The top 3 best performing dividend stocks of 2026

There has been a notable break with tradition in 2026 as major dividend stocks – generally purchased for regular income and not growth – have been recording exceptionally strong equity market performance.

The trend of high-yield stocks soaring since the year started is even more remarkable, considering that the benchmark S&P 500 index is up merely 2.40% since January 2 and that the traditional growth stocks from the technology sector have been struggling.

For example, Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) – a company that soared 1,700% between the 2022 lows and 2025 highs – only recently turned green in 2026 and is up 6.28%, while Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) suffered arguably its worst first quarter (Q1) of the XXI century this year.

Nvidia stock price YTD chart. Source: Finbold

Under the circumstances, Finbold decided to uncover which dividend stocks have also recorded the largest rallies since January 2- the first regular session of the year.

Caterpillar Inc (NYSE: CAT)

While not among the highest-yield stocks, Caterpillars (NYSE: CAT) 0.78% annual dividend certainly positions it as a respectable regular income investment. Simultaneously, CAT shares have been, by press time on April 16, among the best purchases a trader could have made.

Indeed, not only would one receive $1.50 every quarter for each Caterpillar share owned, but a $1,000 investment in the company made at the start of 2026 would have turned into $1,342.40 given the 34.24% rally.

Caterpillar stock price YTD chart. Source: FinboldJohnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)

While not quite as impressive as Caterpillars 2026 rally, Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is, nonetheless, up a significant 14.76% year-to-date (YTD) to PRICE. Furthermore, the medical stock offers a more attractive annual yield of 2.25%, meaning that a respectable quarterly dividend would compound the gains from the market growth.

By press time on April 16, investors could look forward to receiving $1.34 for every JNJ share they own every three months on top of having a $1,000 stake acquired on January 2 grow to $1,147.60.

Johnson & Johnson stock price YTD chart. Source: FinboldChevron Corp (NYSE: CVX)

Out of the 3 best-performing dividend stocks of 2026, the oil giant Chevron (NYSE: CVX) might easily be the most attractive overall. By mid-April, the equity has benefited tremendously from President Donald Trump‘s ’drill baby drill policies and an apparent focus on acquiring oil through military means, as seen most decisively in Venezuela in early January.

Chevron stock price YTD chart. Source: Finbold

Overall, a $1,000 investment made in CVX at the start of the year would have grown to $1,212.20 thanks to the 21.22% YTD rally, while with an annual yield of 3.85%, the returns would be compounded by a $1.78 dividend payment for each share owned every quarter.