Prime Wall Avenue analysts choose these dividend shares for steady returns

Unstable markets name for stability inside portfolios, and traders are purchasing for dividend shares to offer a mixture of upside potential and strong revenue.

Whereas the U.S. and China’s latest settlement to slash tariffs for 90-days offered some reduction to traders, the specter of steep duties beneath the Trump administration continues to be a priority.

Suggestions of prime Wall Avenue analysts can assist traders choose engaging dividend shares which are supported by strong money flows to make constant funds.  

Listed here are three dividend-paying stocks, highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based mostly on their previous efficiency.

This week’s first dividend choose is Chord Energy (CHRD), an unbiased exploration and manufacturing firm with long-held property primarily within the Williston Basin. The corporate not too long ago reported strong outcomes for the primary quarter of 2025, which it attributed to better-than-modeled effectively efficiency, sturdy value management, and improved downtime.

Chord Power returned 100% of its adjusted free money movement (FCF) to shareholders by way of share repurchases after declaring a base dividend of $1.30 per share. Primarily based on the whole dividend paid over the previous 12 months, CHRD inventory affords a dividend yield of 6.8%.

Calling CHRD a prime choose, Siebert Williams Shank analyst Gabriele Sorbara reiterated a purchase ranking on the inventory and raised the value goal to $125 from $121. Whereas no power inventory is resistant to weaker commodity costs, Sorbara thinks that his prime picks are greatest positioned on a relative valuation foundation because of their engaging property with low breakeven ranges, sturdy free money movement and the potential for superior capital returns.

In a analysis notice following the outcomes, Sorbara famous that the corporate lowered its 2025 capital expenditure outlook by $30 million, whereas sustaining its whole manufacturing steerage, supported by improved operational efficiencies.

Nonetheless, CHRD is monitoring the macro scenario and has the required operational and monetary flexibility to additional scale back exercise if circumstances stay unfavorable or weaken, emphasised the analyst. Additional, Sorbara highlighted that Chord Power reaffirmed its capital returns framework, concentrating on to return greater than 75% of its free money movement to shareholders by means of dividends and opportunistic share repurchases.

“We reaffirm our Purchase ranking on valuation, underpinned by its sturdy FCF yield offering the capability for superior capital returns whereas sustaining low monetary leverage (0.3x on the finish of 1Q25),” stated the analyst.

Sorbara ranks No. 143 amongst greater than 9,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His scores have been worthwhile 55% of the time, delivering a mean return of 20.4%. See Chord Energy Hedge Fund Trading Activity on TipRanks.

We transfer to grease and fuel big Chevron (CVX), which not too long ago reported first-quarter outcomes that mirrored the affect of decrease oil costs on its earnings. Chevron’s outlook indicated a slowdown within the tempo of its inventory buybacks in Q2 2025 in comparison with the prior quarter amid tariff woes and the choice of OPEC+ to spice up provide.

In the meantime, Chevron returned $6.9 billion of money to shareholders through the first quarter by means of share repurchases of $3.9 billion and dividends of $3.0 billion. At a quarterly dividend of $1.71 per share (annualized dividend of $6.84 per share), CVX inventory affords a dividend yield of 4.8%.  

Following the Q1 outcomes, Goldman Sachs analyst Neil Mehta trimmed his worth goal for Chevron inventory to $174 from $176 and reaffirmed a purchase ranking. The analyst stated that regardless of macro uncertainties and moderated inventory buyback assumptions, he continues to see a lovely long-term worth proposition in CVX inventory, with a few 5% dividend yield.

“We moreover spotlight expectations for sturdy free money movement technology pushed by main initiatives together with Tengiz, US Gulf and the Permian,” stated Mehta.

Concerning the Tengiz (Tengizchevroil or TCO) venture, the analyst highlighted administration’s commentary that it reached name-plate capability forward of schedule. The corporate reiterated expectations for sturdy money movement technology from the TCO venture, together with money distributions and stuck mortgage repayments. Mehta additionally famous that CVX stays constructive on the working outlook within the Gulf of Mexico and expects to extend manufacturing within the area to 300,000 boe/d in 2026. About Permian, he acknowledged that Chevron boosted manufacturing by about 12% in Q1, because of continued efficiencies.

Mehta ranks No. 535 amongst greater than 9,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His scores have been worthwhile 59% of the time, delivering a mean return of 8.8%. See Chevron Ownership Structure on TipRanks.

Lastly, let’s take a look at EOG Resources (EOG), a crude oil and pure fuel exploration and manufacturing firm with proved reserves within the U.S. and Trinidad. Earlier this month, EOG reported market-beating earnings for the primary quarter of 2025.  

The corporate returned $1.3 billion to shareholders, together with $538 million in dividends and $788 million by way of share repurchases. EOG declared a dividend of $0.975 per share (annualized dividend of $3.90 per share), payable on July 31, 2025. EOG inventory affords a dividend yield of three.4%.

In response to the Q1 outcomes, RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold reaffirmed a purchase ranking on EOG inventory with a worth goal of $145. The analyst famous that the corporate introduced macro uncertainty-led cuts to its exercise plans, decreasing the capital funds by 3% and natural oil manufacturing by 0.6%. Consequently, Hanold boosted his free money movement (FCF) estimates by 6% to 7%.

The analyst highlighted that EOG is ready to revise its deliberate exercise by decreasing exercise in areas with ample scale, which might not gradual or degrade its operational efficiencies. Hanold noticed that in whole, 550 wells (internet) at the moment are deliberate within the core U.S. onshore basins, which is 30 fewer in comparison with the unique steerage.

Hanold identified that EOG once more returned at the least 100% of its free money movement again to shareholders in Q1 2025. He expects this development to proceed, supported by the corporate’s steadiness sheet optimization technique introduced final yr, present money steadiness of about $7 billion and EOG’s inventory worth. “We count on administration to flex buybacks to above 100% and suppose there’s a path to over $1 billion ensuing whole returns at ~150% of 2Q25 FCF,” stated Hanold.

Total, the analyst views EOG as greatest positioned to deal with the continuing oil worth volatility, backed by its best-in-class steadiness sheet, rising pure fuel volumes and low-cost construction.

Hanold ranks No. 11 amongst greater than 9,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His scores have been profitable 68% of the time, delivering a mean return of 30%. See EOG Resources Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks.