High-performing dividend stocks provide two avenues for returns: cash income and stock price appreciation. Stocks that can deliver on both fronts, even temporarily, add a powerful one-two punch to your portfolio. Let’s see this in action with a look at seven opf the best-performing dividend stocks of 2025.
How These Top Dividend Stocks Were Picked
You can identify top dividend stocks strictly by yield or total return, but the resulting securities may not be true dividend payers. For example, building products provider QXO has a huge dividend yield because its last payout exceeded its current stock price. But the 123% yield was an anomaly, and the company has only paid three dividends since 2021.
To introduce more sustainable and reliable dividend plays, this list of best-performing dividend stocks was constructed from S&P 500 constituents that consistently pay dividends yielding 3% or more. These high-yielding stocks were ranked by highest year-to-date stock price change and the top seven were selected for inclusion.
Top Performing Dividend Stocks of 2025 So Far
The table below highlights seven top-performing S&P 500 dividend stocks with yields of 3% or more. There are many more factors beyond yield to consider before making a trade decision. Do your research to ensure you pick securities that align with your risk tolerance and goals.
A review of each dividend stock follows. For more investing ideas, see best stocks of 2025.
1. CVS Health Corporation (CVS)
Healthcare company CVS pays a quarterly dividend of $0.665, for a yield of 4.2%.
Why CVS Is A Top Performer
CVS Health stock is up 42.7% this year after falling 26.9% in December 2024. The company has delivered two strong earnings surprises in 2025, prompting several analysts to raise their price targets.
The positive 2025 performance for CVS springs from cost-cutting efforts involving higher premiums and plan exits in the company’s insurance business as well as store closures. First-quarter highlights include revenue growth of 7%, adjusted operating income growth of 54.9% and adjusted EPS growth of 71.2% versus the prior-year quarter. All operating segments contributed to the higher operating income—a good sign.
CVS also raised its full-year 2025 cash flow and earnings guidance in its first-quarter report. Operating cash flow is expected to be $7 billion, up from $6.5 billion. The adjusted EPS expectation is $6 to $6.20, up from $5.75 to $6.
2. Hasbro, Inc. (HAS)
Toy and games company Hasbro pays a quarterly dividend of $0.70, for a yield of 3.7%.
Why Hasbro Is A Top Performer
Hasbro stock is up 35.4% this year, driven by two sizable earnings surprises. The games maker has outperformed EPS expectations in four consecutive quarters as it focuses on cost control and higher-margin business. Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming Segment was particularly strong with 46% revenue growth in the first quarter.
Cost and product mix optimizations in the first quarter helped Hasbro improve its adjusted operating margin by 5.5 points over the prior-year period. Adjusted operating profit was $222.4 million versus $148.6 million in last year’s first quarter. First-quarter adjusted diluted EPS was $1.04, up 65.6% from last year and 55% higher than analyst expectations.
3. Franklin Resources (BEN)
Asset manager Franklin Resources pays a quarterly dividend of $0.32, for a yield of 5.3%. BEN is also a Dividend Aristocrat that has increased its dividend annually for 45 years.
Why Franklin Resources Is A Top Performer
Franklin Resources stock is up 20% for the year. Analyst price target increases and progress on the company’s assets under management (AUM) have contributed.
Franklin Resources has struggled to maintain AUM, revenue and EPS. The company’s March quarter earnings release noted declines of $26.2 million in AUM, 2% in revenue and 16% in adjusted EPS.
Despite those challenges, investors have pushed BEN stock higher since that earnings announcement in May. Catalysts include BEN’s month-end AUM reports that signal a trend change, plus announced innovations in the company’s blockchain trading platform.
- After AUM dipped to $1.5 trillion at quarter-end, it rose for two consecutive months—reaching $1.6 trillion at the end of June.
- In June, Franklin Resources launched a feature that allows investors of token-based securities to earn yield on partial-day ownership periods.
Both developments may help BEN continue its positive trajectory.
4. CME Group (CME)
Derivatives exchange operator CME Group pays a quarterly dividend of $1.25 plus an annual variable dividend in December. The variable dividend was $5.80 in 2024 and $5.25 in 2023. The yield is 3.9% based on the last 12 months of dividend payments.
Why CME Group Is A Top Performer
CME Group stock has gained 19.5% this year, fueled by several analyst price target increases in April. Note that CME stock peaked in early June and has trended down slightly since then—despite announcing record quarterly average daily volume (ADV) for derivatives contracts in the second quarter.
The second-quarter ADV milestone followed a strong first quarter marked by record performance in ADV, revenue, adjusted operating income and adjusted EPS. CME Group Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy referenced strong demand for hedging contracts across multiple asset classes.
CME Group’s first-quarter revenues rose 10.4% from the prior-year quarter. Operating income increased 15.5% and adjusted, diluted EPS grew 12% to $2.80.
5. Valero Energy (VLO)
Fuel producer Valero Energy pays a quarterly dividend of $1.13, for a yield of 3%.
Why Valero Energy Is A Top Performer
Valero Energy stock is up 17.5% this year, with a steep trajectory following the company’s first quarter earnings report. Note that Valero stock is down about 3% over the past 12 months, despite the recent gain.
The consensus price target for Valero predicts about 6.7% upside, which isn’t earth-shattering. The company’s dividends and heavy share repurchase activity may sweeten the deal, however. Valero spent $277 million in the first quarter on stock buybacks.
Also in the first quarter, Valero took a $1.1 billion impairment charge related to the potential shutdown of two California refineries. The Pipeline & Gas Journal reports that six California refineries have shut down since 2008. High costs and strict regulations are likely factors.
Valero’s first quarter net loss including the impairment was $595 million or $1.90 per share. Adjusted net income was $282 million or $0.89 per share, down from $3.84 per share in the prior-year quarter.
6. Ford Motor Company (F)
Domestic automaker Ford pays a quarterly dividend of $0.15, plus a supplemental dividend in February. The supplemental payout was $0.15 this year, $0.18 in 2024 and $0.65 in 2023. Ford’s yield is a generous 6.5%, based on the last 12 months of dividends.
Why Ford Is A Top Performer
Ford’s stock price is up 17% this year. Two contributing factors have been consensus-beating first-quarter results and industry-leading sales performance in the second quarter.
For the first quarter, Ford reported adjusted, diluted EPS of $0.14, a 71% decline from the prior year’s $0.49 result. Analysts had expected a break-even quarter. Ford President and CEO Jim Farley said the company made progress on cost improvements and gained market share. Unfortunately, the automaker also suspended its guidance due to uncertainty around tariffs.
Ford’s second-quarter sales report was also well-received by investors. The automaker grew sales by 14.2% and increased its market share by 1.8 percentage points. An employee pricing promotion in the quarter contributed as consumers rushed to buy cars ahead of tariff-related price increases.
7. Amgen (AMGN)
Pharmaceutical company Amgen pays a quarterly dividend of $2.38, for a yield of 3.2%.
Why Amgen Is A Top Performer
Amgen stock is up 14.7% this year. A strong fourth-quarter earnings report pushed the stock price higher through March 10. It dipped and then partially rebounded after a good first-quarter report.
The company’s first-quarter revenue grew 9% as 14 different treatments experienced double-digit sales growth. Amgen also increased its non-GAAP EPS by 24% to $4.90 in the quarter, doubled free cash flow to $1 billion from the prior-year quarter and reduced principal debt by $2.8 billion.
Amgen expects to deliver 2025 non-GAAP EPS of $20 to $21.20. The midpoint of this range would be 3.8% higher than the 2024 result of $19.84.
Bottom Line
Dividend stocks can deliver impressive capital gains, but the trend is often temporary. For that reason, it’s smart to choose companies for their demonstrated commitment to dividends first—then accept the gains as a bonus.