20 Dividend Stocks for Retirees That Yield More Than Treasuries

For retirees and income investors, the last few years have changed the way dividend stocks are judged. When Treasury yields were much lower, a reliable 4% or 5% dividend could look attractive on its own. But with government bonds still offering competitive income, investors now have to ask a tougher question: is the extra stock-market risk worth it?

That is where high-yield dividend stocks become more interesting. Treasuries are still viewed as one of the safest places to earn income, but they do not offer the same upside potential as equities. A dividend stock can fall in value, cut its payout, or disappoint investors. It can also raise its dividend, recover with the market, and deliver capital appreciation on top of income.

That balance matters for retirees who need steady cash flow but do not want their portfolios sitting entirely in cash or bonds. The goal is not simply to chase the highest yield. In fact, unusually high dividends can be a warning sign if the underlying business is weak. The better question is whether a stock’s payout looks sustainable, whether the company can keep generating cash, and whether the yield is high enough to compete with Treasuries.

The following dividend stocks all yield more than many Treasury securities and may deserve a closer look from retirees and income-focused investors. They are not risk-free, but for investors willing to accept equity volatility, they offer a combination of current income and potential upside that bonds cannot always provide.

• Must be headquartered in the United States.
• Not a preferred issue.
• Trailing dividend yield above 5%.
• Forward dividend yield above 5%.
• A dividend payout ratio below 100%, meaning earnings must cover dividends.
• At least one year of dividend increase.
• A market capitalization of over $1 billion.
• Not classified as a shell company, asset manager, or involved in capital markets, which may deem dividends unsustainable.

• Price: $51.14
• Market capitalization: $19.68 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.47%
• Dividend payout ratio: 48%
• Years of dividend increase: 22

• Price: $27.24
• Market capitalization: $2.69 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.61%
• Dividend payout ratio: 32%
• Years of dividend increase: 4

• Price: $99.22
• Market capitalization: $84.02 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.61%
• Dividend payout ratio: 84%
• Years of dividend increase: 16

• Price: $40.84
• Market capitalization: $172.19 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.64%
• Dividend payout ratio: 58%
• Years of dividend increase: 19

• Price: $11.16
• Market capitalization: $44.38 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.72%
• Dividend payout ratio: 51%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $14.71
• Market capitalization: $1.02 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.80%
• Dividend payout ratio: 54%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $29.32
• Market capitalization: $2.71 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.82%
• Dividend payout ratio: 53%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $31.35
• Market capitalization: $67.995 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 6.95%
• Dividend payout ratio: 79%
• Years of dividend increase: 27

• Price: $58.02
• Market capitalization: $97.73 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.03%
• Dividend payout ratio: 78%
• Years of dividend increase: 55

• Price: $24.47
• Market capitalization: $139.12 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.03%
• Dividend payout ratio: 53%
• Years of dividend increase: 15

• Price: $18.40
• Market capitalization: $1.20 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.07%
• Dividend payout ratio: 90%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $57.80
• Market capitalization: $6.88 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.20%
• Dividend payout ratio: 80%
• Years of dividend increase: 3

• Price: $27.00
• Market capitalization: $4.29 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.41%
• Dividend payout ratio: 90%
• Years of dividend increase: 2

• Price: $93.18
• Market capitalization: $5.18 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.51%
• Dividend payout ratio: 59%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $39.95
• Market capitalization: $6.67 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.51%
• Dividend payout ratio: 50%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $50.80
• Market capitalization: $51.86 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 7.53%
• Dividend payout ratio: 83%
• Years of dividend increase: 12

• Price: $18.91
• Market capitalization: $13.30 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 8.04%
• Dividend payout ratio: 90%
• Years of dividend increase: 4

• Price: $11.94
• Market capitalization: $6.33 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 8.38%
• Dividend payout ratio: 63%
• Years of dividend increase: 1

• Price: $38.88
• Market capitalization: $1.92 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 10.29%
• Dividend payout ratio: 92%
• Years of dividend increase: 4

• Price: $8.02
• Market capitalization: $2.65 billion
• Forward dividend yield: 11.72%
• Dividend payout ratio: 55%
• Years of dividend increase: 1