Don’t Look Now: 4 S&P 500 Giants Pay 6% and Higher Dividends

Lee Jackson

Thu, September 24, 2026 at 8:41 AM EDT 7 min read

Quick Read

Dividend payers returned 9% annualized over 50 years, more than double the 4% for non-payers, making 6%+ S&P 500 yields compelling total-return plays.
General Mills ($GIS) yields 6.86% at just 10x earnings, while VICI Properties ($VICI) locks in 6.57% through resilient triple-net casino leases.
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Investors love dividend stocks because they provide dependable passive income streams and an excellent opportunity for solid total return. Total return includes interest, capital gains, dividends, and distributions realized over time. In other words, the total return on an investment or portfolio consists of income and stock appreciation. At 24/7 Wall St., we have focused on dividend stocks for over 15 years because, despite the stock market’s ups and downs, many people need reliable passive income streams to supplement income from employment or other sources such as Social Security and pensions.

The S&P 500 stock market index tracks the performance of the 500 biggest companies in the United States. It’s considered a top indicator of the U.S. stock market’s health. The venerable index is market-capitalization-weighted and tracks the 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. Typically, larger companies significantly impact the index. The roaring success of the mega-cap Magnificent 7 stocks over the past few years attests to that.

A close-up shot on a red background features the large white text 'DIVIDEND' horizontally. Below the text, three small light brown wooden blocks, each displaying a black percentage symbol, are stacked on top of scattered silver coins. An overturned clear glass jar is partially visible in the upper right, with more coins spilling out onto the red surface. — Ilyas nasrulloh / Shutterstock.com

We screened the venerable index for dividend-paying stocks with yields of 6% or higher, and we found four that could be total-return home runs for patient growth-and-income investors. Three are rated Buy and one is rated Hold; all make sense for investors seeking quality passive income streams from companies that have delivered just that for years.

Why Do We Cover the Highest-Yielding S&P 500 Dividend Stocks?

A calculator, a fountain pen, and a stack of papers are visible on a light-colored desk. The word 'DIVIDENDS' is displayed in bold white letters within a double-lined rectangular border with star accents, overlaid on the image. The scene is slightly desaturated with a cool, blueish tint. — relif / Getty Images

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Since 1926, dividends have accounted for approximately 32% of the S&P 500’s total return, while capital appreciation has accounted for 68%. Therefore, sustainable dividend income and the potential for capital appreciation are essential to total return expectations. A study by Hartford Funds, in collaboration with Ned Davis Research, found that dividend stocks delivered an annualized return of 9.18% over the past 50 years (1973 to 2023). Over the same timeline, this was more than double the annualized return for non-payers (3.95%).