The United States market remained flat over the last week but has seen a 24% increase over the past year, with earnings forecast to grow by 17% annually. In this context, dividend stocks can be an attractive option for investors seeking steady income and potential growth in a dynamic market environment.
We’re going to check out a few of the best picks from our screener tool.
Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: Paychex, Inc. offers human capital management solutions including payroll, employee benefits, HR, and insurance services for small to medium-sized businesses across the United States, Europe, and India with a market cap of approximately $32.80 billion.
Operations: Paychex generates revenue of $6.33 billion from its staffing and outsourcing services segment.
Dividend Yield: 4.7%
Paychex’s dividends are supported by stable cash flows, with a cash payout ratio of 74.1%, though not well-covered by earnings due to a high payout ratio of 94.9%. The dividend yield is competitive at 4.72%, ranking in the top quartile among U.S. dividend payers, and has shown consistent growth over the past decade. Recent news includes a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.19 per share, reflecting ongoing commitment to returning value to shareholders despite financial coverage concerns.
PAYX Dividend History as at May 2026
Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: Accenture plc is a global professional services company offering strategy, consulting, technology, and operations services across various regions including the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific with a market cap of approximately $103.65 billion.
Operations: Accenture’s revenue is derived from five key segments: Products ($21.94 billion), Resources ($9.71 billion), Financial Services ($13.59 billion), Health & Public Service ($14.81 billion), and Communications, Media & Technology ($12.06 billion).
Dividend Yield: 3.9%
Accenture offers a reliable dividend yield of 3.86%, supported by strong cash flow coverage with a cash payout ratio of 32% and earnings coverage at 51.7%. While its yield is below the top quartile in the U.S., Accenture’s dividends have been stable and growing over the past decade. Recent strategic partnerships, including those with the WTA and ServiceNow, highlight Accenture’s ongoing efforts to expand its technological capabilities, potentially supporting future financial stability for dividend payouts.
ACN Dividend History as at May 2026
Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆
Overview: Home BancShares, Inc. is a bank holding company for Centennial Bank, offering commercial and retail banking services to various clients in the United States, with a market cap of approximately $5.17 billion.
Operations: Home BancShares, Inc. generates revenue primarily through its banking services segment, which accounts for $1.07 billion.
Dividend Yield: 3.3%
Home BancShares maintains a stable dividend history, recently affirming a $0.21 per share quarterly payout. With a 3.27% yield, it lags behind top-tier U.S. dividend payers but offers reliable growth over the past decade and is well-covered by earnings with a 33.7% payout ratio. First-quarter net income rose to US$118.21 million, indicating solid financial health supporting its dividends amidst ongoing share repurchases totaling US$618.87 million since 2008.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Companies discussed in this article include PAYXACN and HOMB.
This article was originally published by Simply Wall St.
