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 | $3.2B |
| ENSG | The Ensign Group, Inc. | 0.15% | 4% | 4.6% | Health Care | $10.0B |
| HEI | HEICO Corporation | 0.07% | 4% | 8.5% | Industrials | $46.3B |
| FIX | Comfort Systems USA, Inc. | 0.14% | 6% | 37.0% | Industrials | $64.9B |
| WRB | W. R. Berkley Corporation | 0.58% | 8% | 79.6% | Financials | $25.5B |
| LAD | Lithia Motors, Inc. | 0.79% | 8% | 12.5% | Consumer Discreti… | $6.6B |
| GL | Globe Life Inc. | 0.83% | 8% | 7.5% | Financials | $12.4B |
| MCK | McKesson Corporation | 0.42% | 8% | 13.1% | Health Care | $93.2B |
| ALL | The Allstate Corporation | 1.95% | 9% | 14.3% | Financials | $56.9B |
| AL | Air Lease Corporation | 0.01% | 9% | 7.7% | Industrials | $7.3B |
| UNTY | Unity Bancorp, Inc. | 1.12% | 10% | 12.7% | Financials | $554M |
| MATX | Matson, Inc. | 0.77% | 11% | 9.4% | Industrials | $5.7B |
| AGCO | AGCO Corporation | 1.03% | 11% | 14.8% | Industrials | $8.4B |
| WST | West Pharmaceutical Services | 0.28% | 12% | 5.5% | Health Care | $22.2B |
| CHE | Chemed Corporation | 0.54% | 13% | 11.0% | Consumer Staples | $5.9B |
| AAPL | Apple Inc. | 0.35% | 13% | 5.0% | Technology | $4.5T |
| WMS | Advanced Drainage Systems | 0.61% | 13% | 14.2% | Materials | $10.0B |
| CB | Chubb Limited | 1.25% | 14% | 4.3% | Financials | $126.5B |
| ALG | Alamo Group Inc. | 0.86% | 15% | 18.4% | Industrials | $1.8B |
| MTRN | Materion Corporation | 0.26% | 15% | 4.1% | Industrials | $4.6B |
| KAI | Kadant Inc. | 0.48% | 16% | 7.3% | Industrials | $3.5B |
| HIG | The Hartford Financial Services | 1.82% | 16% | 10.7% | Financials | $36.2B |
| DHI | D.R. Horton, Inc. | 1.24% | 16% | 18.0% | Consumer Discreti… | $41.3B |
| AON | Aon plc | 1.00% | 16% | 4.7% | Financials | $70.2B |
| GCBC | Greene County Bancorp | 1.45% | 17% | 10.6% | Financials | $470M |
| WTFC | Wintrust Financial Corp. | 1.37% | 17% | 12.3% | Financials | $10.3B |
| COR | Cencora, Inc. | 0.87% | 18% | -14.8% | Health Care | $53.5B |
| PRI | Primerica, Inc. | 1.69% | 18% | 21.1% | Financials | $8.3B |
| MA | Mastercard Incorporated | 0.71% | 18% | 13.7% | Financials | $433.9B |
| ODC | Oil-Dri Corporation | 0.97% | 19% | 5.7% | Materials | $1.2B |
| EVR | Evercore Inc. | 1.05% | 19% | 7.2% | Financials | $13.1B |
| FSFG | First Savings Financial | 0.02% | 19% | 26.1% | Financials | $238M |
| LRCX | Lam Research Corporation | 0.34% | 19% | 14.9% | Technology | $379.3B |
| HWKN | Hawkins, Inc. | 0.49% | 19% | 9.7% | Materials | $3.2B |
| ISTR | Investar Holding Corporation | 1.52% | 19% | 12.0% | Financials | $400M |
| MORN | Morningstar, Inc. | 1.08% | 20% | 7.9% | Technology | $7.1B |
| RJF | Raymond James Financial | 1.43% | 20% | 17.3% | Financials | $29.5B |
| HBCP | Home Bancorp, Inc. | 1.86% | 20% | 5.4% | Financials | $514M |
| RGA | Reinsurance Group of America | 1.81% | 20% | 5.4% | Financials | $13.4B |
| A | Agilent Technologies, Inc. | 0.75% | 20% | 15.2% | Technology | $38.3B |
| CINF | Cincinnati Financial Corporation | 2.27% | 20% | 7.7% | Financials | $25.6B |
| BRO | Brown & Brown, Inc. | 1.10% | 21% | 12.1% | Financials | $20.0B |
| MLM | Martin Marietta Materials | 0.58% | 21% | 7.7% | Industrials | $34.6B |
| MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 0.87% | 21% | 10.2% | Technology | $3.1T |
| ROP | Roper Technologies | 1.10% | 21% | 10.0% | Industrials | $33.5B |
| STN | Stantec Inc. | 0.92% | 21% | -3.6% | Industrials | $8.4B |
| KLAC | KLA Corporation | 0.48% | 22% | 16.2% | Technology | $252.0B |
| STLD | Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 0.79% | 22% | 15.3% | Materials | $38.7B |
| V | Visa Inc. | 0.83% | 22% | 14.9% | Financials | $615.3B |
| NUE | Nucor Corporation | 0.88% | 22% | 6.6% | Materials | $57.9B |
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.