With market shaky, here are some low vol stocks with hefty dividends that analysts like
The stock market has slipped from its record-highs in recent weeks amid rising concerns about inflation, leaving some investors stressed about their wobbly portfolio. The S & P 500 was flirting with its sixth-straight losing day on Tuesday, as major tech stocks continued to slide. One option for retail investors looking to ride out the volatility is dividend paying stocks with lower-than typical volatility. The list below includes stocks near the bottom of the S & P 500 in volatility over the past 3 years with dividend yields of at least 1.5% and buy ratings from at least 65% of analysts. The list is highlighted by several utility stocks, which are often seen as defensive plays to guard against a market downturn. The two stocks on the list with the lowest price volatility over the past three years are NiSource and Exelon , utility companies that sport dividend yields of 3.8%. On Tuesday, The two stocks were trading roughly 13% and 18%, respectively, below their average price target, according to FactSet, suggesting healthy upside for investors. Outside of utility stocks, McDonald's and Mondelez International are two consumer-focused stocks on the list. Both provide dividend yields above 2% with relative low volatility. When McDonald's reported its fourth-quarter earnings last month, the company missed Wall Street expectations but said it expected its 2021 results to surpass its pre-pandemic numbers in 2019. The stock has gained 2% since the report. The name on the list with highest approval rating from Wall Street analysts is Equinix , a real estate investment trust focused on data centers. Data center stocks became a popular way to play the work-from-home boom during the pandemic, and shares of Equinix traded at nearly $840 per share in October. However, as vaccines have been approved and rolled out in the U.S., the stock has slipped. Shares were trading at about $657 per share on Tuesday, putting it in roughly the same spot as it was before the pandemic caused lockdowns around the country. To be sure, several of the stocks on the list have underperformed the broader market in recent years as investors have piled into momentum stocks. Rising interest rates could also take a bite out of dividend payers in the months ahead as the yields look less attractive relative to bonds. Still, if the market starts to wobble here, these names in the past have tended to be steadier rides and pay investors for waiting.

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