Dividends are payouts from companies that share their profits with their investors. They offer a regular source of income that can increase over time. This makes them particularly attractive for long-term investments. Even a small dividend yield can result in impressive returns after many years. Dividends can offer protection against market volatility, another reason that investors include these stocks in their portfolios.
Strong Buy Dividend Stocks
Using the TipRanks Dividend Calendar, we searched for top stocks with an ex-dividend date in December 2021. Investors need to own the stock by the ex-dividend date to receive the next payout. We focused on top dividend stocks with a Strong Buy analyst rating consensus and at least a 5% yield. We found five top stocks that match these criteria. All of the stocks on the list have an “Outperform” Smart Score of 9 or 10, according to our data-driven stock score.
Top 5 Dividend Stocks
Petroleo Brasileiro SA (NYSE: PBR)
Dividend yield: 5.89%
Ex-dividend date: Dec 02, 2021
Payout ratio: 48.3%
Payout date: Dec 22, 2021
Better known as Petrobras, PBR is a state-owned Brazilian multinational corporation that produces and sells oil and gas. Analysts, financial bloggers, and TipRanks investors are Bullish on the stock. Its price target of $13.85 represents over 32% upside. On the other hand, more hedge funds reduced their holding than bought, in the most recently reported quarter. Most notably, Fisher Asset Management LLC’s manager Ken Fisher reduced the fund’s holding by 5.09%, with a reported value of $452,806,777. Saying that, the stock has an Outperform Smart Score of 9.
International Seaways (NYSE: INSW)
Dividend yield: 8.8%
Ex-dividend date: Dec 08, 2021
Payout ratio: -62.87%
Payout date: Dec 23, 2021
One of the largest tanker companies worldwide, International Seaways, provides energy transportation services for crude oil and petroleum products. The stock’s Strong Buy analyst rating consensus is accompanied by an average price target of $28.67%, showing a whopping 82.84% upside potential. All four hedge funds with INSW activity opened or added stocks to their positions. On the other hand, there has been a drop in the number of portfolios of TipRanks investors holding the stock in the past month. Taking all factors into consideration, the stock has an Outperform Smart Score of 9.
Star Bulk Carriers (NASDAQ: SBLK)
Dividend yield: 11.79%
Ex-dividend date: Dec 09, 2021
Payout ratio: 24.31%
Payout date: Dec 22, 2021
Star Bulk is a global shipping company that provides worldwide seaborne transportation solutions in the dry bulk sector. All three analysts who have recently rated SBLK have given it a Buy rating. Their average price target of $37 indicates over 67% upside potential. It’s not just analysts who are Bullish on the stock; financial bloggers and individual investors are also feeling optimistic. There has been a 7.2% increase in the number of top-performing investors’ portfolios holding the stock in the past month. Only one hedge fund manager reported an SBLK transaction in the past quarter: Richard Driehaus sold out his company’s holdings in the stock. Despite this, with plenty of positive signals, the stock has a maximum Smart Score of 10.
Oaktree Specialty Lending (NASDAQ: OCSL)
Dividend yield: 7.43%
Ex-dividend date: Dec 14, 2021
Payout ratio: 78.28%
Payout date: Dec 31, 2021
Oaktree Specialty Lending is a specialty finance company that engages in the provision of credit solutions to companies with limited access to public or syndicated capital markets. Analysts predict an 11.16% upside over the next 12 months, with an average price target of $8.17. Bloggers and individual investors are also feeling positive, there has been an almost 9% rise in the number of TipRanks portfolios holding OCSL. On the other hand, both hedge fund managers and corporate insiders are Bearish. Looking at insider activity, shareholder Leonard Tennenbaum, who owns over 10% of the company has made 21 Informative Sell transactions in 2021, the most recent of which was for $2.8 million. Despite this, the stock has an Outperform Smart Score of 9.
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