Top 20 U.S. dividend payers to watch — August 2025

Why it’s on the list, quick fundamental note, recent revenue/earnings color, technical snapshot, and recent dividend note.

This article gives you a curated starting list and practical checks: dividend yield alone is not enough — focus on cash-flow coverage, the most recent quarter’s results, and any company-specific news (e.g., lawsuits, regulatory changes, large asset sales) before committing capital.

1. Realty Income (O) — REIT known for monthly dividend. Solid cash flow from retail/leased properties; steady revenue growth; technically trading near long-term support; paid monthly dividend last quarter (small increase history). Good for yield + income stability. NerdWallet

2. Altria Group (MO) — High yield from tobacco business; strong free cash flow but regulatory and litigation risks persist. Recent revenue steady, buyback program supports payout; technicals mixed (rangebound). Last quarter’s payout maintained. Seeking Alpha

3. AT&T (T) — Large telecom with high yield; improving cash flow after restructuring (media asset sales). Revenues stabilizing; technicals improving with buy signals after consolidation. Quarterly dividend remains a major draw. NerdWallet

4. Verizon (VZ) — Telecom cash machine with stable payout; 5G rollout supporting services revenue though capex weighs on margins. Technicals: price above key moving averages on recent strength. Quarterly dividend ongoing. NerdWallet

5. Chevron (CVX) — Energy major with rising cash flow on robust oil/gas prices; strong balance sheet and $/share buybacks. Revenue and cash generation lifted by energy cycle; technical trend bullish. Regular quarterly dividend and occasional special returns. The Motley Fool

6. Exxon Mobil (XOM) — Similar thesis to Chevron: large upstream strength in higher commodity price environment; strong free cash flow and healthy payout coverage. Technical momentum positive in Aug ’25. Quarterly dividend sustained. The Motley Fool

7. AbbVie (ABBV) — Pharma with high yield, driven by Humira legacy plus new growth drugs (e.g., oncology). Revenue profile improving from new product cadence; fundamentals solid though patent cliffs are always watchpoints. Dividend covered by cash flows; technicals steady. Morningstar

8. Philip Morris (PM) — Tobacco/next-gen nicotine products; high margins and cash conversion. Revenue trends reflect pricing power; technicals show resilience. Paid quarterly dividend; buybacks supplement yield. Seeking Alpha

9. Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) — Energy MLP/partnership with distribution yield; strong midstream cash flows and long-term contracts. Revenues stable; technicals show base formation. Quarterly distribution continues (check K-1 tax treatment). Sure Dividend

10. Kinder Morgan (KMI) — Midstream pipeline firm with durable fee-based cash flows; balance sheet improvements in recent years. Revenue steady; yields attractive; technical indicators neutral-to-bullish. Quarterly dividend/distribution paid. Sure Dividend

11. VICI Properties (VICI) — Gaming and entertainment REIT with strong tenant cash flows (casinos). Revenue growth from acquisitions; technically in a steady uptrend; monthly/quarterly dividends maintained. Seeking Alpha

12. Crown Castle (CCI) — Telecom infrastructure REIT (towers/fiber) with stable cash flows, inflation-linked leases; revenue growth steady; technicals favorable for income investors. Quarterly dividend robust. The Motley Fool

13. Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI) — Healthcare REIT focused on senior housing/long-term care with high yield; watch occupancy and reimbursement trends. Revenue pressured by sector environment but dividend supported historically. Technicals mixed. Dividend

14. Iron Mountain (IRM) — Data storage/records REIT diversifying to data centers; strong recurring revenue; technical setup improving; dividend paid quarterly. Growth investments could moderate near-term free cash flow. Seeking Alpha

15. Outfront Media (OUT) — Out-of-home advertising REIT with high yield (billboard/transit ads); ad revenue cyclical but contracts/municipal deals give some stability. Recent quarter revenue slightly down vs prior year in some reports, but technicals showing constructive patterns. Quarterly dividend steady. Investors

16. Realty Income peers (OHI, FRT, VICI) — (FRT = Federal Realty) These REITs commonly appear on high-yield lists; fundamentals vary by property mix — retail/essential retail tends to be more defensive; check recent same-store NOI and occupancy before betting. Quarterly dividends remain their core attraction. NerdWalletDividend

17. PNM Resources / Southern Co / Duke Energy (SO, DUK) — Regulated utilities with high yields and predictable cash flows; revenues stable though capex/growth projects affect free cash flow. Technicals generally neutral; dividends historically reliable. Check latest state/regulatory updates for impact. Investopedia

18. Alaska Air / other high-yield cyclical names (example: OXY historically pays) — Cyclical energy or industrial names occasionally hit the top-yield lists when share prices fall; fundamentals and payout sustainability must be examined case-by-case. Recent quarter payouts for many cyclical names often remain, but risk of cuts is higher. Seeking Alpha

19. Telecom/utility hybrids & MLPs (e.g., ONEOK OKE) — These show high yields and predictable cash flows but tax/treatment and midstream cyclical exposure are considerations. Technicals often show recovery patterns after commodity troughs. Quarterly distributions typically paid. Sure Dividend

20. Large consumer staples (PepsiCo PEP, Coca-Cola KO) — Not ultra-high yield, but reliable dividend growers with strong fundamentals, broad revenue bases, and technical resilience; good choices if you want income + lower risk of cuts. Quarter dividends consistently paid. The Motley Fool

What to watch (risk & technical checklist)

1. Payout coverage: look at FFO (for REITs) or free cash flow / EPS coverage for dividend sustainability. High yield ≠ safe yield. (Key load-bearing check.) Sure Dividend

2. Recent earnings and guidance: a company that just missed and cut guidance is a red flag even if yield looks attractive. Use the latest quarterly filings/earnings call. Morningstar

3. Technicals (short term): for August 2025, many strategists prefer names above 50-day and 200-day SMAs with momentum (TradingView/Yahoo technical ratings cited by writer roundups). Seeking Alpha

4. Sector risk: REITs (sensitive to rates), MLPs/midstream (commodity exposure), tobacco (regulation), and utilities (rate cases) each have distinct dangers.

Here’s your dividend- safety scorecard for the top 5 dividend-paying U.S. stocks from the earlier list: Realty Income (O), AT&T (T), Chevron (CVX), AbbVie (ABBV), and VICI Properties (VICI) — each evaluated on four key measures: Payout Ratio, Cash-Flow Coverage, Debt/EBITDA, and Revenue Trend (when available). I’ve compiled the best available data and expert context for August 2025.

Dividend-Safety Scorecard (Top 5 U.S. Dividend Stocks)

Key Insights

• Payout Ratio:

  • AbbVie (~61%) and AT&T (inferred from FCF yield) headline moderate payout ratios — high but sustainable.

  • Realty Income and VICI show high ratios typical of REITs, but rely on FFO rather than net income.

  • Chevron stands out with the safest buffer thanks to high, repeatable cash flow.

• Cash-Flow Coverage:

  • Chevron has strongest coverage, simply by virtue of trillions in cash flow amid a stable upward price environment.

  • ABBV, Realty Income, AT&T, and VICI show generally stable coverage, though AT&T remains more cyclical due to capex/media investment.

• Debt/EBITDA:

  • Chevron leads on de-leveraging.

  • Realty Income and VICI maintain REIT-standard debt profiles — moderate but acceptable.

  • AbbVie and AT&T carry heavier debt weights; AT&T is improving but still above ideal.

• Revenue Trend:

  • AbbVie is showing improving top-line from new drugs replacing legacy erosion.

  • Chevron sees strong revenue from high energy prices.

  • VICI benefits from expansion and stable lease income.

  • Realty Income remains resilient via essential property income.

  • AT&T revenue is stable in core telecom, albeit with media restructuring still unfolding.

Final Thoughts

From a dividend safety perspective, here’s how they stack up:

• Chevron (CVX) — Most robust. Excellent cash flow, low leverage, strong fundamentals.

• AbbVie (ABBV) — Good fundamentals & payout coverage, though higher payout ratio requires monitoring.

• Realty Income (O) and VICI Properties (VICI) — Typical REIT risk profile; safe if you’re comfortable with FFO-based coverage and sector dynamics.

• AT&T (T) — Highest risk in this group; dividend covered but needs continued recovery and deleveraging to ensure sustainability.

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