Seeking High Income in 2026? These 5 Stocks Deliver Yields Between 5.7% and 9.6%

Understanding Dividend Yield and Finding Exceptional Opportunities

For investors prioritizing consistent income streams, 2026 presents compelling opportunities across multiple asset classes. The critical metric guiding such decisions is understanding the dividend yield formula — essentially, the annual dividend payment divided by the stock price, expressed as a percentage. This straightforward calculation reveals which securities provide the most attractive income relative to their valuation.

A portfolio weighted toward high-income generators can transform investment returns. Several equities currently stand out for offering exceptional dividend yields while maintaining strong fundamentals. Here’s a closer examination of five securities positioned to deliver meaningful income throughout 2026.

Energy Infrastructure Leaders Drive Consistent Distributions

The midstream energy sector has emerged as a particularly fertile ground for income investors. These companies operate the pipelines, storage facilities, and infrastructure that form the backbone of North American energy distribution.

Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) commands a position as a leading midstream operator, controlling pipelines transporting 30% of North America’s crude oil output and 20% of U.S. natural gas consumption. The company also operates the continent’s largest natural gas utility network, serving 7.1 million customers. Its forward dividend yield reaches approximately 5.9%, supported by an exceptional 30-year track record of consecutive dividend increases. The firm has identified roughly $50 billion in expansion opportunities extending through 2029, suggesting the dividend yield formula will remain supported by growing revenue bases.

Energy Transfer (NYSE: ET) operates similarly expansive infrastructure — over 144,000 miles of pipelines coupled with terminals, storage assets, and processing facilities. With a forward distribution yield of 8.1%, this limited partnership (LP) presents attractive income dynamics. Growth catalysts include emerging data center infrastructure projects, including recent contracts with CloudBurst and Oracle to supply natural gas for computing facilities.

Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD) represents another tier-one infrastructure player, operating 50,000-plus miles of pipeline network alongside liquids storage, processing trains, and deepwater facilities. This LP has delivered 27 consecutive years of distribution increases, with a current yield of 6.8%. Its demonstrated cash generation capacity and highest-tier credit rating among midstream competitors reinforce dividend sustainability — a critical component when calculating dividend yield formulas for income projection purposes.

Alternative Income Sources: REIT and Business Development Company

Beyond traditional energy infrastructure, other sectors provide diversified high-yield opportunities.

Realty Income (NYSE: O), a real estate investment trust (REIT), owns 15,542 commercial properties across nine countries. Its tenant roster spans 1,647 clients representing 92 industries, including prominent names like Walmart, Home Depot, FedEx, and Dollar General. The REIT’s forward yield stands at 5.7%, but its distinguishing feature involves monthly rather than quarterly dividend payments. Equally impressive: 112 consecutive quarters of dividend increases demonstrate reliable income generation.

Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC), the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC), offers the highest yield in this selection at 9.6%. Managing a $28.7 billion portfolio spread across 15-plus industries with no single position exceeding 2% (excluding subsidiary Ivory Hill Asset Management), the BDC mitigates concentration risk effectively. Its 16-year streak of maintained or increased dividends, combined with superior long-term returns versus competing BDCs and the S&P 500 since 2004, underscores dividend sustainability — a foundation for reliable dividend yield formula calculations.

Why These Yields Matter for 2026

When applying the dividend yield formula to these five securities, investors discover opportunities yielding between 5.7% and 9.6% — substantially above broader market averages. For those prioritizing quarterly or monthly income distributions, this selection offers diversification across business models while maintaining strong institutional backing and proven dividend histories.

The common thread: each company has demonstrated the operational cash flow necessary to sustain distributions through economic cycles. Whether evaluating infrastructure MLPs, REITs, or BDCs, understanding what drives the dividend yield formula — consistent, growing cash generation — helps identify stocks capable of enhancing portfolio income throughout 2026 and beyond.