Should You Buy the 3 Highest-Paying Dividend Stocks in the S&P 500?

By Selena Maranjian – Mar 23, 2026 at 8:08AM ESTKey PointsCampbell's boasts many market-leading brands, and it's working to improve its performance.Healthpeak Properties is a real estate investment trust (REIT) with many medical buildings and laboratories.Kraft Heinz has a new CEO, with plans to revitalize the company. It's smart to seek dividend income from your stock portfolio, but of course not all dividends are alike. Some stocks sport high dividend yields because their share prices have sunk. (As a stock's price falls, its dividend yield goes up, and vice versa.) And some of those shares have fallen for good reason. So should you buy into three of the highest-yielding stocks in the S&P 500 index? Let's see. Image source: Getty Images. 1. The Campbell's Co. The Campbell's Co. (CPB +0.19%) is home to brands such as Campbell's, Prego, Rao's Homemade, Pace, and V8, as well as Goldfish, Lance, Snyder's of Hanover, Pepperidge Farm, Cape Cod, and Kettle. This stock has indeed fallen in price -- by 41% over the past year, as of March 19. That has pushed up its dividend yield to a tasty 7.4%. Is it in trouble? Should you buy into it? Well, in this case, the stock does look attractive, with a recent forward-looking price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 9 -- well below its five-year average of 14. ExpandNASDAQ: CPBCampbell'sToday's Change(0.19%) $0.04Current Price$21.07Key Data PointsMarket Cap$6.3BDay's Range$20.80 - $21.2152wk Range$20.80 - $40.59Volume27KAvg Vol7.9MGross Margin29.23%Dividend Yield7.40% Shares are down partly because Campbell's overpaid for its 2018 acquisition of Snyder's-Lance. In addition, costs are going up due to inflation, while management is tempering growth expectations. But the company boasts industry-leading market share across many of its key brands. And recently it's been focusing more on healthier offerings and leaning into its meals and beverages segment, which is doing better than its snack brands. 2.

Healthpeak Properties Healthpeak Properties (DOC 3.67%) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) -- a company that buys up real estate (in this case, healthcare buildings) and then leases them out. Its price has dropped by 7% over the past year, pushing its dividend yield up to a fetching 6.9%. ExpandNYSE: DOCHealthpeak PropertiesToday's Change(-3.67%) $-0.65Current Price$17.08Key Data PointsMarket Cap$12BDay's Range$16.98 - $17.6652wk Range$15.71 - $20.52Volume9Avg Vol9.1MGross Margin22.48%Dividend Yield7.16% Healthcare REITs have a lot going for them, such as an aging population that's likely to need lots of care. Healthpeak Properties is a particularly interesting one, as it's spinning off Janus Living, which will specialize in senior living facilities. (Healthpeak will retain majority ownership of Janus.) Healthpeak's remaining portfolio of about 700 properties nationwide is focused mainly on medical outpatient buildings (like the ones where many doctors practice) and laboratories. This company, too, may be a good fit for your portfolio. Dig a little deeper into it to see what you think. 3.

Kraft Heinz Kraft Heinz (KHC 0.80%) needs little introduction, as your home probably houses some of its offerings, with brands such as Oscar Mayer, Ore-Ida, Velveeta, Jell-O, Grey Poupon, Lunchables, Kool-Aid, Capri Sun, and Smart Ones. The stock has sunk by around 22% over the past year, pushing up its dividend yield to a recent 7.4%. ExpandNASDAQ: KHCKraft HeinzToday's Change(-0.80%) $-0.17Current Price$21.59Key Data PointsMarket Cap$26BDay's Range$21.51 - $21.8452wk Range$21.51 - $31.15Volume4.1KAvg Vol16MGross Margin33.41%Dividend Yield7.42% Should you buy into this blue chip stock? Well, maybe. Warren Buffett invested in it and lost money. But lately shares have been more attractively priced, with a recent forward P/E ratio of 10.6 -- a bit below their five-year average of 12.2. The company is investing about $600 million in freshening its brands and commercial capabilities. Its new CEO, Steve Cahillane, said in a press release: "My number one priority is returning the business to profitable growth, which will require ensuring all resources are fully focused on the execution of our operating plan." Anyone investing now can collect a generous dividend while waiting for a turnaround.Read NextDec 7, 2022 •By Dan CaplingerThese Stalwart Stocks Stayed Strong in a Sagging MarketOct 16, 2021 •By Al LewisWhy the Bowl's More Than Half Full for Sinking Campbell SoupMay 19, 2014 •By Jack Kramer and Nick MartellPfizer and AT&T Get Answer on M&A Bids, While Campbell's Cold Soup DisappointsMay 19, 2014 •By Jeremy BowmanWhy Campbell Soup and Urban Outfitters Fell TodayMay 19, 2014 •By Demitri KalogeropoulosStock Market Today: AT&T’s $48 Billion Deal and Campbell Soup’s Weak OutlookFeb 15, 2014 •By Jack Kramer and Nick MartellStocks Get a Kiss for Valentine's Day, Cable Giants Embrace, and Wall Street Loves Janet Yellen (So Far)About the AuthorSelena Maranjian is a contributing personal finance and investing expert at The Motley Fool. Selena has produced The Motley Fool’s nationally syndicated newspaper feature since 1997. She is the author of The Motley Fool Money Guide and Investment Clubs: How to Start and Run One the Motley Fool Way, and the co-author of The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens and several editions of The Motley Fool Investment Tax Guide. Prior to The Motley Fool, she worked as a high school teacher and public opinion analyst. She holds a master’s degree in teaching from Brown University and a master’s degree in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.TMFSelenaStocks MentionedCampbell'sNASDAQ: CPB$21.08(+0.24%)+$0.05Healthpeak PropertiesNYSE: DOC$17.08(-3.67%)-$0.65Kraft HeinzNASDAQ: KHC$21.59(-0.80%)-$0.18*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.