Fears of AI-related disruption in sectors such as software and finance, as well as geopolitical tensions, continue to impact the US stock market. Despite the ongoing volatility, investors seeking higher returns can bolster their portfolio by adding attractive dividend stocks.
In this regard, insights from top Wall Street analysts can help investors shortlist stocks of dividend-paying companies that have the ability to generate consistently strong cash flows to support dividends.
Here are three dividend stocks highlighted by Wall Street’s top pros, tracked by TipRanks, a platform that ranks analysts based on past performance.
Williams Cos.
Midstream energy company Williams (WMB) is this week’s first dividend pick. The energy infrastructure provider recently increased its quarterly dividend by 5% to 52.5 cents per share. With an annual dividend of $2.10 per share, WMB stock offers a yield of 2.84%.
Impressed by the company’s recent Analyst Day event, Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith reiterated his Buy rating on WMB stock and increased his price target to $81 from $78. Interestingly, TipRanks’ AI analyst is also bullish on WMB stock with an Outperform rating and a $75 price target.
Smith believes that with Williams’ push into behind-the-meter (BTM) power generation, the company is no longer just a traditional pipeline and gathering and processing (G&P) midstream operator. The 5-star analyst is confident that the company can generate an EBITDA CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of around 12-13% by 2030, with a growth potential of over 10% by the early 2030s.
Smith’s optimism about the sustainability of Williams’ growth is particularly supported by the potential for longer-term contracts for the company’s power innovation business and new announcements. The analyst highlighted extended contracts for Apollo/Aquila projects, an actionable backlog of 6 GW of unapproved energy innovations and a “shadow” transmission backlog of $15.5 billion (pipeline of potential projects).
“Taken together, we do not see WMB facing an ‘abyss’ after 2030,” Smith said. The analyst argues that WMB’s valuation framework needs to be reconsidered as the company transitions back to broadcast and its earnings and growth profile resembles a higher-growth industrial company than a traditional midstream operator.
Smith is ranked #519 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His reviews were successful 65% of the time and delivered an average return of 10.1%. See Williams stats on TipRanks.
MPLX
Another dividend-paying energy stock on this week’s list is MPLX (MPLX). It is a diversified, large-cap master limited partnership (MLP) that operates midstream energy infrastructure and logistics assets and provides fuel distribution services.
With a quarterly cash distribution of $1.0765 per common unit ($4.31 annualized), MPLX offers a yield of approximately 7.4%.
Recently, RBC Capital analyst Elvira Scotto updated her estimates to reflect MPLX’s fourth-quarter 2025 results and reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $60 price target. TipRanks’ AI analyst has an Outperform rating on MPLX with a higher price target of $63.
“We view MPLX as a compelling income play among large-cap MLPs, supported by an attractive current yield of nearly 8% and planning for further growth,” Scotto said.
The 5-star analyst is bullish on MPLX as she believes the company’s asset footprint with exposure to the Marcellus and Permian Basins continues to ensure long-term growth opportunities. Scotto emphasized that MPLX plans to increase its distributions by 12.5% annually over the next two years. This plan is supported by the expansion of the company’s growth projects through 2027 with returns in the mid-teens, providing insight into mid-single-digit adjusted EBITDA growth in 2026 and 2027.
Scotto also believes that MPLX’s strong balance sheet gives it financial flexibility to make opportunistic add-on acquisitions that meet its return criteria. The analyst noted that MPLX plans to make $2.4 billion in growth investments in 2026, with 90% dedicated to natural gas and NGL services in the Permian and Marcellus.
Scotto is ranked #98 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Their reviews were successful 72% of the time and delivered an average return of 15.5%. See MPLX technical analysis on TipRanks.
Energy transfer
Energy transfer (AND) operates 140,000 miles of pipeline and related energy infrastructure. In January 2026, the Company announced a quarterly cash distribution of 33.5 cents per common unit for the fourth quarter of 2025. With an annual distribution of $1.34 per unit, Energy Transfer stock offers a yield of 7.21%.
Following the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 results, Stifel analyst Selman Akyol reiterated his Buy rating on ET stock with a price target of $23. In comparison, TipRanks’ AI analyst has a Neutral rating with a $20.50 price target.
Akyol noted that Energy Transfer delivered fourth-quarter results in line with its expectations. The 5-star analyst emphasized that the company is seeing strong demand for natural gas. He contends that while data centers grab the headlines, the demand landscape goes far beyond that. Specifically, Akyol explained that ET sees demand for natural gas driven not only by data centers but also by utilities that serve the data center load.
The analyst mentioned that ET has begun delivery of the first of three data centers oracle (ORCL). The company also signed a 20-year contract with Entergy Louisiana and connected three power plants in Oklahoma. It is also in advanced discussions with another power plant in Oklahoma.
The analyst is confident that Energy Transfer will be able to meet increasing demand thanks to its strong natural gas footprint and storage capabilities. He added that ET’s two-way Hugh Brinson pipeline will begin operations in 2026 and is expected to be fully operational by early 2027.
Akyol is ranked #131 among more than 12,100 analysts tracked by TipRanks. His reviews were successful 73% of the time and delivered an average return of 13.8%. See ET Insider trading activity on TipRanks.