What are the safest dividend stocks?

The safest dividend stocks are those whose dividends are best protected from a cut — comfortably covered by earnings and free cash flow, backed by a sound balance sheet and a long, unbroken payment history. This list ranks dividend payers by our 0–100 Dividend Safety Score, highest first.

How is dividend safety measured?

Our Dividend Safety Score weighs payout coverage (earnings and free cash flow), balance-sheet strength, dividend-growth streak and cut history. It was fit by backtesting which dividends were actually cut over 15+ years, so a higher score has historically meant a genuinely lower chance of a cut.

Do safe dividend stocks have lower yields?

Often, yes — safety and yield trade off. The safest payers tend to yield less because investors bid them up. If you want safe income at a higher yield, see our safe high-yield list, which screens for both.

Are these stocks a buy?

A high safety score means the dividend is dependable, not that the stock is cheap. Pair safety with valuation — our undervalued list and value screener show which safe payers also trade below fair value.

Safest Dividend Stocks

These are the safest dividend stocks we track, ranked by our backtested Dividend Safety Score — the companies whose dividends are best covered and least likely to be cut.

Want safety and a bargain? Cross-reference the undervalued list, or filter both at once in the value screener.

Updated September 2026 · 60 stocks · refreshed daily

#	Company	Yield	Growth Streak	Safety	Frequency
1	PHParker-Hannifin Corporation	0.84%	9 yr	A · 99	quarterly
2	GDGeneral Dynamics Corporation	1.79%	34 yr	A · 99	quarterly
3	AFLAflac Incorporated	2.12%	41 yr	A · 99	quarterly
4	CAHCardinal Health, Inc.	0.88%	39 yr	A · 99	quarterly
5	RJFRaymond James Financial, Inc.	1.25%	16 yr	A · 99	quarterly
6	DOVDover Corporation	1.11%	43 yr	A · 99	quarterly
7	EXPDExpeditors International of Washington, Inc.	0.84%	29 yr	A · 99	semiannual
8	WSTWest Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.	0.25%	33 yr	A · 99	quarterly
9	LLoews Corporation	0.23%	0 yr	A · 99	quarterly
10	NDSNNordson Corporation	1.20%	39 yr	A · 99	quarterly
11	RNRRenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd.	0.50%	29 yr	A · 99	quarterly
12	AITApplied Industrial Technologies, Inc.	0.63%	16 yr	A · 99	quarterly
13	SSBSouthState Bank Corporation	2.49%	14 yr	A · 99	quarterly
14	DDSDillard's, Inc.	0.18%	15 yr	A · 99	quarterly
15	ORIOld Republic International Corporation	3.08%	38 yr	A · 99	quarterly
16	UBSIUnited Bankshares, Inc.	3.22%	38 yr	A · 99	quarterly
17	RLIRLI Corp.	1.19%	38 yr	A · 99	quarterly
18	BCPCBalchem Corporation	0.58%	16 yr	A · 99	annual
19	BRCBrady Corporation	1.15%	33 yr	A · 99	quarterly
20	RNSTRenasant Corporation	2.35%	1 yr	A · 99	quarterly
21	TRMKTrustmark Corporation	2.13%	1 yr	A · 99	quarterly
22	NBTBNBT Bancorp Inc.	3.09%	13 yr	A · 99	quarterly
23	SRCE1st Source Corporation	1.93%	9 yr	A · 99	quarterly
24	GABCGerman American Bancorp, Inc.	2.45%	13 yr	A · 99	quarterly
25	CASHPathward Financial, Inc.	0.25%	0 yr	A · 99	quarterly
26	DGICBDonegal Group Inc.	2.86%	23 yr	A · 99	quarterly
27	CCFNMuncy Columbia Financial Corporation	2.12%	25 yr	A · 99	quarterly
28	WMKWeis Markets, Inc.	1.88%	0 yr	A · 99	quarterly
29	SPGIS&P Global Inc.	0.94%	20 yr	A · 98	quarterly
30	AMEAMETEK, Inc.	0.56%	6 yr	A · 98	quarterly
31	HPQHP Inc.	3.38%	15 yr	A · 98	quarterly
32	CINFCincinnati Financial Corporation	2.21%	30 yr	A · 98	quarterly
33	WRBW. R. Berkley Corporation	0.57%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
34	SNASnap-on Incorporated	2.60%	16 yr	A · 98	quarterly
35	RVTYRevvity, Inc.	0.23%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
36	UMBFUMB Financial Corporation	1.43%	30 yr	A · 98	quarterly
37	MATXMatson, Inc.	0.67%	13 yr	A · 98	quarterly
38	HWCHancock Whitney Corporation	2.66%	3 yr	A · 98	quarterly
39	VSECVSE Corporation	0.21%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
40	DNPDNP Select Income Fund Inc.	7.38%	0 yr	A · 98	monthly
41	BANFBancFirst Corporation	1.77%	32 yr	A · 98	quarterly
42	SYBTStock Yards Bancorp, Inc.	1.66%	16 yr	A · 98	quarterly
43	KMTKennametal Inc.	2.72%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
44	PLPCPreformed Line Products Company	0.20%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
45	RBCAARepublic Bancorp, Inc.	2.06%	27 yr	A · 98	quarterly
46	CTSCTS Corporation	0.28%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
47	CTBICommunity Trust Bancorp, Inc.	3.35%	23 yr	A · 98	quarterly
48	WABCWestamerica Bancorporation	3.25%	36 yr	A · 98	quarterly
49	UVSPUnivest Financial Corporation	2.16%	1 yr	A · 98	quarterly
50	CCNECNB Financial Corporation	2.20%	2 yr	A · 98	quarterly
51	SMBCSouthern Missouri Bancorp, Inc.	1.39%	14 yr	A · 98	quarterly
52	NCNACCO Industries, Inc.	2.64%	40 yr	A · 98	quarterly
53	AUBNAuburn National Bancorporation, Inc.	4.07%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
54	DDTDillards Capital Trust I CAP SECS 7.5%	7.23%	0 yr	A · 98	quarterly
55	MSFTMicrosoft Corporation	0.73%	20 yr	A · 97	quarterly
56	RTXRTX Corporation	1.47%	33 yr	A · 97	quarterly
57	MCKMcKesson Corporation	0.43%	18 yr	A · 97	quarterly
58	EMREmerson Electric Co.	1.46%	53 yr	A · 97	quarterly
59	GWWW.W. Grainger, Inc.	0.78%	40 yr	A · 97	quarterly
60	BKRBaker Hughes Company	1.56%	4 yr	A · 97	quarterly

Frequently Asked Questions

Data is for informational purposes only and is not investment advice. Yields and figures refresh daily.