Several stocks that span the gamut from high dividend yield to high dividend growth have added more juice to their payouts. These stocks hold yields of over 13% at the high end, while seeing recent gains of up to 14%. This leaves investors with many options for how to play yield versus growth.
Annaly: High-Yield Mortgage REITs and Notable Risks
Annaly Capital Management NYSE: NLY real estate investment trust (REIT) with the highest dividend yield. The company specializes in managing mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and other types of debt.
Annaly Capital Management Today
Annaly Capital Management
- 52 week interval
- $18.64
▼
$24.52
- Dividend Yield
- 12.47%
- The P/E ratio
- 7.58
- Target Value
- $24.11
As a mortgage REIT, the company's value proposition is its ability to identify and generate returns on MBS, which then flow to its bottom line. After a recent 7% increase in the company's shares. The company's next dividend will be paid on July 31 to shareholders of record as of June 30.
However, one important risk to be aware of is Analy's use of leverage to generate returns, which increases both the upside and downside volatility. Still, Annaly says it uses energy more efficiently than others in its industry.
Specifically, the company notes that its economic return per unit of leverage is 2%, or 30% higher than that of a typical mortgage REIT.
In other words, to generate the same return on its original investment, the company used less energy than its competitors. Annaly has executed its strategy well, delivering a total return of more than 40% since the beginning of 2025. About half of that return came from dividends. Overall, Annaly's high dividend yield is attractive, but the high risk is something investors should consider.
Casey's: Increasing Budget Quickly, Rising Shares and Weight in Product
Casey's General Stores NASDAQ: CASY it may not be in tech or artificial intelligence, but this consumer staples stock has been making huge gains nonetheless. After rising 40% in 2025, Casey's has returned nearly 50% in 2026. The grocery store and gas station has made a name for itself with its in-house food, best known for its pizza.
Casey's General Stores Today
Casey's General Stores
- 52 week interval
- $490.00
▼
$927.85
- Dividend Yield
- 0.33%
- The P/E ratio
- 40.96
- Target Value
- $923.00
The company has consistently outperformed analyst expectations, with its latest earnings report serving as another reminder of this. Sales grew 14.5% year-over-year (YOY) to $4.57 billion, strongly beating estimates, while earnings per share (EPS) increased 66% to $4.37. This allowed Casey's to lower expectations to $3.31 more than $1, leading shares to rise 20% later.
Casey's also announced a massive 14% budget increase. As Casey's stock price has performed well, large dividend increases have also become the norm, as this marks the fourth year in a row that Casey's has increased its dividend by 13% or more.
However, while Casey's dividend has grown at a faster pace, its share price has grown faster, leaving the stock with a lower implied yield of close to 0.3%. The company's next dividend will be paid on Aug. 14 to shareholders of record as of the August 1 close. Overall, dividend income is low on the list of reasons to own Casey. However, the company's determination to maximize its cash flow is the cherry on top of its impressive performance.
Target: Repeat Trader With Over 3% Yield.
Another interesting story in the consumer staples sector is Target NYSE: TGT. After delivering a -25% return in 2025, Target appointed a new CEO in late 2026. So far, the move seems to be playing out well. After posting five consecutive quarters of negative sales growth, Target grew revenue by 6.7% YOY in its most recent quarter. Not only was the number back in the green, but it was also Target's highest rate of sales growth in nearly four years.
Target Today
- 52 week interval
- $83.44
▼
$139.00
- Dividend Yield
- 3.34%
- The P/E ratio
- 18.33
- Target Value
- $129.00
Target also saw strong improvement in its EPS, which rose 31% YOY to $1.71, beating estimates of $1.47.
The company now expects to grow sales by around 4% during the full year, which would be its best annual growth rate from 2022. As Target works to turn its business around, the stock has delivered a return of more than 30% through 2026.
Notably, Target also announced a small dividend increase of just under 2%, moving its quarterly payout to $1.16. The company's next dividend will be paid on Sept. 1 to shareholders of record from Aug. 12 closing.
Despite Target's recent gains being low, the stock's dividend yield remains relatively high, near 3.5%.
Target also has the longest history of dividend increases, having raised its payout for 54 consecutive years. With this, Target provides investors with a strong dividend yield while also offering high upside if the recovery in its financial performance continues.
Annaly, Casey's, and Target: A Different Flavor for Stocks and Growth
While Annaly, Casey's, and Target offer very different dividend profiles, they all show a strong desire to return increasing amounts of cash to shareholders. When it comes to Annaly, investors should also be aware that the company can significantly lower its dividends at times. This happened in 2023, when the company reduced its dividend by about 26%.
Before you consider Target, you'll want to hear this.
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