Dogs of the Dow Enjoyed a Successful Year: Discover the 10 Stocks for 2026.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 29 2025
0mins
Source: Barron's
- Performance of Dog of the Dow: The ten highest-yielding stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average have seen an average increase of 17.8% in 2025 as of December 26.
- Comparison with Dow 30: This performance surpasses the overall gain of 14.5% for the Dow 30 index during the same period.
- Focus on Dividend Investors: The year has been particularly favorable for dividend investors who focus on these high-yielding stocks.
- Market Trends: The trend indicates a strong preference for dividend-paying stocks among investors in the current market environment.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy VZ?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on VZ
Wall Street analysts forecast VZ stock price to fall
14 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
10 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 50.580
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
Current: 50.580
Low
43.00
Averages
46.42
High
51.00
About VZ
Verizon Communications Inc. is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, provides communications, technology, information and streaming products and services to consumers, businesses and government entities. Its Consumer segment provides wireless and wireline communications services. It also provides fixed wireless access (FWA) broadband through its 5G or 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) networks portfolio. The Company's Business segment provides wireless and wireline communications services and products, including FWA broadband, data, video and advanced communication services, corporate networking solutions, security and managed network services, local and long-distance voice services and network access to deliver various Internet of Things (IoT) services and products. It provides these products and services to businesses, public sector customers and wireless and wireline carriers across the U.S. and a subset of these products and services to customers around the world.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Top Dividend Stocks to Secure Stable Income
- EPR Properties Performance: EPR Properties boasts a 7.1% dividend yield, ensuring stable rental income through long-term triple-net leases, and recently raised its dividend by 5.1%, reflecting its strong cash flow and investment capacity.
- Enbridge's Growth Potential: Enbridge offers a 5.3% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with expected cash flow growth of 3% to 5% annually, providing robust support for future dividend increases.
- Realty Income's Investment Plans: Realty Income has a 5.3% dividend yield and plans to invest $8 billion in new properties this year, maintaining a 75% payout ratio of cash flow, which supports ongoing dividend increases and demonstrates its solid financial health.
- T. Rowe Price's Steady Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, continuously launching new financial products to support its 40-year dividend growth streak, showcasing its strong competitive position in investment management.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Dividend Stocks
- Dividend Growth Streak: Realty Income has extended its dividend growth streak to 114 consecutive quarters, demonstrating its stable cash flow and strong financial position, which is expected to continue attracting investor interest and enhancing market confidence.
- High-Yield Investment Opportunity: EPR Properties recently boosted its monthly dividend by over 5%, currently yielding 7.1%, ensuring stable rental income through long-term leasing models, thereby enhancing its appeal in the high-yield investment sector.
- Robust Financial Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 40 consecutive years while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, showcasing resilience and ongoing profitability amid market fluctuations.
- Future Growth Potential: Enbridge expects its cash flow per share to grow at a 3% compound annual rate, supporting dividend growth, and its strong balance sheet provides billions in investment capacity, ensuring long-term dividend payment capability.
See More
VERIZON: MOFFETT NATHANSON INCREASES TARGET PRICE TO $56, UP FROM $49
- Verizon Price Increase: Verizon has raised its target price for its stock from $49 to $56.
- Market Impact: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on Verizon's performance and potential growth in the market.
See More
Verizon Stock Surge: Promising Investment Outlook
- Strong Stock Performance: Verizon's stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, indicating a robust market comeback that has captured investor interest.
- Impressive Earnings Report: In 2025, Verizon reported revenue of $138.2 billion, a 2.5% increase, and achieved the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, boosting investor confidence and demonstrating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Attractive Valuation: Verizon currently trades at a trailing P/E of 12, well below rival AT&T's over 12, and offers a 5.7% dividend yield, making it an appealing choice for investors amid economic uncertainty, potentially driving further stock price increases.
- Future Growth Potential: Despite the recent stock surge, Verizon is still down 11% over the past five years, indicating room for further gains, and with strong profit forecasts, investor sentiment remains optimistic about its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Verizon's Impressive Quarterly Results Boost Stock Significantly
- Strong Quarterly Performance: Verizon's latest earnings report revealed the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, with a modest 2.5% revenue increase to $138.2 billion and a 2% rise in operating income to $29.3 billion, indicating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Impressive Stock Performance: The stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, and despite an 11% drop over the past five years, it currently trades at a P/E of 12, which is attractive compared to AT&T's 12.
- High Dividend Attracts Investors: With a dividend yield of 5.7%, Verizon appeals to investors seeking stable returns amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, potentially driving further stock price increases in the near future.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company’s strong profit and cash flow forecast exceeded analysts' expectations, reflecting progress in its growth strategy and boosting investor confidence, which may lead to continued stock price appreciation.
See More
Quality Stock Picks Amid Middle East Unrest
- Market Reaction Analysis: The unrest in the Middle East has led to significant market volatility, negatively impacting many stocks; however, high-quality, low-volatility companies like Enbridge and Verizon have shown strong performance over the past year and month, demonstrating resilience during downturns.
- Stability and Scale: Enbridge's pipelines transport approximately 30% of the crude oil and 20% of the natural gas used in the U.S., while Verizon boasts over 146 million retail wireless connections, with market caps of $117 billion and $211 billion respectively, ensuring stock price stability.
- Dividend Yield Advantage: Both companies offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average; Verizon has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, while Enbridge has done so for 31 years, enhancing investor confidence in long-term holdings.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported an annual EPS of $3.23, up 38%, while Verizon's 2025 revenue reached $138.2 billion, with a slight EPS decline; however, its scale and stable cash flows allow it to remain competitive even in high oil price environments.
See More
Top Dividend Stocks to Secure Stable Income
- EPR Properties Performance: EPR Properties boasts a 7.1% dividend yield, ensuring stable rental income through long-term triple-net leases, and recently raised its dividend by 5.1%, reflecting its strong cash flow and investment capacity.
- Enbridge's Growth Potential: Enbridge offers a 5.3% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with expected cash flow growth of 3% to 5% annually, providing robust support for future dividend increases.
- Realty Income's Investment Plans: Realty Income has a 5.3% dividend yield and plans to invest $8 billion in new properties this year, maintaining a 75% payout ratio of cash flow, which supports ongoing dividend increases and demonstrates its solid financial health.
- T. Rowe Price's Steady Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, continuously launching new financial products to support its 40-year dividend growth streak, showcasing its strong competitive position in investment management.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Dividend Stocks
- Dividend Growth Streak: Realty Income has extended its dividend growth streak to 114 consecutive quarters, demonstrating its stable cash flow and strong financial position, which is expected to continue attracting investor interest and enhancing market confidence.
- High-Yield Investment Opportunity: EPR Properties recently boosted its monthly dividend by over 5%, currently yielding 7.1%, ensuring stable rental income through long-term leasing models, thereby enhancing its appeal in the high-yield investment sector.
- Robust Financial Performance: T. Rowe Price offers a 6% dividend yield and has increased its dividend for 40 consecutive years while managing $1.8 trillion in client assets, showcasing resilience and ongoing profitability amid market fluctuations.
- Future Growth Potential: Enbridge expects its cash flow per share to grow at a 3% compound annual rate, supporting dividend growth, and its strong balance sheet provides billions in investment capacity, ensuring long-term dividend payment capability.
See More
VERIZON: MOFFETT NATHANSON INCREASES TARGET PRICE TO $56, UP FROM $49
- Verizon Price Increase: Verizon has raised its target price for its stock from $49 to $56.
- Market Impact: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on Verizon's performance and potential growth in the market.
See More
Verizon Stock Surge: Promising Investment Outlook
- Strong Stock Performance: Verizon's stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, indicating a robust market comeback that has captured investor interest.
- Impressive Earnings Report: In 2025, Verizon reported revenue of $138.2 billion, a 2.5% increase, and achieved the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, boosting investor confidence and demonstrating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Attractive Valuation: Verizon currently trades at a trailing P/E of 12, well below rival AT&T's over 12, and offers a 5.7% dividend yield, making it an appealing choice for investors amid economic uncertainty, potentially driving further stock price increases.
- Future Growth Potential: Despite the recent stock surge, Verizon is still down 11% over the past five years, indicating room for further gains, and with strong profit forecasts, investor sentiment remains optimistic about its long-term growth prospects.
See More
Verizon's Impressive Quarterly Results Boost Stock Significantly
- Strong Quarterly Performance: Verizon's latest earnings report revealed the highest quarterly net adds since 2019, with a modest 2.5% revenue increase to $138.2 billion and a 2% rise in operating income to $29.3 billion, indicating progress under new CEO Dan Schulman.
- Impressive Stock Performance: The stock has surged 24% this year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 4% decline, and despite an 11% drop over the past five years, it currently trades at a P/E of 12, which is attractive compared to AT&T's 12.
- High Dividend Attracts Investors: With a dividend yield of 5.7%, Verizon appeals to investors seeking stable returns amid economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, potentially driving further stock price increases in the near future.
- Optimistic Future Outlook: The company’s strong profit and cash flow forecast exceeded analysts' expectations, reflecting progress in its growth strategy and boosting investor confidence, which may lead to continued stock price appreciation.
See More
Quality Stock Picks Amid Middle East Unrest
- Market Reaction Analysis: The unrest in the Middle East has led to significant market volatility, negatively impacting many stocks; however, high-quality, low-volatility companies like Enbridge and Verizon have shown strong performance over the past year and month, demonstrating resilience during downturns.
- Stability and Scale: Enbridge's pipelines transport approximately 30% of the crude oil and 20% of the natural gas used in the U.S., while Verizon boasts over 146 million retail wireless connections, with market caps of $117 billion and $211 billion respectively, ensuring stock price stability.
- Dividend Yield Advantage: Both companies offer dividend yields around 5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average; Verizon has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, while Enbridge has done so for 31 years, enhancing investor confidence in long-term holdings.
- Strong Financial Performance: Enbridge reported an annual EPS of $3.23, up 38%, while Verizon's 2025 revenue reached $138.2 billion, with a slight EPS decline; however, its scale and stable cash flows allow it to remain competitive even in high oil price environments.
See More
