This Energy Stock Pays a 5.8% Dividend (And It's Safe)

Core Insights - Enbridge has a long history of paying a sustainable dividend, with a current yield of 5.8%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of around 1.1% [1][3] - The company has announced a 3% increase in its dividend for 2026, marking its 31st consecutive year of dividend raises [3] - Enbridge generates stable cash flow, with approximately 98% coming from cost-of-service agreements or long-term, fixed-fee contracts, achieving its annual financial guidance for 19 consecutive years [4] Financial Metrics - Enbridge's market capitalization is $105 billion, with a current stock price of $46.60 [5][6] - The company pays out 60%-70% of its stable cash flow in dividends, allowing it to retain billions annually, and maintains a strong investment-grade balance sheet with a leverage ratio of 4.5-5.0 times [6] - Enbridge expects to grow its cash flow per share at a 3% compound annual rate through 2026 and approximately 5% thereafter, supporting future dividend increases of up to 5% post-2026 [7][8] Growth Prospects - Enbridge has a multi-billion-dollar backlog of organic expansion projects under construction, providing significant visibility into future growth prospects [7] - The combination of stable cash flows, conservative financial metrics, and visible growth prospects underpins the sustainability of its high-yielding dividend, making it an attractive option for passive income seekers [8]