15 Extreme Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds

Core Insights - The article discusses extreme dividend stocks, focusing on high-yield and dividend growth categories, highlighting the potential risks and benefits associated with high dividend yields [2][4]. Dividend Stock Categories - Dividend-focused indices are categorized into dividend growth and high yield, with high-yield stocks attracting income-seeking investors but facing reinvestment challenges [2]. - S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, which have increased dividends for at least 25 consecutive years, show steady growth in payouts even during market downturns, offering stronger yield-on-cost over time [3]. Performance of High Yield Dividend Stocks - The S&P Sector-Neutral High Yield Dividend Aristocrats (HYDA) index balances dividend growth with higher yields, achieving better risk-adjusted returns and reducing maximum drawdown by about 5% from January 2005 to July 2023 [4]. Methodology for Stock Selection - The stock screener selected dividend stocks with yields between 6% and 14% as of November 11, focusing on companies with stable dividend histories, although many have inconsistent records due to high yields [6]. - The final list includes companies favored by hedge fund investors, ranked in ascending order based on popularity [6][7]. Company Highlights - Sunoco LP (NYSE:SUN): - Dividend yield of 7.34% as of November 11, with a recent $9 billion acquisition of Parkland Corporation, creating the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas [9][10]. - Reported Q3 2025 revenue of $6.03 billion, a nearly 5% increase year-over-year, and raised its quarterly distribution by 1.25% [11][12]. - Western Midstream Partners, LP (NYSE:WES): - Dividend yield of 9.18% as of November 11, with a recent price target increase from $41 to $43 by Stifel [13][14]. - Q3 2025 results exceeded expectations, with a projected adjusted EBITDA range of $2.35 billion to $2.55 billion for 2025, including contributions from the Aris acquisition [15][16]. - Barings BDC, Inc. (NYSE:BBDC): - Dividend yield of 11.66% as of November 11, with a recent price target cut to $9.50 while maintaining a Market Perform rating [17]. - Reported total investment income of $72.4 million and net investment income of $33.6 million for Q3 2025, with a quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share [18][19].