There Are Three Dividend-paying Stocks That Wall Street Analysts Are Optimistic About

Following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s remarks on Tuesday hinting at more interest rate cuts due to signs of weakness in the labor market, investors are increasingly eyeing dividend-paying stocks as a way to secure steady income in an uncertain economy. With rate reductions possibly on the horizon and broader market volatility in play, dividend stocks continue to offer a cushion of stability and consistent returns.

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Top Wall Street analysts have weighed in on some of the most promising opportunities. Below are three dividend-paying companies earning strong endorsements from seasoned market pros, based on data from TipRanks, a platform that tracks and ranks analyst performance.

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EOG Resources (EOG)
First on the list is EOG Resources, a leading crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company with assets across the U.S. and Trinidad. The firm recently announced a $5.6 billion acquisition of Encino Acquisition Partners a deal expected to enhance free cash flow and further reinforce its commitment to rewarding shareholders.

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EOG also boosted its quarterly dividend by 5% to $1.02 per share, payable on October 31. At an annualized $4.08 per share, the stock currently yields around 3.8%.

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RBC Capital analyst Scott Hanold reiterated his Buy rating on EOG and raised his price target to $145 from $140, while TipRanks’ AI Analyst assigned an “Outperform” rating with a $133 target. Hanold cited stronger oil price assumptions as the main reason behind his revised outlook. He lifted his earnings per share (EPS) and cash flow per share (CFPS) estimates for 2025 and 2026, projecting EPS of $10.07 and $9.46 respectively up from earlier estimates of $9.54 and $7.15. Looking ahead, he forecast EPS of $11.63 in 2027 and $12.97 in 2028.

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Hanold remains bullish on EOG’s outlook, expecting it to outperform peers over the next year. “EOG’s cutting-edge technology, robust balance sheet, low-cost operations, and capital efficiency should continue to create shareholder value and make it a must-own energy stock,” he said.

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Hanold currently ranks No. 79 among over 10,000 analysts on TipRanks, with a 64% success rate and an average return of 26.5%.

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Coterra Energy (CTRA)
The second dividend pick is Coterra Energy, an oil and gas exploration company operating in the Permian Basin, Marcellus Shale, and Anadarko Basin. Coterra distributed a quarterly dividend of $0.22 per share in the second quarter of 2025, translating to a yield of 3.4%.

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Gabriele Sorbara, an analyst at Siebert Williams Shank, reaffirmed a Buy rating on Coterra but lowered his price target to $32 from $35. TipRanks’ AI Analyst currently rates the stock as “Neutral” with a $26 target.

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Acknowledging the uncertain macro environment, Sorbara said he remains cautious but selective in his approach. Despite near-term challenges, he called Coterra one of his “favorite names” going into Q3 earnings season. He expects the company’s oil production to beat estimates but anticipates that EBITDA and free cash flow may slightly miss expectations due to “outdated consensus gas pricing.”

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That said, Sorbara sees upside potential in Q4, especially from higher-than-expected output tied to Harkey remediation wells. “We reaffirm our Buy rating as Coterra continues to look attractive from a valuation standpoint, trading at a discount on EV/EBITDA while offering above-average free cash flow yield,” he wrote.

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Sorbara ranks No. 315 out of more than 10,000 analysts tracked by TipRanks, with a 52% success rate and an average return of 20%.

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AT&T (T)
Rounding out the trio is telecom giant AT&T, which remains a favorite among income investors thanks to its reliable payouts. The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of 27.75 cents per share, payable on November 3, representing an annualized yield of roughly 4.3%. AT&T is set to report third-quarter earnings on October 22.

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Citigroup analyst Michael Rollins reiterated a Buy rating with a $32 price target, calling AT&T a “top-ranked pick.” TipRanks’ AI Analyst shares a similar “Outperform” view, with a $31 target. Rollins expects a solid third-quarter performance across AT&T’s wireless and broadband divisions, forecasting 300,000 net postpaid phone additions and a 2.5% year-over-year increase in wireless service revenue.

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He also predicts 286,000 new fiber subscribers in what’s typically a strong seasonal quarter, alongside 210,000 new fixed wireless access (FWA) additions. Rollins noted that his Q3 revenue, EBITDA, and EPS projections are slightly below Wall Street’s consensus but align with free cash flow expectations.

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“Wireless churn, upgrades, and gross additions are likely to trend higher this quarter due to more active replacement cycles,” he said. He also highlighted AT&T’s broadband expansion as an underappreciated driver of future growth.

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Ranked No. 548 out of more than 10,000 analysts on TipRanks, Rollins has achieved profitable ratings 62% of the time with an average return of 11.7%.

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Conclusion
With rate cuts potentially ahead and market volatility showing no signs of slowing, dividend-paying stocks like EOG Resources, Coterra Energy, and AT&T stand out as dependable plays for investors seeking income and resilience. Supported by strong fundamentals and analyst confidence, these names offer a compelling mix of yield, stability, and long-term growth potential in today’s uncertain environment.

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