3 Top Dividend Stocks to Buy in January

Core Viewpoint - Investing in dividend-paying stocks is an effective way to generate income, with specific recommendations for three top dividend stocks to consider in January [1]. Group 1: Ares Capital - Ares Capital offers a forward dividend yield of 9.3%, making it an attractive option for income-seeking investors [3]. - The company is a business development company (BDC) that must return at least 90% of its profits as dividends to be exempt from federal income taxes, which supports its high dividend yield [4]. - Ares Capital has maintained or grown its dividend for 65 consecutive quarters, supported by a diversified portfolio and stable access to capital [5]. - Since its IPO in 2004, Ares Capital has generated total returns that are 40% higher than the S&P 500, indicating strong long-term performance potential [6]. Group 2: Enbridge - Enbridge has a forward dividend yield of approximately 6.1% and has increased its dividend for 30 consecutive years, showcasing its reliability [7]. - The company is the largest natural gas utility in North America by volume and plays a critical role in the energy infrastructure, transporting significant portions of crude oil and natural gas in the U.S. [9].