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Today's Featured Content Dividend Stocks for 2026: Where to Invest as the Market CoolsWritten by Sam Quirke. Published 12/10/2025. 
Key Points - Coca-Cola offers long-term dividend growth and steady upside, appealing to conservative investors shifting from tech.
- Merck has rebounded strongly in Q4 2025 and is backed by bullish analyst ratings and a strong dividend yield.
- MPLX provides a high-yield income opportunity with upside potential, despite higher volatility and mixed analyst sentiment.
As we enter the final stretch of 2025, it's been a strong year for equities. But with valuations across the tech sector stretched and talk of an AI-fueled bubble growing louder, many investors are turning to more stable, income-generating opportunities. That's where dividends come in. Reliable income, steady cash flow, and built-in downside protection make dividend stocks a natural refuge when markets get frothy. Just like Microsoft and Adobe rode the software wave in Web 1.0, RAD Intel is riding the AI software wave in 2025. Their product helps brands instantly find the right audience and message using AI – solving the #1 waste in marketing: misfired ad spend.
Already trusted by a who's-who of Fortune 1000 brands and leading global agencies – with recurring seven-figure partnerships in place. With a Nasdaq ticker reserved, $RADI, it's early – but very real. $0.85 Won't Last – Secure Your Shares Now. With that in mind, here are three high-quality names that combine dividend yield, stability, and upside potential heading into 2026. Each offers consistent earnings, solid analyst support, and valuations that allow room for appreciation. Let's dive in and take a closer look. Coca-Cola Offers Dividend Growth and Consumer Staples Stability Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) remains the world's dominant—and arguably best-known—beverage company, selling hundreds of brands across dozens of categories to consumers in hundreds of countries each year. After a steady 12% gain over the past year, the shares have been largely flat over the past six months. That sideways action may not sound exciting, but for long-term dividend investors it's the kind of consolidation that often precedes the next leg higher. Coca-Cola currently yields 2.91%, backed by one of the longest dividend-growth streaks in the market—more than 60 years. The company consistently tops earnings expectations each quarter, and the stock is rated a Buy by many analysts. Recent endorsements from UBS Group and Bank of America reinforce that view. Bank of America's $80 price target implies roughly 14% upside from current levels—not bad for a company that also pays steady dividend income. For investors seeking to reduce tech exposure and add positions in consumer staples, Coca-Cola's strong brand power and long-term dividend reliability make it a compelling portfolio anchor heading into 2026. Merck & Co. Rebounds With Strong Earnings and Dividend Upside New Jersey-based Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MRK) is one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies. After a tough 2024 and a difficult start to 2025, its shares have staged an impressive recovery. Following earlier declines of more than 20%, Merck's shares have rallied roughly 25% since the start of the quarter and are now roughly flat for the period. That uptrend reflects renewed investor confidence after a series of strong earnings reports and a consistently growing dividend. The company's 3.36% dividend yield is among the most attractive in the large-cap healthcare sector, and it has a record of steady, sustainable dividend increases stretching back 14 years. Recent analyst updates reinforce the thesis that Merck is entering 2026 in a stronger position. Scotiabank reiterated its Buy rating last week with a $120 price target, while Wells Fargo maintained its Overweight rating and raised its target to $125—pointing to nearly 30% upside potential from current levels. For dividend investors who want to balance income with growth, Merck's setup looks particularly compelling heading into 2026. MPLX Delivers High Yield With Infrastructure Growth Potential MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX) operates energy infrastructure—managing pipelines, terminals, and logistics that support crude oil and natural gas production. It may not be a household name, but MPLX is attracting attention as its shares push to their highest levels in over a decade. Alongside that share-price strength, MPLX offers a downside-resistant 7.70% dividend yield. While MPLX's earnings reports have been less consistent than those of Coca-Cola or Merck, that level of yield alone is noteworthy. Despite a Neutral rating from JPMorgan Chase last week, broader sentiment remains constructive with positive outlooks from RBC Capital, Wells Fargo, and Barclays. For investors willing to accept a bit more volatility in exchange for yield, MPLX offers one of the market's more attractive income plays.
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