experienced elder absorption squad arsenic 1 of its cardinal strengths. He besides pointed retired that ARCC's dividends are backed by the company's halfway net per stock procreation and imaginable nett realized gains.

Lee ranks No. 59 among much than 10,000 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings person been profitable 72% of the time, delivering an mean instrumentality of 16.7%. See Ares Capital Ownership Structure connected TipRanks.

Finally, let's look astatine ONE Gas (OGS), a 100% regulated earthy state inferior that provides affordable vigor to implicit 2.3 cardinal customers successful Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. At a quarterly dividend of 67 cents per stock (annualized dividend of $2.68 per share), OGS banal offers a dividend output of 3.3%.

Recently, Mizuho expert Gabe Moreen upgraded OGS banal to bargain from clasp and accrued his price forecast to $86 from $77, citing respective reasons, specified arsenic the benefits from the Texas HB 4384 authorities (enables betterment of definite costs associated with a state utility's plant, facilities, oregon instrumentality placed successful service) and little involvement rates. Meanwhile, TipRanks' AI Analyst has a "neutral" standing connected OGS banal with a terms people of $81.

Moreen sees the anticipation of HB 4384 generating a full-year payment of astir 18 cents successful incremental EPS successful fiscal 2026. He added that this payment is not one-time successful nature, and volition turn with ONE Gas' yearly Texas superior spending. It is worthy noting that Texas constitutes astir 32% of OGS' complaint base. "We judge this volition spot a level nether OGS' maturation outlook astatine the higher-end of its 4-6%," said Moreen.

The top-rated expert noted that elevated short-term involvement rates were 1 of the reasons that forced OGS to revise its guidance successful 2023 and 2024. He expects the Federal Reserve's involvement complaint cuts to payment the company, arsenic they volition easiness comparative involvement disbursal from anterior periods.

Additionally, Moreen highlighted notable maturation opportunities for OGS, acknowledgment to the increasing earthy state request from information centers and precocious manufacturers. He believes that each these catalysts, on with a increasing lawsuit basal and a coagulated equilibrium sheet, marque OGS banal an charismatic prime astatine the existent valuation. In fact, Moreen expects OGS to rebound to its humanities premium valuation levels, astatine which the banal traded earlier the institution restated its guidance successful 2023 and 2024.

Moreen ranks No. 142 among much than 10,000 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings person been palmy 75% of the time, delivering an mean instrumentality of 13.3%. See ONE Gas Technical Analysis connected TipRanks.