Dividend Achievers List: Top 16 Stocks

Core Insights - Dividend-paying stocks provide a balance between growth and reduced volatility, offering real cash returns to investors while reflecting a company's financial health and discipline [2][4] Market Trends - Research indicates that companies that maintain or grow dividends tend to outperform those that do not, especially during market downturns, where dividend stocks have historically shown less volatility [3][5] - During significant market declines, dividend-paying stocks have averaged a decline of 14.44%, compared to 19.89% for the S&P 500 Index and 28.16% for non-dividend payers, highlighting their resilience [5] Company Highlights - Evergy, Inc. (NASDAQ:EVRG): - The stock has increased over 17.5% this year despite earlier weather challenges impacting demand [12] - The company is positioned well with a significant backlog of large power customers and is expected to see earnings growth in the range of 4% to 6% [11][12] - Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW): - Reported earnings of $3.39 per share for Q3 2025, driven by higher transmission revenue and solid sales growth, with total growth at 5.4% [16][17] - The company raised its full-year earnings outlook to $4.90 to $5.10 per share, reflecting strong sales and operational improvements [17] - Regency Centers Corporation (NASDAQ:REG): - The company has a dividend yield of 4.41% and has announced a dividend increase of over 7% [19][21] - It remains a leading developer of grocery-anchored shopping centers, with significant project starts and acquisitions planned for 2025 [21][22]