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Equitable Holdings, Inc. (EQH): Among the Top Dividend Challengers in 2025

4 hours ago

We recently published a list of Dividend Challengers 2025: Top 25. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Equitable Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:EQH) stands against other dividend challenger stocks.

Dividend Challengers refers to US-listed companies that have raised their dividends every year for a minimum of five, and less than ten, consecutive years. These companies have demonstrated a relatively recent commitment to sharing profits with shareholders through dividends. Investors usually gravitate towards such firms because historically, dividend growers outperform the returns of the broader market. Moreover, most of these firms have a track record of exhibiting lower price volatility, which makes them favorable to those looking for stable income.

Investor interest in stocks with reliable dividend growth remains strong due to long-term investment potential. As a result, many of these financially sound firms become targets for investors looking to manage risk without sacrificing growth. The Fidelity Equity-Income Fund and the Fidelity Global Equity Income Fund portfolios, managed by Ramona Persaud, seek stable dividend-paying firms with attractive valuations. She pointed out that declining interest rates tend to make dividend stocks more appealing than bonds due to relatively attractive yields. Indeed, Persaud argued lower rates could foster a more broad-based rally for stocks beyond the market gains, which have been largely concentrated on a handful of large-cap growth names. Her focus is on well-performing firms with reliable cash flows and strong, growing dividends.

According to analysts, investors can adopt a strategy that balances both income and growth by focusing on dividend growers. Historically, they have shown less volatility and often outperformed the broader market, including benchmarks like the S&P Equal Weight Index. A report from Guggenheim found that between May 2005 and December 2024, companies that initiated or raised their dividends achieved an average annual return of 10.5%, compared to just 5.5% for those that reduced or suspended payouts. By contrast, the overall market averaged a 10.4% return during the same period, slightly lagging behind the dividend growers. The report also emphasized that dividend growth strategies tend to perform well across different market environments, both bullish and bearish. This makes them a compelling option for investors seeking long-term returns while aiming to protect their portfolios during downturns.

Bank of America also noted that dividend-paying stocks helped stabilize portfolios during the turbulent month of March. As trade policy uncertainty under President Donald Trump rattled markets, value and dividend-oriented names held up better. In an April 11 report, BofA’s quant strategist Nigel Tupper highlighted these trends and pointed to several top-performing dividend stocks during the market’s choppy period.