Stock markets remain volatile as investors weigh uncertainty in the Middle East, rising interest rates and concerns about the artificial intelligence (AI) trade.
Given this volatile backdrop, investors seeking a stable income stream can enhance their portfolios with the addition of dividend stocks. In this regard, tracking recommendations of top Wall Street analysts can help shortlist attractive dividend stocks that are backed by strong financials.
Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Chevron
Integrated oil and gas giant Chevron (CVX) is the first dividend pick. Earlier this month, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $1.78 per share. At an annualized dividend of $7.12 per share, CVX offers a dividend yield of about 3.5%.
After a meeting with senior leadership, Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta reiterated a buy rating on CVX and raised his price target to $240 from $225. Among the key takeaways Mehta emphasized was that Chevron is building a solid pipeline of promising international exploration projects across Latin America, the Middle East, West Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean. In particular, he mentioned the focus on Venezuela, where Chevron expects to more than double gross production to 600 kbd from about 280 kbd by 2031, using three joint ventures.
Mehta also noted Chevron’s efforts to deploy new technologies, especially in shale and tight-oil operations. CVX is focused on boosting productivity and efficiency to maximize free cash flow, he added.
Initiatives such as artificial lift optimization, AI and machine learning, and advanced chemical treatments are expected to improve recovery by about 10% in new wells. Consequently, capital spending per barrel in U.S. shale is projected to fall 25% in 2026, with total Permian spending dropping below $3.5 billion.
Mehta also said that Chevron sees power as a growth opportunity and is using its U.S. natural gas portfolio, key equipment and partnerships to meet rising demand. Notably, Chevron recently signed a 20-year power purchase deal with Microsoft (MSFT) to supply 2.67 GW of behind-the-meter capacity. This project, called Kilby, is expected to see its first power delivery in 2028 and generate mid-teens returns and long-term cash flows.
Mehta ranks No. 536 among more than 12,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 61% of the time, delivering an average return of 11.3%. See Chevron Statistics on TipRanks.
Enterprise Products Partners
Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) is a master limited partnership (MLP) that provides midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, refined products and petrochemicals. With a quarterly cash distribution of 56 cents per common unit ($2.24 per common unit annualized), EPD offers a yield of about 6%.
Following a recent call with the company, RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto reiterated a buy rating on EPD with a price target of $42. The analyst slightly lowered her estimates for the second half of 2026, citing margin and volume normalization, though demand dynamics remain strong.
While the 5-star analyst expects a sequential decline due to normal seasonality and normalization following high spreads in the first half of the year, she still expects EPD to report another solid quarter (Q3 2026) and enter 2027 with a favorable setup. Ahead of Q3 earnings, Scotto expects investors to focus on export demand durability, EPD’s ability to profit from spot cargo sales and growth in Permian volumes.
Scotto continues to expect $150 million of common unit buybacks per quarter in the second half of 2026. She expects buybacks to increase to $200 million per quarter in 2027, as capex spending declines and free cash flow improves.
In total, Scotto is bullish on EPD and views it as a core MLP holding that has both offensive and defensive characteristics. The analyst praised EPD’s diverse asset base as ensuring stable cash flows. “Furthermore, the partnership’s multi-year organic growth backlog helps provide visibility on long-term distribution growth,” Scotto said.
Scotto ranks No. 199 among more than 12,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Her ratings have been successful 67% of the time, delivering an average return of 15.9%. See Enterprise Products Partners Financials on TipRanks.
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP) operates a diversified portfolio of high-quality utilities, transport, midstream and data assets. The company declared a quarterly distribution of 45.5 cents per unit, payable on September 29. At an annualized distribution of $1.82, BIP offers a yield of 5.2%.
Recently, BMO Capital analyst Devin Dodge reaffirmed a buy rating on Brookfield Infrastructure with a price target of $47. The analyst cited improved visibility into BIP’s growth and views its corporate simplification as a potential catalyst.
“Layering in the benefits from the proposed corporate simplification, a multiple well below historical levels and an attractive yield, we believe BIP offers a compelling risk/reward and it remains a preferred idea,” said Dodge.
With more organic growth projects in the pipeline and new partnership investment opportunities, Dodge believes that BIP has clearer visibility into where it will deploy capital. That should support continued double-digit growth in funds from operations (FFO) per unit.
Dodge said the semiconductor foundries that BIP is developing with Intel (INTC) are expected to be fully commissioned by the end of 2026, with returns improving through Q4 2026. Dodge expects the joint venture to boost FFO by 300-400 basis points.
Dodge ranks No. 476 among more than 12,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 68% of the time, delivering an average return of 13.5%. See Brookfield Infrastructure Partners KPIs on TipRanks.
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