Wall Street analysts are confident in these 3 high-dividend stocks

With interest rates falling, investors’ attention may shift from fixed income products to attractive dividend stocks as we head into 2026.

Picking the right name from the vast world of dividend-paying companies can be a difficult task. Tracking the stock picks of Wall Street’s top analysts can help investors make the right choices. This is because these experts assign ratings after conducting a thorough analysis of a company’s fundamentals.

Here are three high-dividend stocks that top Wall Street pros are paying attention to, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on past performance.

Major oil and gas companies chevron (CVX) This week’s first dividend stock. The company returned $6 billion in cash to shareholders in the third quarter through $3.4 billion in dividends and $2.6 billion in share repurchases. Chevron’s quarterly dividend is $1.71 per share (annualized dividend is $6.84 per share), giving it a yield of approximately 4.5%.

After meeting with Chevron management, Piper Sandler analyst Ryan Todd reiterated his buy rating on CVX stock, with a price target of $178. Interestingly, TipRanks’ AI analysts are also bullish on the energy company, with an “outperform” rating and a $164 price target.

Todd noted that while the continued scenario of an unfavorable crude oil backdrop and a strong refining business is impacting Chevron’s performance, the meeting with management reflects the company’s solid position.

The analyst argues that Chevron’s capital efficiency is undervalued. What is noteworthy is that the company’s upstream capital investment/BOE (barrels of oil equivalent) production is 29% lower than the industry average. He added that Chevron’s free cash flow (FCF) annual growth outlook of 10% appears conservative given lower capital expenditures and operating expenses, unrealized benefits from artificial intelligence (AI), and a better resource base than feared.

Todd also argued that “while investors may remain concerned about the TCO[Tengishbroil joint venture]contract extension, persistent questions about the depth of the resource beyond 2030 are misplaced.” In this regard, the analyst noted that apart from the projects included in Chevron’s official plans, management is optimistic about additional opportunities presented by improved global access (particularly in the Middle East), increased exploration activity, expansion and technology-driven prospects.

Mr. Todd is ranked #868 out of over 10,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His rating is profitable 58% of the time, with an average return of 8.5%. See Chevron’s ownership structure on TipRanks.

restaurant company Darden Restaurants (DRI) owns a portfolio of brands including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Yard House. DRI recently announced a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share, payable on February 2, 2026. With an annual dividend of $6 per share, DRI yields 3.2%.

Following the company’s mixed fiscal 2026 second-quarter results, BTIG analyst Peter Saleh reiterated his buy rating on Darden stock with a price target of $225. In contrast, TipRanks’ AI analysts have a price target of $218 and an “outperform” rating.

Saleh noted that Darden had a mixed but “generally strong” quarter with better-than-expected comparable sales, helped by improved traffic across the company’s major brands.

“The company’s strategy to control inflation, focus on delivery, and offer a desirable menu resonated with guests, significantly outperforming a further quarter of the industry,” Saleh said.

The five-star analyst highlighted that high beef prices continue to be a headwind, weighing on restaurant margins and earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. That said, Saleh is optimistic that Darden will meet its guidance, as beef prices appear to have peaked, labor cost pressures have eased, and management is relying somewhat on price increases to offset commodity costs.

Overall, Saleh continues to be impressed with Darden’s sales momentum, and while earnings have yet to catch up, he expects it to improve going forward.

Saleh is ranked #641 out of over 10,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His rating is profitable 61% of the time, with an average return of 10.5%. See Darden Restaurant stats on TipRanks.

This week’s third dividend is ares capital (ARCC) is a specialty finance company that provides direct financing and other investments to private middle market companies. The company announced a dividend of 48 cents per share, payable on December 30, 2025. The annualized dividend per share is $1.92, giving ARCC stock a yield of 9.5%.

In his latest research note on business development companies (BDCs), RBC Capital analyst Kenneth Lee called Ares Capital one of his favorite BDC stocks in 2026 and reaffirmed his buy rating with a price target of $23. TipRanks’ AI analysts give the ARCC stock an “outperform” rating and a $24 price target.

Lee remains bullish on Ares Capital, although he is less constructive on the BDC space heading into 2026, citing the potential for lower net interest income (NII) and return on equity (ROE) due to lower base rates. In particular, he cited management’s confidence in maintaining the dividend at current levels despite the expected decline in benchmark interest rates.

Mr. Lee cited ARCC’s dominant position in the BDC market, its extensive scale, and its strong creation on the Ares direct lending platform, among its key strengths. He also highlighted Ares Capital’s more than 20 years of experience.

“In our view, ARCC’s dividend is well supported by the company’s core earnings per share and underlying realized profits,” Lee said, supporting his bullish stance.

Mr. Lee is ranked #341 out of over 10,200 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His evaluations were successful 66% of the time and yielded an average return of 11.5%. See Ares Capital insider trading activity on TipRanks.