3 Dividend Powerhouse Stocks Yielding Over 3% to Buy Today

Core Insights - The average S&P 500 company raised its dividend by 6.4% in 2024, outpacing the inflation rate of 2.9% [1] - S&P 500 companies are expected to raise dividends by 6% to 7% in 2025 [1] - Dividend increases can be misleading, as seen with Nvidia's 150% increase, which resulted in a yield below 1% for income-focused investors [2] Company Summaries Essex Property Trust - Essex Property Trust is a REIT with a current dividend yield of 3.9% and a market cap of $18 billion [4][6] - The company has nearly doubled its dividend over the last decade, with a 4.9% increase expected in 2025 [6][7] - Essex has a 31-year history of dividend increases and reported earnings growth of 39% year over year [7] Chevron - Chevron, an oil and gas giant with a market cap of $312 billion, offers a dividend yield of 4.4% [8][10] - The company has raised its dividend by 33% since 2020, outpacing the 25% inflation during that period [8] - Chevron's share buyback program, worth $75 billion, supports its dividend sustainability [10][11] Realty Income - Realty Income is a REIT with a diversified portfolio of commercial properties valued over $85 billion and a current dividend yield of 5.75% [12][14] - The company has raised its monthly dividend 132 times since 1994, demonstrating resilience through various economic downturns [13] - Realty Income's cumulative dividend increases over the last decade amount to a 46% hike, surpassing the 36% inflation during that time [15]