Five dividend stocks yield over 5% despite current headwinds

Five companies currently offer dividend yields of 5% or more, according to The Motley Fool, providing an alternative to the S&P 500 index, which yields approximately 1% as of October 23, 2026. The identified stocks are Hormel Foods (HRL), Clorox (CLX), Realty Income (O), Enbridge (ENB), and Enterprise Products Partners (EPD).

Hormel and Clorox face pressure from rising inflation and shifting consumer habits toward healthier products. These factors have increased costs and tightened consumer budgets, leading to depressed stock valuations. Hormel, a Dividend King, is updating its product lineup and expanding its food service business through a recent acquisition that adds chicken to its offerings. Clorox is one year away from achieving 50 consecutive annual dividend increases and recently added Gojo, the owner of Purell, to strengthen its position in the cleaning sector.

Realty Income faces near-term headwinds from rising interest rates and bond yields, which increase the cost of capital for real estate investment trusts. However, the company has increased its dividend annually for 31 years. Its portfolio includes over 15,500 properties across North America and Europe, spanning retail, industrial, casinos, and data centers. The company maintains an investment-grade balance sheet and pays dividends monthly.

Enbridge and Enterprise Products Partners operate as midstream energy giants, owning infrastructure that transports oil and natural gas rather than producing the commodities themselves. This structure allows investors to gain energy exposure without commodity price risk. Enterprise Products Partners is a master limited partnership that has increased its distribution annually for 28 years. The company focuses on natural gas, which is increasingly used for electricity production, and benefits from geopolitical shifts that prioritize North American energy security.

Enbridge, a Canadian company with a broader mandate to supply global energy needs, owns regulated natural gas utilities and clean energy assets. It has increased its dividend annually for 31 years. Both midstream firms aim to provide reliable cash flows in a volatile sector. The Motley Fool notes that while these stocks may not be exciting to hold, their consistency makes them suitable for income-focused portfolios seeking yields above the broader market average.