Top analysts like these 3 dividend stocks for consistent income

Democrats’ midterm election win has put the artificial intelligence trade in question, as voters clearly expressed opposition to the rapid buildout of data centers. The stock market could remain volatile amid AI trade concerns, macro uncertainties, and geopolitical tensions.

In this scenario, investors can add dividend-paying stocks to their portfolios to earn steady income. However, the extensive universe of dividend stocks can make selection challenging. Top Wall Street analysts’ recommendations can help investors shortlist attractive dividend stocks, as these experts assign ratings after in-depth financial analysis.

Here are three dividend-paying stocks that are highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, as tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on their past performance.

Viper Energy

Viper Energy (VNOM) is a subsidiary of Diamondback and owns and acquires mineral and royalty interests, primarily in the Permian Basin. The company reported upbeat third-quarter earnings, supported by recent acquisitions and continued development activity from Diamondback and third-party operators. Viper announced a base cash dividend of 50 cents per share for Q3 2026, payable on Nov. 19. Based on the base and variable dividends announced over the past 12 months, VNOM’s dividend yield stands at 5.7%.

Following the Q3 results, TD Cowen analyst Aaron Bilkoski reiterated a buy rating on Viper Energy stock with a price target of $61. The analyst noted that the company delivered solid Q3 results, with production, including oil and natural gas liquids, exceeding both TD Cowen and consensus estimates.

The 5-star analyst highlighted that the key update was the announcement of two royalty acquisitions for $809 million in cash, including deferred consideration, and $82 million of newly issued shares.

Given the recently announced base dividend hike, Bilkoski expects Viper to direct incremental free cash flow toward buybacks. While the acquisitions increase leverage, the analyst believes that Viper has enough capacity for opportunistic buybacks.

Bilkoski noted that Viper has historically delivered one of the highest production per share growth profiles in his royalty coverage, but still trades at a notable discount to the royalty peer average and the company’s historical FCF yield range. “In our view, its above-average growth warrants a higher valuation,” said the analyst.

Bilkoski ranks No. 525 among more than 12,500 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His ratings have been profitable 57% of the time, delivering an average return of 12.80%. See Viper Energy Stock Buybacks on TipRanks.

Exxon Mobil

Exxon Mobil (XOM) reported robust Q3 2026 profits, as its U.S. refineries boosted production to capitalize on the high diesel fuel prices sparked by the conflict in the Middle East. The oil and gas giant announced a quarterly dividend of $1.07 per share, payable on Dec. 10, reflecting a 3.9% increase. This marks Exxon’s 44^th consecutive year of dividend increases. At an…