Conflict between Israel and Iran has put global investors on edge as markets have reacted with heightened caution.
Investors searching for stability are increasingly turning their attention to high-yield dividend stocks. These companies offering high yields and reliable dividend payments are standing out, especially as growth stocks struggle and volatility rises.
Could these three high-yield dividend stocks offer a rare combination of protection and income that your portfolio needs right now? Let’s find out.
VICI Properties
VICI Properties (VICI) is a leading real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in gaming, hospitality, and experiential real estate assets with a market capitalization of $34.7 billion. The company’s dividend is a core attraction, currently offering an annualized payout of $1.73 per share, a robust 5.3% yield, and a sustainable payout ratio of 60.9%.
VICI’s shares have delivered year-to-date gains of 12.7% and 52-week returns of 15.8%.
The company’s first-quarter 2025 results, released April 30, 2025, highlighted revenue of $984.2 million, up 3.4% year-over-year, and net income attributable to common stockholders of $543.6 million, or $0.51 per share. Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) rose 5.6% to $616 million, or $0.58 per share, and the company ended the quarter with $334.3 million in cash and $624.6 million in estimated forward sale equity proceeds.
For full-year 2025, management raised AFFO guidance to between $2.47 billion and $2.50 billion, or $2.33–$2.36 per diluted share. Analysts are calling for moderate earnings per share growth to $0.59 for the current quarter.
Analyst consensus is resoundingly positive, with the 22 surveyed analysts rating VICI a consensus “Strong Buy” and giving it an average price target of $36.13. This optimism is rooted in VICI’s defensive business model, strong cash flows, and strategic expansion.
Eversource Energy
Eversource Energy (ES) delivers electricity and natural gas (NGN25) to customers across New England, operating as a regulated utility. The company supports a generous dividend, currently yielding 4.7% with an annual payout of $3.01 per share.
Eversource’s share price is just below $64, reflecting year-to-date gains of 11.3% and a 52-week return of 10.2%.
Eversource’s first-quarter 2025 results revealed GAAP earnings of $1.50 per share, a slight increase from $1.49 in the previous year. The transmission, electric distribution, and natural gas segments all reported improved earnings due to higher investments and effective rate mechanisms. In contrast, the parent segment experienced increased losses due to higher interest expenses.
ES’s $2.4 billion sale of Aquarion, which includes $1.6 billion in cash and $800 million in cleared debt, sharpens its focus on core electric and gas operations and strengthens its balance sheet. The company’s capital investment plan of $24.2 billion for 2025–2029, primarily aimed at distribution and transmission, supports steady, rate-regulated growth.
The company reaffirmed 2025 EPS guidance of $4.67–$4.82 per share and a long-term growth rate of 5%–7% through 2029. Analyst sentiment remains generally positive, with a “Moderate Buy” rating from 19 analysts and an average price target of $68.56.
Pinnacle West Capital
Pinnacle West Capital (PNW) is the parent company of Arizona Public Service (APS), supplying electricity to over 1.4 million customers across Arizona. The company’s dividend is both reliable and growing, with a recent quarterly payout of $0.895 per share, translating to an annual yield of roughly 4% and a payout ratio of 70.9%.
Pinnacle’s shares are priced just above $90, reflecting a year-to-date gain of 6.5% and a 52-week return of 19.3%.
Pinnacle West’s first-quarter 2025 results, released May 1, 2025, revealed a net loss attributable to common shareholders of $4.6 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, missing analyst expectations by $0.06, but revenue surpassed forecasts at $1.03 billion, up 8.4% year-over-year.
CEO Ted Geisler noted, “Financial results in the first quarter were in line with our expectations, especially given the power plant overhauls and maintenance work built into our budget to ensure reliability for the summer months,” while highlighting robust customer and electricity sales growth as Arizona’s economy continues to expand.
APS retail customers grew 2.3% and retail sales increased 2.1% quarter-over-quarter, reinforcing the region’s strong economic momentum. The company’s APS sector is nearing completion of scheduled maintenance and refueling at the Palo Verde Generating Station Unit 1, ensuring grid reliability and supporting long-term operational efficiency.
For 2025, Pinnacle West maintains consolidated earnings guidance of $4.40 to $4.60 per diluted share. Analyst consensus remains positive with a “Moderate Buy” rating from 15 analysts and an average price target of $97.71.
Conclusion
With geopolitical tensions high, VICI, ES, and PNW are solid choices for portfolio protection and steady income. Each company’s reliable dividends and defensive business models make them especially attractive when markets get shaky.
Looking ahead, shares in these names are likely to hold their ground or even post modest gains, as investors continue to favor stability over risk. While nothing’s ever guaranteed, the focus on infrastructure, real estate, and essential services means these stocks should weather volatility better than most.
On the date of publication, Ebube Jones did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
