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Top Wall Street analysts prefer these dividend stocks for consistent returns
CNBCยท2025-06-01 11:28

Core Viewpoint - Major U.S. companies' earnings and tariff uncertainties are affecting investor sentiment, leading to a focus on attractive dividend stocks for consistent returns [1][2] Group 1: Home Depot (HD) - Home Depot reported mixed Q1 FY2025 results but reaffirmed its full-year guidance, maintaining prices despite tariffs [3][4] - The company declared a dividend of $2.30 per share for Q1 2025, resulting in an annualized dividend of $9.20 per share and a yield of 2.5% [3] - Analyst Greg Melich from Evercore reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $400, highlighting stabilizing traffic and improved online sales growth [4][5] - Melich believes Home Depot could become a significant breakout stock once the macro environment improves, similar to Costco and Walmart [6] Group 2: Diamondback Energy (FANG) - Diamondback Energy delivered better-than-expected Q1 results but reduced its full-year activity to maximize free cash flow due to commodity price volatility [8] - The company returned $864 million to shareholders in Q1 2025 through stock repurchases and a base dividend of $1.00 per share, resulting in a yield of nearly 3.9% [9] - Analyst Scott Hanold from RBC Capital reaffirmed a buy rating with a price target of $180, noting a 10% reduction in the capital budget but only a 1% cut in production outlook [10][11] - Hanold expects Diamondback to exceed its 50% minimum shareholder return target and plans to use remaining free cash flow to pay down a $1.5 billion term loan [12][13] Group 3: ConocoPhillips (COP) - ConocoPhillips reported market-beating Q1 2025 earnings but reduced its full-year capital and adjusted operating cost guidance while maintaining production outlook [14] - The company distributed $2.5 billion to shareholders in Q1 2025, including $1.5 billion in share repurchases and $1.0 billion in ordinary dividends, resulting in a yield of about 3.7% [15] - Analyst Neil Mehta from Goldman Sachs reiterated a buy rating with a price target of $119, highlighting uncertainty in oil prices but optimism about long-term gas prices [16][18] - Mehta expects COP's breakeven to decrease, projecting it to head towards the low $30s as LNG spending decreases and production from the Willow project begins in 2029 [17]