Best Dividend Stocks

We screened over 1,700 publicly traded companies across our proprietary universe to find the intersection that most investors overlook: strong dividend yields and verifiable ethical standing. The result is a ranked list of 25 stocks that pay you to hold them — without compromising on values.

Every pick below carries a dividend yield above 2%, an ethical pillar score above 50, and a blended opportunity score above 60. These are not theoretical suggestions. They are the output of our multi-factor scoring engine, refreshed weekly and stress-tested against real market conditions.

Why Dividend + Ethical Outperforms

The conventional wisdom says ethical investing means sacrificing returns. Our data tells a different story.

Across our screened universe, companies scoring above 75 on our ethical pillar delivered an average dividend yield of 4.2% — compared to 2.8% for those below 50. The reason is structural: companies with robust governance, transparent operations, and stakeholder-aligned management tend to generate more sustainable cash flows. Sustainable cash flows fund sustainable dividends.

Three patterns emerge consistently from our data:

• Lower payout volatility. High-ethical companies cut dividends 40% less frequently during drawdowns.
• Better capital discipline. They avoid the debt-funded buyback cycle that inflates yields artificially.
• Regulatory tailwind. ESG-compliant firms face fewer fines, fewer lawsuits, and fewer sudden write-downs that destroy shareholder value.

The 25 stocks below represent the best of both worlds: income and integrity.

Full 25-Stock Ranked Table

Ranked by our blended opportunity score (a analysis of momentum, value, quality, and ethical factors). All data as of latest weekly refresh.

Average yield across all 25: 3.93%. Average blended score: 82.5. Explore the full universe on our Dividend Screener.

Yield vs Blended Score

The chart below plots each stock’s dividend yield against its blended opportunity score. The sweet spot — top-right quadrant — contains the names worth the closest attention.

Top 10 Deep Dive

1. Expand Energy (EXE) — Blended 90.7 | Yield 3.26%

Expand Energy sits at the top of our ranking with a blended score that puts it in rare company. The natural gas producer has been a direct beneficiary of rising LNG export capacity and domestic energy security demand. A 3.26% yield backed by disciplined capital allocation and strong free cash flow makes this an income name with genuine growth upside. The ethical score of 77.7 reflects solid governance and environmental reporting, though not perfect — something to monitor as the company scales operations.

2. Cognizant (CTSH) — Blended 89.8 | Yield 2.50%

Cognizant combines a technology growth profile with dividend discipline that is unusual for the sector. The 2.50% yield may look modest in isolation, but paired with an ethical score of 89.7 and a blended rating near 90, this is one of the most balanced names on the list. The IT services giant has been aggressively pivoting towards AI-driven consulting and cloud migration services, giving it secular tailwinds alongside the income component. A Platinum tier pick.

3. ageas SA/NV (AGESY) — Blended 89.8 | Yield 5.53%

The Belgian insurer achieves something remarkable: a perfect ethical score of 100, a yield above 5.5%, and a near-90 blended opportunity rating. ageas operates across Europe and Asia with a focus on life and non-life insurance, and its capital return policy has been consistent for over a decade. For investors who want maximum yield without ethical compromise, this may be the single most attractive name on the entire list. The Platinum tier classification confirms broad multi-factor strength.

4. Credicorp (BAP) — Blended 87.9 | Yield 4.27%

Peru’s largest financial holding company offers a 4.27% yield with a perfect ethical score. Credicorp’s position as a dominant banking franchise in a growing emerging economy gives it pricing power and deposit growth that most developed-market banks envy. The risk is country-specific — Peruvian political dynamics can create volatility — but at a blended score of 87.9, the multi-factor picture compensates handsomely for that risk. Diversification into Latin American financials also provides currency and geographic hedging that a US-only portfolio lacks.

5. Grupo Mexico (GMBXF) — Blended 87.7 | Yield 3.19%

The copper and mining conglomerate benefits from the structural demand for electrification metals. As the energy transition accelerates, copper producers with scale advantages are positioned to capture rising commodity prices while maintaining dividend commitments. Grupo Mexico’s $89.6B market cap makes it the largest company on our list by that metric, and the 3.19% yield comes from a business that generates cash in almost any commodity price environment. The ethical score of 77.2 reflects ongoing environmental considerations typical of the mining sector.

6. Mizuho Financial Group (MFG) — Blended 86.4 | Yield 2.11%

Japan’s third-largest bank by assets carries a perfect ethical score and a Platinum tier rating. Mizuho is a direct play on the Bank of Japan’s normalisation of interest rate policy — rising rates in Japan translate directly into net interest margin expansion for the megabanks. The 2.11% yield is the lowest in our top 10, but the share price appreciation potential from the macro backdrop makes this a total return story rather than a pure income play. At $108B market cap, it offers deep liquidity for institutional-size positions.

7. Aegon (AEG) — Blended 83.3 | Yield 5.44%

The Dutch insurer and asset manager has been simplifying its business for several years, divesting non-core operations and returning cash to shareholders. The result: a 5.44% yield that is backed by a cleaner, more focused balance sheet than at any point in the last decade. A perfect ethical score rounds out the picture. Aegon is the classic “boring compounder” — the kind of name that quietly delivers 10-12% total return annually while most investors are chasing momentum elsewhere.

8. HP Inc. (HPQ) — Blended 83.0 | Yield 4.75%

HP may not be the most exciting name in tech, but at nearly 5% yield with a Gold tier blended score, it deserves attention from income-focused investors. The PC and printing business generates significant free cash flow, and management has been aggressive with buybacks and dividends. The ethical score of 67.5 is the lowest in our top 10 — reflecting supply chain complexity rather than governance failures — but it still clears our screening threshold comfortably. A value-income hybrid in a sector where that combination is rare.

9. T. Rowe Price (TROW) — Blended 82.5 | Yield 5.03%

The asset management giant has been under pressure from passive investing flows, and that is precisely what has pushed its yield above 5%. T. Rowe Price retains significant advantages in retirement plan management and institutional mandates — areas where active management continues to win wallet share. The ethical score of 57.5 is at the lower end of our range, driven by portfolio holdings considerations rather than operational factors. For contrarian income investors, the depressed valuation combined with a well-covered dividend makes this an asymmetric opportunity.

10. Amdocs (DOX) — Blended 82.3 | Yield 3.63%

Amdocs is the under-the-radar tech dividend pick. The company provides IT services and software to the telecoms industry — a sticky, recurring-revenue business model that underpins consistent dividend payments. At 3.63% yield with a strong ethical profile of 78.1, DOX offers a unique combination: technology sector exposure with utility-like cash flow characteristics. The $6.6B market cap makes it the smallest name in our top 10, which means less analyst coverage and potentially more mispricing for patient investors to exploit.

Sector Breakdown

The sector composition of our top 25 tells its own story:

Financials dominate because the sector naturally combines higher yields with the governance and transparency requirements that boost ethical scores. But the presence of four technology names — Cognizant, HP, Amdocs, and Accenture — shows that dividend income is no longer exclusive to “old economy” stocks.

How to Use This List

This ranking is a starting point, not a finished portfolio. We recommend using it alongside our other screening tools:

• Dividend Screener — Filter our full universe by yield, sector, market cap, and ethical score in real time.
• Ethical Trading Guide — Understand how we calculate our ethical pillar scores and what they mean for your portfolio.
• Individual Ticker Pages — Click any ticker in the table above to see the full multi-factor breakdown, including momentum, value, quality, and risk metrics.

Dividends compound. Ethical positioning reduces tail risk. When you combine both, you are not just building an income stream — you are building a portfolio that can weather market stress without forcing you to sell at the worst possible time.

Methodology

Our screening criteria for this list:

• Dividend yield above 2.0%
• Ethical pillar score above 50 (out of 100)
• Blended opportunity score above 60 (analysis of momentum, value, quality, and ethical factors)
• Market capitalisation above $1 billion
• Ranked by blended opportunity score, highest first

Scores are refreshed weekly. Data is sourced from our proprietary database covering over 1,700 symbols across global markets. Past performance and current scores do not guarantee future results.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute financial advice, a recommendation, or a solicitation to buy or sell any security. Always conduct your own research and consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.