Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are keeping global markets on edge, but investors can add some stability to their portfolios by purchasing dividend-paying stocks.
Choosing the right stocks can be challenging, given the vast universe of companies paying dividends. Investors can track the ratings of top Wall Street analysts, who assign ratings after thoroughly analyzing a company’s cash flows and ability to pay dividends consistently.
Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.
Enterprise Products Partners
This week’s first pick is Enterprise Products Partners (EPD), a publicly traded partnership that provides midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, NGLs (natural gas liquids), crude oil, refined products, and petrochemicals. At a quarterly distribution of 55 cents per unit ($2.20 per unit on an annualized basis), EPD stock offers a dividend yield of about 5.9%.
Ahead of the company’s Q1 2026 earnings, RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto reiterated a buy rating on EPD stock and slightly increased her price target to $42 from $40 to reflect modestly raised estimates and valuation multiple, given the potential for higher commodity prices.
The five-star analyst expects tailwinds from higher commodity prices due to the tensions in the Middle east to have a muted impact on EPD’s Q1 2026 results, given that prices increased later in the quarter. Scotto added that the forward curve for West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) has increased, supporting a constructive backdrop for 2026.
The analyst slightly increased her first quarter 2026 adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) estimate to $2.575 billion from $2.541 billion and believes that there could be upside to her projections if EPD captures additional margin from higher commodity prices and spot cargoes.
“We continue to expect a step-up in 2027 driven by the startup of growth projects commencing operations,” said Scotto. Overall, the analyst remains bullish on EPD stock and views it as a core MLP (master limited partnership) with both offensive and defensive features.
Scotto ranks No. 68 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Her ratings have been successful 72% of the time, delivering an average return of 16.3%. See EPD Ownership Structure on TipRanks.
Chord Energy
Chord Energy (CHRD) is an independent exploration and production company with assets primarily in the Williston Basin. The company recently paid a base dividend of $1.30 (annualized dividend of $5.20). CHRD stock offers a dividend yield of 3.9%.
Recently, Morgan Stanley analyst Devin McDermott upgraded Chord Energy stock to buy from hold and increased his price target to $168 from $114, saying “CHRD is a key beneficiary of higher oil prices, screening well versus peers on FCF [free cash flow] and shareholder returns.”
McDermott emphasized that CHRD offers strong free cash flows across a range of oil prices. Specifically, the five-star analyst noted that with WTI at $80 a barrel, Chord Energy offers a free cash flow yield of 18% compared to the oil exploration and production group average of 12% and a shareholder return yield of 12% compared to the peer average of 6%.
McDermott expects CHRD to continue to see capital efficiency gains and a positive rate of change on its longer lateral program. Notably, for 2026, the company expects 80% of Chord’s planned wells to be three- to four-mile laterals compared to about 45% last year. He added that Chord’s three- and four-mile wells represent about 80% of long-term inventory.
While Chord Energy’s net leverage increased following the XTO Bakken acquisition, McDermott expects it to return below 0.5-times by the end of 2026 at WTI of $80.
McDermott ranks No. 384 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been successful 62% of the time, delivering an average return of 12.3%. See Chord Energy Statistics on TipRanks.
Devon Energy
McDermott is also bullish on Devon Energy (DVN), an oil and gas producer having a diversified multi-basin portfolio, with a strong acreage position in the Delaware Basin. In February 2026, Devon announced its merger with Coterra Energy (CTRA) to form a larger oil company with a dominant position in the Permian Basin.
Devon Energy plans to raise its quarterly dividend by 31% to roughly 32 cents per share following the completion of the merger. In the first quarter, Devon paid a dividend of 24 cents per share. At an annualized dividend of 96 cents per share, DVN stock offers a dividend yield of about 2%.
In his latest research report, McDermott reiterated a buy rating on Devon Energy stock and raised his price target to $59 from $46 to reflect higher commodity prices.
The analyst noted that Devon’s pending merger with Coterra would create the second-largest U.S. independent exploration and production company by total volume and a premier shale operator. The deal is expected to be about 17% accretive to Devon’s free cash flow per share at $60 WTI and $3.75 HH (Henry Hub natural gas).
McDermott added that Devon’s business optimization plan is targeting $1 billion in annual pre-tax free cash flow increase by the end of 2026, of which already 85% was achieved as of fourth quarter 2025 earnings.
At $80 WTI, the top-rated analyst expects Devon to generate a free cash flow yield of 18% and total return yield of 12%, above the oil exploration and production average of 12% and 6%, respectively. See Devon Energy Technical Analysis on TipRanks.
