As the U.S. stock market continues its post-election rally, with major indices like the Dow Jones and S&P 500 reaching record highs, investors are keenly exploring opportunities that balance growth with income. In this buoyant market environment, dividend stocks offering yields up to 4.6% present an attractive option for those seeking steady returns amidst ongoing economic optimism.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The United States

Click here to see the full list of 138 stocks from our Top US Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

Financial Institutions

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★★

Overview: Financial Institutions, Inc. is a holding company for Five Star Bank, offering banking and financial services to individuals, municipalities, and businesses in New York with a market cap of $417.19 million.

Operations: Financial Institutions, Inc. generates revenue from its banking segment, totaling $193.83 million.

Dividend Yield: 4.5%

Financial Institutions, Inc. offers a stable and attractive dividend yield of 4.45%, ranking in the top 25% of US dividend payers. Its dividends have been reliable and growing over the past decade, supported by a low payout ratio of 37.4%. Despite recent net charge-offs and slightly reduced net interest income in Q3 2024, its strategic wind-down of BaaS operations is expected to have an immaterial financial impact, allowing focus on core banking growth.

• Click here to discover the nuances of Financial Institutions with our detailed analytical dividend report.
• The valuation report we've compiled suggests that Financial Institutions' current price could be quite moderate.

Peoples Bancorp

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★★

Overview: Peoples Bancorp Inc. is the holding company for Peoples Bank, offering commercial and consumer banking products and services, with a market cap of $1.20 billion.

Operations: Peoples Bancorp Inc. generates revenue primarily through its Community Banking segment, which accounts for $428.74 million.

Dividend Yield: 4.6%

Peoples Bancorp offers a high and reliable dividend yield of 4.63%, ranking in the top 25% of US dividend payers, with stable growth over the past decade. Despite recent net charge-offs increasing to US$6.08 million and a slight decline in Q3 net interest income to US$88.91 million, dividends remain well-covered by earnings with a payout ratio of 44.9%. The company trades below estimated fair value, enhancing its appeal for value-focused investors.

• Get an in-depth perspective on Peoples Bancorp's performance by reading our dividend report here.
• Our valuation report unveils the possibility Peoples Bancorp's shares may be trading at a discount.

United Community Banks

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆

Overview: United Community Banks, Inc. is a financial holding company for United Community Bank, offering a range of financial products and services across various sectors including commercial, retail, government, education, energy, health care, and real estate; it has a market cap of approximately $3.78 billion.

Operations: United Community Banks, Inc. generates revenue primarily through its Community Banking segment, which accounted for $827.44 million.

Dividend Yield: 3%

United Community Banks offers a stable dividend, recently increased to US$0.24 per share, with a payout ratio of 60.7%, ensuring coverage by earnings. The dividend yield of 3.03% is below the top tier in the US market but remains reliable over the past decade. Despite recent net charge-offs and flat earnings growth, UCB's strategic focus on acquisitions and asset sales positions it for potential future expansion while maintaining its dividend strategy.

• Take a closer look at United Community Banks' potential here in our dividend report.
• Our valuation report here indicates United Community Banks may be overvalued.

Key Takeaways

• Dive into all 138 of the Top US Dividend Stocks we have identified here.
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Interested In Other Possibilities?

• Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention.
• Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management.
• Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Companies discussed in this article include NasdaqGS:FISI NasdaqGS:PEBO and NYSE:UCB.

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