Dividend stocks with lower payout ratios (2026)
Using payout ratio as a dividend safety signal
Dividend safety is one of the most important questions for income investors. While no single metric can guarantee a dividend is safe, payout ratio is a useful starting point because it shows how much of a company’s earnings are being returned as dividends. This screen focuses on dividend stocks with lower payout ratios in the Dividend Terminal coverage universe. A lower payout ratio can suggest more room to absorb earnings volatility, reinvest in the business, or continue raising the dividend. However, payout ratio must be interpreted in context. Utilities, REITs, financials, and industrial companies can have very different normal payout ranges. Accounting earnings may also differ from cash flow, especially in capital-intensive industries. Use this page as a dividend safety research tool, not a definitive safety ranking. Combine payout ratio with free cash flow, debt levels, profitability, dividend history, and management commentary.
Dividend stock screen
| Symbol | Company | Yield | Payout | 5Y Growth | Sector | Mkt Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAE | Haemonetics Corporation | - | 0% | - | Industrials | $4.7B |
| ENSG | The Ensign Group, Inc. | 0.15% | 4% | 4.6% | Health Care | $10.0B |
| HEI | HEICO Corporation | 0.08% | 4% | 7.6% | Industrials | $45.5B |
| FIX | Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.22% | 6% | 37.0% | Industrials | $56.7B |
| LAD | Lithia Motors, Inc. | 0.72% | 7% | 12.5% | Consumer Discreti… | $8.5B |
| WRB | W. R. Berkley Corporation | 0.58% | 8% | 80.9% | Financials | $25.7B |
| GL | Globe Life Inc. | 0.76% | 8% | 7.5% | Financials | $13.4B |
| ALL | The Allstate Corporation | 1.66% | 8% | 14.3% | Financials | $65.6B |
| MCK | McKesson Corporation | 0.41% | 9% | 13.1% | Health Care | $105.9B |
| AL | Air Lease Corporation | 0.01% | 9% | 7.7% | Industrials | $7.3B |
| MATX | Matson, Inc. | 0.67% | 10% | 9.4% | Industrials | $6.7B |
| UNTY | Unity Bancorp, Inc. | 1.14% | 11% | 12.7% | Financials | $602M |
| WST | West Pharmaceutical Services | 0.26% | 11% | 5.5% | Health Care | $23.9B |
| AAPL | Apple Inc. | 0.34% | 12% | 5.0% | Technology | $4.7T |
| CHE | Chemed Corporation | 0.54% | 12% | 11.0% | Consumer Staples | $6.8B |
| WMS | Advanced Drainage Systems | 0.59% | 13% | 14.2% | Materials | $10.2B |
| MTRN | Materion Corporation | 0.24% | 13% | 4.1% | Industrials | $5.1B |
| CB | Chubb Limited | 1.19% | 14% | 4.3% | Financials | $131.8B |
| ROP | Roper Technologies | 0.89% | 14% | 10.0% | Industrials | $40.3B |
| KAI | Kadant Inc. | 0.48% | 15% | 7.3% | Industrials | $3.5B |
| ALG | Alamo Group Inc. | 0.76% | 15% | 18.4% | Industrials | $2.1B |
| HIG | The Hartford Financial Services | 1.73% | 16% | 10.7% | Financials | $37.5B |
| AGCO | AGCO Corporation | 0.90% | 16% | 13.0% | Industrials | $9.3B |
| RGA | Reinsurance Group of America | 1.55% | 16% | 5.4% | Financials | $16.5B |
| GCBC | Greene County Bancorp | 1.23% | 17% | 10.6% | Financials | $607M |
| DHI | D.R. Horton, Inc. | 1.26% | 17% | 18.0% | Consumer Discreti… | $39.9B |
| AON | Aon plc | 1.02% | 17% | 4.7% | Financials | $68.5B |
| WTFC | Wintrust Financial Corp. | 1.43% | 17% | 12.3% | Financials | $10.4B |
| CINF | Cincinnati Financial Corporation | 2.20% | 17% | 7.7% | Financials | $26.3B |
| COR | Cencora, Inc. | 0.73% | 17% | -14.7% | Health Care | $63.2B |
| GFF | Griffon Corporation | 0.88% | 18% | 20.6% | Industrials | $4.6B |
| NUE | Nucor Corporation | 0.86% | 18% | 6.6% | Materials | $59.2B |
| MA | Mastercard Incorporated | 0.60% | 18% | 13.7% | Financials | $507.4B |
| PRI | Primerica, Inc. | 1.61% | 18% | 21.1% | Financials | $9.1B |
| LRCX | Lam Research Corporation | 0.43% | 18% | 14.9% | Technology | $385.0B |
| RJF | Raymond James Financial | 1.21% | 18% | 15.6% | Financials | $34.2B |
| ISTR | Investar Holding Corporation | 1.54% | 19% | 12.0% | Financials | $428M |
| MORN | Morningstar, Inc. | 0.95% | 19% | 9.0% | Technology | $7.9B |
| STLD | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 0.88% | 19% | 15.3% | Materials | $34.7B |
| ODC | Oil-Dri Corporation | 0.93% | 19% | 5.7% | Materials | - |
| FSFG | First Savings Financial | 0.02% | 19% | 26.1% | Financials | $238M |
| EVR | Evercore Inc. | 1.19% | 19% | 7.2% | Financials | $11.5B |
| HWKN | Hawkins, Inc. | 0.62% | 20% | 9.7% | Materials | $2.7B |
| MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 0.73% | 20% | 10.2% | Technology | $3.7T |
| A | Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 0.68% | 20% | 6.4% | Technology | $42.5B |
| HBCP | Home Bancorp, Inc. | 1.78% | 20% | 5.4% | Financials | $554M |
| BRO | Brown & Brown, Inc. | 0.92% | 21% | 12.1% | Financials | $23.9B |
| SIGI | Selective Insurance Group | 1.84% | 21% | 10.8% | Financials | $5.5B |
| RGLD | Royal Gold, Inc. | 0.72% | 21% | 9.9% | Materials | $22.2B |
| NRIM | Northrim BanCorp, Inc. | 2.46% | 21% | 13.7% | Financials | $588M |
Related topics
FAQ
- Is low payout always “safe”?
- No. Earnings can be volatile, and accounting metrics differ by industry. Use cash flow and business quality alongside payout.