Seeking safety? SA analysts rank the best dividend plays ahead of Fed's rate decision

Major U.S. equity benchmarks remain perched near record highs as investors brace for next week’s Federal Open Market Committee policy decision—a potential catalyst for heightened volatility across markets.

For those seeking stability in the face of uncertainty, dividends continue to offer a reliable mix of income and downside protection. 

Seeking Alpha analysts have compiled a curated list of the top 10 dividend-paying stocks, spotlighting U.S. companies with market capitalizations above $10 billion that earn strong ratings across all four key dividend factors: safety, growth, yield, and consistency. 

Each stock on the list holds a composite grade ranging from B to A+, underscoring their resilience and attractiveness for income-focused investors. 

No. 1: Alexandria Real Estate Equities (ARE), analyst grade of 4.53.

No. 2: Bunge Global (BG), analyst grade of 4.33.

No. 3: Watsco (WSO), analyst grade of 4.00. 

No. 4: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY), analyst grade of 3.93. 

No. 5: Amgen (AMGN), analyst grade of 3.83. 

No. 6: VICI Properties (VICI), analyst grade of 3.81. 

No. 7: Merck & Co (MRK), analyst grade of 3.77. 

No. 8: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), analyst grade of 3.66. 

No. 9: Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT), analyst grade of 3.66. 

No. 10: IBM (IBM), analyst grade of 3.63. 

For investors looking to gain further access to the dividend space, listed below are some popular dividend-focused ETFs that can be further analyzed: 

Dividend ETFs: (NYSEARCA:VIG), (NYSEARCA:SCHD), (NYSEARCA:VYM), (NYSEARCA:DGRO), (NYSEARCA:SDY), (NASDAQ:DVY), (NASDAQ:DGRW), (BATS:NOBL), (NYSEARCA:HDV), (NASDAQ:RDVY), (NASDAQ:VIGI), and (NASDAQ:SDVY).