Dividend-oriented investors should consider these top Wall Street analysts' recommended stocks.

In uncertain markets, dividend-paying stocks can provide portfolio stability and income for investors.

Analysts have examined the intricacies of dividend-paying stocks, scrutinizing companies' financials and assessing their future growth prospects.

According to TipRanks, Wall Street's top experts have identified three attractive dividend stocks.

Civitas Resources

CIVI is an independent oil and natural gas producer that concentrates on expanding its operations in the Permian and Denver-Julesburg basins.

On December 29, 2023, Civitas distributed a quarterly dividend of $1.59 per share, consisting of a base dividend of $0.50 per share and a variable dividend of $1.09 per share.

This month, Mizuho analyst Nitin Kumar upgraded Civitas stock from hold to buy, setting a price target of $86 per share. Kumar named the stock one of his top picks in the U.S. oil and gas industry. The analyst believes that 2023 was a transformative year for the company, with three major acquisitions in the Permian Basin reshaping its asset base.

These recent acquisitions have extended the company's overall inventory to nearly 10 years, making it more competitive than its small and mid-cap exploration and production rivals. Additionally, Kumar emphasized that the CIVI offers the highest cash returns compared to its peers.

Although the company has several positive aspects, its stock remains undervalued compared to its peers on FCF/EV and EV/EBITDAX metrics.

Kumar stated that the relative valuation gap is too wide, despite the significant improvement in asset base and increased inventory duration.

Among more than 8,600 analysts tracked by TipRanks, Kumar ranks No. 224. His ratings have been profitable 60% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 15.5%. (See Civitas Insider Trading Activity on TipRanks)

Williams Companies

We shift our focus to a different energy dividend stock - (WMB). This energy infrastructure company is responsible for approximately one-third of the natural gas transported in the U.S.

On Dec. 26, 2023, the company paid a quarterly dividend of $0.4475 per share, representing a 5.3% year-over-year growth. WMB offers a dividend yield of 5.1%.

Williams recently purchased a portfolio of natural gas storage assets from Hartree Partners LP's affiliate for $1.95 billion. According to Stifel analyst Selman Akyol, this acquisition, which includes six natural gas facilities, will be beneficial due to the acquired assets' proximity to LNG export facilities.

The analyst believes that the acquisition will improve the company's storage capacity to meet the increasing demand for LNG. Furthermore, the analyst pointed out that this acquisition will enable the company to provide fuel for standby power plants during the transition to renewable energy sources.

Williams' diversified gathering footprint and the largest U.S. long-haul natural gas pipeline in Transco should keep its footprint insulated from commodity price swings with over 90% fee-based margins, according to Akyol, who reiterated a buy rating on WMB stock with a price target of $40.

The analyst emphasized the company's strong distribution coverage, robust balance sheet, high yield, and ability to produce consistent cash flows in the face of macroeconomic difficulties.

On TipRanks, Akyol ranks 976th among over 8,600 analysts, with a successful rating rate of 63% and an average return of 4.2%. (Check out Williams' financial statements on TipRanks.)

Kimco Realty

KIM, a REIT that specializes in grocery-anchored shopping centers, paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.24 per share in December 2023, which represented a 4.3% increase from the previous dividend payment. KIM's dividend yield currently stands at 4.7%.

Following the acquisition of RPT Realty by Kimco Realty, Stifel analyst Simon Yarmak reaffirmed a buy rating on KIM stock and slightly increased the price target to $23 per share from $21.75 per share. The analyst noted that management is optimistic about an upside to occupancy levels in RPT’s portfolio, margins, and a solid signed-not-opened (SNO) portfolio.

Management is optimistic about the financial stability of the company's tenants, and believes their exposure to Rite Aid, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023, is minimal.

Yarmak is optimistic about Kimco Realty and believes that the company's portfolio is stable and has a significant size and scale in its target markets. He has raised his 2024 FFO (funds from operations) per share estimate from $1.61 to $1.62 and his 2025 estimate from $1.68 to $1.69. The analyst anticipates a 2023 FFO of $1.57 per share.

Yarmak stated that his investment strategy involves maximizing the value creation potential of KIM's portfolio to increase net operating income and cash flow.

Kimco Realty Technical Analysis ranks Yarmak No. 410 among more than 8,600 analysts tracked by TipRanks. Yarmak's ratings have been profitable 58% of the time, with each delivering an average return of 9.7%.