5 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy Without Hesitation

Core Viewpoint - Dividend stocks with yields above 4% are expected to outperform as the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, prompting a shift from bonds to stable, income-producing equities Group 1: Companies with High Dividend Yields - British American Tobacco (BTI) offers an 8.71% dividend yield with a payout ratio of 59.1%, supported by strong pricing power and expansion into reduced-risk products [2] - Altria Group (MO) provides an 8.32% dividend yield and maintains a 40% market share with a strategic acquisition of NJOY to expand into e-cigarettes [3][4] - Pfizer (PFE) has a 5.81% dividend yield and a 443% payout ratio, backed by a diverse drug portfolio and strong cash flow [5] - AT&T (T) offers a 5.08% dividend yield with a sustainable payout ratio of 63.7%, focusing on 5G network expansion and fiber deployment [6] - Philip Morris International (PM) provides a 4.54% dividend yield with a 92% payout ratio, emphasizing smoke-free alternatives and geographic diversification [7][8] Group 2: Market Performance and Strategic Moves - British American Tobacco shares have gained 19.1% year to date, trading at 7.29 times forward earnings [2] - Altria shares have risen 24.1% year to date, trading at 9.48 times forward earnings [3] - AT&T shares have increased by 28.1% year to date, trading at 9.53 times forward earnings [6] - Philip Morris International has seen a price change of 39.68%, reflecting strong momentum in smoke-free products [8]