Want secure dividend income in 2024 and beyond? Invest in these 3 ultra high yielding stocks.

If your gut tells you that now is a good time to add some safe dividend payers to your investment portfolio, you’d be wise to listen. Between geopolitical turmoil, persistent inflation, unpredictable interest rates, rising credit delinquencies and political uncertainty, the near future may not be a great environment for some — or perhaps any — growth stocks.

However, these three high-yielding dividend stocks are on hand to provide investors with solid returns and should remain so indefinitely.

1. Altria Group

The US tobacco industry is living on borrowed time. However, this is the latest analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO), which suggests that only 18.2% of the nation’s adult population will be regular tobacco users (mostly smokers) in 2025. This is far more lower than the 2000 figure of 23.3%.

However, the tobacco business in the United States may have more years ahead of it than you might expect. Also acknowledging that the smoking cessation movement is slowing, the same WHO report suggests that 16.5 percent of US adults will still use tobacco regularly by 2030. Meanwhile, people are discovering alternative vices such as vaping and mass e-cigarette use. . The National Center for Health Statistics reports that more than 4 percent of adults in the country regularly use vapor products, offsetting the decline in smokers.

Connect the dots. Given the nation’s expected population growth between now and then (and beyond), there are still plenty of opportunities to turn these common spending habits into big bucks.

The background is auspicious Altria Group (MO -0.79%)the parent of Philip Morris USA, which owns well-known US cigarette brands such as Marlboro, Virginia Slims and others. And while cigarettes remain its biggest seller, it also owns vaping brand NJOY and oral nicotine pouch maker Helix Innovations. These other initiatives mitigate the impact of tobacco’s slow demise on Altria, which has adopted the motto “Moving Beyond Smoking.” By accepting the gradual but inevitable decline of the cigarette market rather than resisting it, the company can continue to generate good revenue by managing — and even directing — the transition to other nicotine products. More importantly for shareholders, managing this development allows Altria to continue producing profits that have supported 55 consecutive years of annual dividend increases.

It is important for investors to understand that there will be no significant or lasting capital appreciation here. Altria doesn’t even seem to be trying to grow. Its focus is entirely on maintaining the cash flow that funds its dividend payments.

With a forward yield of 7.7% and a dividend that could continue to grow and be paid for decades, that’s not a bad trade-off.

2. Real estate income

Contrary to common assumption, not all sections of the retail industry are on the ropes. Most of the weak points are limited to department stores and malls where they are usually found. Strip malls and neighborhood shopping centers actually do quite well, providing consumers with where and how they like to shop.

Come in Real estate income (A -2.40%).

It is not a retailer, although its fate is tied to a large part of this industry. It’s a real estate investment trust (REIT), which leases concrete properties to retailers, relieving tenants of some of the financial commitments of owning all those buildings.

This may still seem like a risky proposition on the surface. The landlord is still leasing to companies in a retail industry that is being squeezed by the continued growth of e-commerce.

This general idea, however, ignores some important details. One is that much retail consumption is still (for reasons of convenience and speed) handled in person in stores. And the other reason? The bulk of Realty Income’s tenants are among retailers with the highest staying power, such as general dollar, Walgreens7-Eleven and even Walmart. Once these chains have established a brick-and-mortar presence in a location, they are unlikely to abandon it.

That’s what this REIT’s dividend history suggests, anyway. Not only has it distributed its monthly (yes, monthly) payouts like clockwork since they started in 1969, those payouts have been increased 127 times. Those buying the stock today would jump in, while Realty Income’s forward dividend yield is 5%.

3. Whirlwind

Last but not least, add the appliance manufacturer WHIRLWIND (WHR 2.42%) to your list of dividend stocks to consider buying while its forward yield is 7%.

It’s a suggestion that might raise a few eyebrows. Even if you don’t know for sure, intuitively, there doesn’t seem to be much demand for appliances right now. Increasing competition from the likes of SamsungBosch and LG further deflate the bullish case for owning a stake in this iconic brand name.

Things may not be quite as challenging on this front as they appear to be, however.

Unlike other large purchases, the purchase of a major appliance cannot always be postponed. Appliances are also more affordable than cars or houses, for example, so getting financing is less of a hurdle. To that end, the Conference Board’s measure of consumer confidence rose in August, particularly as — in apparent defiance of the economic backdrop — more American consumers said they planned to buy a refrigerator, washing machine or television for the next six months. It was the fourth consecutive month that these purchase plans improved.

Investors already familiar with Whirlpool will likely also know that while it has continued to pay dividends, it hasn’t raised them since 2022, when it raised quarterly payouts to $1.75 per share.

Keep things in perspective though, his ability to maintain his pay has never been in question. The decision to halt the longtime cadence of dividend increases was rooted in an abundance of caution at an extraordinary time in modern history. The COVID-19 pandemic and its effects have not only temporarily halted purchases of home appliances, but also hampered companies’ ability to produce them. This year’s 14% drop in revenue and subsequent drop in profit should mark the end of these troubles, however. Analysts expect Whirlpool’s business to turn the corner next year. Meanwhile, with the stock trading 60% off its 2021 high and valued at less than 9 times next year’s estimated earnings, the worst-case scenario is already priced in… and then some.