I own a lot of dividend stocks. They're a big part of my investment strategy. I'm working toward eventually generating enough passive income to cover my basic living expenses.
Last year, five stocks supplied me with more than $500 of dividend income apiece. Here's a look at these leaders, which I expect will provide me with even more passive income in 2025.
Energy Transfer
Last year, Energy Transfer(NYSE: ET) was my top income-producing stock. The master limited partnership (MLP) pays a lucrative quarterly cash distribution.
It currently yields nearly 6.5%, though the yield on my investment is even higher (over 12%) due to a lower purchase price and steady distribution increases. The midstream company raised its payout every quarter last year, increasing it by more than 3%.
I expect Energy Transfer will remain one of my top income-producing investments in 2025. While I don't currently plan to add to my position at this time, I anticipate that the MLP will continue to steadily increase its distribution (it's targeting 3% to 5% annual growth).
It can easily afford to continue raising its distribution due to its low payout ratio (slightly more than 50% of its stable cash flow), strong balance sheet, and growing earnings (accretive acquisition of WTG Midstream last year and a solid backlog of organic expansion projects). Those factors are why it will remain a core income investment in my portfolio for years to come.
Brookfield Renewable
Brookfield Renewable(NYSE: BEPC)(NYSE: BEP) was my second-largest dividend payer last year. That was due to the renewable energy stock's high yield (currently 5.5%, though my yield is around 9% due to a lower purchase price and a steadily rising dividend). The top renewable energy dividend stock has increased its payout at a 6% compound annual rate over the last two decades.
That dividend rise should continue, given the company's stated plans of increasing its payout by 5% to 9% annually over the long term. With a strong balance sheet and robust growth profile, it should have plenty of power to achieve that target.
Brookfield Renewable expects to boost its funds from operations (FFO) at a more than 10% annual rate over the next five years. It has several growth catalysts, including inflation-driven rate increases, development projects, and accretive acquisitions.
Brookfield Infrastructure
Brookfield Infrastructure(NYSE: BIPC)(NYSE: BIP), the infrastructure-focused sibling of Brookfield Renewable, came in just behind its sibling. My current yield is more than 7.5% (compared to over 4% at the current share price) due to my lower cost basis and the company's steady dividend growth.
The globally diversified infrastructure operator (utilities, energy midstream, transportation, and data) has increased its payout at a 9% annual rate since its formation 15 years ago.
Like its renewable energy sibling, Brookfield Infrastructure aims to raise its payout at a 5% to 9% annual rate. It has ample fuel to achieve that target thanks to its strong balance sheet and growth profile.
It's also aiming to deliver about 10% annual hikes in FFO per share, powered by inflation-driven rate increases, development projects (primarily data infrastructure like data centers and semiconductor fabrication facilities), and mergers and acquisitions.
Enterprise Products Partners
Enterprise Products Partners(NYSE: EPD) has been a very reliable income producer for me over the years. The MLP continues to steadily increase its lucrative distribution (nearly 6.5% current yield and 10.5% on my cost basis). It delivered its 26th straight year of growing the payout in 2024, a trend it has already continued in 2025.
The MLP has ample resources to continue raising its distribution. It has an elite balance sheet (with the highest credit rating in the energy midstream sector). It also has ample growth coming down the pipeline. Management closed its highly accretive acquisition of Piñon Midstream late last year.
Enterprise Products Partners also has $6.9 billion of major growth capital projects under construction that should enter service by the end of 2026.
Kinder Morgan
Kinder Morgan(NYSE: KMI) rounds out my top five. The natural gas pipeline stock currently yields around 4%, though the figure on my cost basis is closer to 7%. It has increased its payment for seven straight years.
The company has already announced plans to raise its dividend by another 2% this year. Thanks to its strong balance sheet and steadily rising cash flows, it can easily afford to do that. The company recently used its balance-sheet capacity to make an accretive acquisition, which will help further support its rising dividend.
Meanwhile, it has a growing pipeline of expansion projects. It sees a robust opportunity to expand in the coming years, fueled by increasing demand for natural gas from emerging catalysts like AI data centers. These growth drivers should give it plenty of fuel to continue raising its dividend in the future.
High-octane dividend stocks
I've capitalized on opportunities to invest in higher-yielding energy stocks in recent years when prices were lower. That strategy has paid off, and the sector now supplies me with a lot of dividend income. I expect that income will grow this year as these companies increase their payouts.
While I'm very comfortable with my top dividend payers, I'm currently working to diversify the top end of my income portfolio by increasing my dividends from non-energy stocks like REITs. Because of that, my top five could look a little different by the end of this year.
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Matt DiLallo has positions in Brookfield Infrastructure, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, Energy Transfer, Enterprise Products Partners, and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Renewable, Brookfield Renewable Partners, and Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
