Dividend stocks can play a useful role in long-term portfolios—especially when the goal is to build rising income rather than relying entirely on stock moves.
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Plus, with markets in flux, dividends will help protect your portfolio. In fact, companies that consistently pay and grow dividends are often financially disciplined, with strong cash flows and resilient business models—qualities that tend to hold up better during periods of volatility.
In addition, dividends can serve as a hedge against inflation. As companies increase payouts, investors may see their income keep pace with rising costs.
That being said, here are three dividend stocks you may want to buy and hold today.
Home Depot Delivers Consistent Dividend Growth and Stability
With a dividend yield of 2.9%, Home Depot (NYSE: HD) remains a reliable dividend-payer for income-focused investors. Since initiating its dividend in 1987, the company has built a long track record of consistent payments and steady growth.
Most recently, the board approved a 1.3% increase in the quarterly dividend to $2.33 per share, payable March 26, 2026, to shareholders of record as of March 12. This marks the company’s 156th consecutive quarter of paying a cash dividend—an impressive demonstration of consistency.
Home Depot also continues to prove its resilience. The company reported adjusted earnings per share of $2.72, beating expectations, while revenue came in at $38.2 billion. Although sales were down 3.8% year over year, results still topped estimates.
Winnebago’s High Yield and Improving Outlook Stand Out
With a yield of 4.4%, Winnebago Industries (NYSE: WGO) is another hot dividend stock worth watching. The company’s board recently approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.35 per share, payable January 28, 2026, to shareholders of record January 14, 2026.
Winnebago also reported a material swing in operating performance: for the quarter ended November 29, 2025, the company posted adjusted EPS of $0.38, up from a loss a year earlier, and said adjusted EBITDA more than doubled to $30.2 million. Guidance moved higher as well. Winnebago raised its outlook, including expectations for industry RV shipments.
EOG Resources Combines Dividends With Aggressive Buybacks
EOG Resources (NYSE: EOG) has long been viewed as one of the more disciplined operators in U.S. shale. For dividend investors, the appeal is the combination of (1) a rising base dividend and (2) ongoing capital return through repurchases—supported by free cash flow.
EOG’s board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.02 per share, payable April 30, 2026 to shareholders of record April 16, 2026. Fundamentally, EOG continues to show strength, with adjusted EPS of $2.27. Even better, EOG bought back $675 million of shares in the latest quarter. For the full year, it bought back about $2.5 billion worth of stock.
Fund Investors Can Also Prioritize Dividend Stocks
If you want to diversify with dividend-paying stocks and collect yield, there are opportunities among exchange-traded funds (ETFs). One example is the Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSEARCA: DIVO).
With a monthly yield of 1.7% and an expense ratio of 0.56%, the Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF holds large-cap companies that have a strong history of dividend growth. It also uses a covered call strategy on individual stocks to offer high total returns.
“DIVO seeks investment results that correspond generally to an existing strategy called the Enhanced Dividend Income Portfolio (EDIP),” as noted by AmplifyETFs.com. That strategy attempts to generate income through dividends and short-term covered calls in an effort to increase cash flow and consistent annual income. In addition, with that strategy, the EDIP holds blue-chip stocks from the S&P 500, the Dow 30 and the S&P 100.
Dividend Stocks Remain a Reliable Long-Term Strategy
Thousands of stocks pay out consistent dividends – and these three are just a few of the top ones with reliability and a strong history of payouts. In the end, no matter which dividend stocks you choose to buy, they’ll help anchor returns, reduce volatility, and help keep your portfolio safe over the long haul.
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