Should You Buy the 3 Highest-Paying Dividend Stocks in the S&P 500?
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By Keith Speights – Dec 18, 2025 at 2:44AM ESTKey PointsLyondellBasell Industries' dividend yields a sky-high 12.8%.ConAgra Brands and Healthpeak Properties also rank among the S&P 500's highest-paying dividend stocks.All three of these companies, though, continue to face significant challenges.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›These dividend stocks' high yields could be tempting, but they come with catches.There's significant diversity in the S&P 500 (^GSPC 1.16%). The stocks are differentiated by huge gaps in market cap, varied industry focuses, and more. However, at least one common denominator for more than four-fifths of the stocks in the widely followed index: They pay dividends. Even on the dividend front, though, there are still significant differences in the dividend yields that S&P 500 stocks offer. Some pay paltry yields, while others pay exceptionally juicy yields. Should you buy the three highest-paying dividend stocks in the S&P 500? Image source: Getty Images. 1. LyondellBasell Industries LyondellBasell Industries (LYB +1.81%) is a global chemical company headquartered in Houston, Texas, and London, England. It's one of the largest producers of polymers used in automotive components, food packaging, home furnishings, paints, and more. The company also operates a refinery and markets polyolefin process technologies and catalysts. No other S&P 500 member comes close to matching LyondellBasell's forward dividend yield of 12.8%. In addition to this ultra-high yield, the company also has a solid track record of dividend increases, having raised its dividend for 15 consecutive years. ExpandNYSE: LYBLyondellBasell IndustriesToday's Change(1.81%) $0.78Current Price$43.76Key Data PointsMarket Cap$14BDay's Range$42.95 - $44.3852wk Range$41.58 - $79.39Volume5.7MAvg Vol5.3MGross Margin9.20%Dividend Yield12.45% LyondellBasell's dividend yield is so high because its stock has declined sharply in recent years. The company continues to face multiple challenges, including a polyolefin supply glut, uncertainty related to tariffs, and soft demand in several markets. Advertisement Is the S&P 500's highest-paying dividend stock a good pick right now? I don't think so. Although management continues to make the dividend program a top priority, LyondellBasell has limited financial flexibility. There's also no way to know how long it will be before the challenging market dynamics improve. 2. ConAgra Brands ConAgra Brands (CAG +1.01%) is a leading food company based in Chicago, Illinois. Its brands include Birds Eye frozen foods, Duncan Hines baking mixes and frostings, Healthy Choice frozen foods, Marie Callender's frozen meals, Slim Jim meat snacks, and more. ConAgra was founded in 1919. The company's forward dividend yield is roughly 7.9%, ranking ConAgra as the second-highest-paying dividend in the S&P 500. Although ConAgra has only increased its dividend for six consecutive years, it has paid a dividend every quarter since January 1976. ExpandNYSE: LYBLyondellBasell IndustriesToday's Change(1.81%) $0.78Current Price$43.76Key Data PointsMarket Cap$14BDay's Range$42.95 - $44.3852wk Range$41.58 - $79.39Volume5.7MAvg Vol5.3MGross Margin9.20%Dividend Yield12.45% There's a not-so-great reason behind ConAgra's high dividend yield. The food stock has plunged more than 55% below its peak set in early 2023. High inflation has provided a double whammy, pushing the company's input costs higher while driving customers to lower-cost alternatives. ConAgra is scheduled to report its fiscal 2026 second-quarter results on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025. Unless the company delivers surprisingly good news in its quarterly update, I view this stock as one to watch from the sidelines for now. 3.
Healthpeak Properties Healthpeak Properties (DOC +0.24%) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on the healthcare sector. It owns 703 properties, including outpatient medical facilities, labs, and senior housing campuses. Healthpeak's top tenant is health systems giant HCA Healthcare (HCA +0.38%), which accounts for 9% of the REIT's total annualized base rent. As a REIT, Healthpeak Properties must return at least 90% of its income as dividends to shareholders to be exempt from federal income taxes. The company has generated a substantial amount of income to return, as evidenced by its forward dividend yield of 7.5%. This yield ranks Healthpeak as the S&P 500's third-highest dividend-paying stock. ExpandNYSE: DOCHealthpeak PropertiesToday's Change(0.24%) $0.04Current Price$16.40Key Data PointsMarket Cap$11BDay's Range$16.34 - $16.6252wk Range$16.30 - $21.28Volume7.7MAvg Vol8.2MGross Margin21.83%Dividend Yield6.82% In addition to paying a juicy dividend, Healthpeak shares something else in common with LyondellBasell and ConAgra Brands. The REIT's share price has plummeted in recent years. One major problem for the company is a weak lab market, with vacancy rates of around 30%. Healthpeak's dividend appears to be relatively safe for now, with a 71% adjusted funds from operations payout ratio. There are also some positive signs for the company. Outpatient medical demand is growing robustly. Interest rates have declined. Some signs indicate a turnaround in the biopharmaceutical sector. However, I'd prefer to see the stock display more strength before buying.About the AuthorKeith Speights is a contributing Motley Fool healthcare analyst covering publicly traded companies across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, technology, and marijuana. Prior to The Motley Fool, Keith was CEO of Constant Care Technology, a healthcare technology company; vice president of American HealthTech, a healthcare software company; and a director of operations for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, a health insurer. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.TMFFishBizRead NextDec 18, 2025 •By Katie BrockmanIf You'd Invested $100 in the Invesco Semiconductors ETF (PSI) 10 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have TodayDec 18, 2025 •By Jeremy Bowman2 ETFs That Are Good Bets To Beat the S&P 500 in 2026Dec 17, 2025 •By Daniel Foelber3 Ultra-Safe Vanguard ETFs to Buy, Even if There's a Stock Market Sell-Off in 2026Dec 17, 2025 •By David Dierking3 Best Tech ETF Picks for 2026Dec 17, 2025 •By Stefon WaltersThe Stock Market Is Doing Something It Has Only Done 1 Time Since 2000 -- Should You Be Worried?Dec 17, 2025 •By Anders BylundWant Decades of Passive Income? Buy This ETF and Hold It Forever.