Determining the exact stocks that paid the most dividends in the first half of 2025 based on actual cash disbursed requires specific data on total dividend payments, which depends on both the per-share dividend and the number of shares outstanding. Since comprehensive data on total cash disbursed across all publicly traded companies for H1 2025 is not fully available in the provided references, I’ll leverage the available information from web sources and posts on X, focusing on high-yield dividend stocks and Dividend Aristocrats, to identify likely candidates. The list will prioritize S&P 500 companies and others highlighted for high dividend yields or consistent payouts, with an emphasis on those with large market capitalizations and established dividend histories, as these are likely to have disbursed significant total cash due to their scale.
Below is a list of 10 stocks that are strong contenders for having paid the most dividends in H1 2025, based on their high dividend yields, large market caps, and consistent payment records as noted in sources like Forbes, Morningstar, Fidelity, and others. Where exact cash disbursed isn’t available, I’ll use dividend yield, annual dividend per share, and market cap as proxies to infer high total payouts. All dividend yields and annual dividends are based on data from July 2025 or earlier, as reported in the sources, and I’ll note any assumptions or limitations.
10 Stocks Likely to Have Paid the Most Dividends in H1 2025
- Altria Group Inc. (MO)
- Dividend Yield: 7% (as of July 16, 2025)
- Annual Dividend: ~$4.08 per share (based on quarterly dividend of $1.02)
- Market Cap: ~$85 billion
- Why Included: Altria, a tobacco giant, is frequently cited for its high yield and 56 years of consecutive dividend increases. With a large market cap and a high per-share dividend, it likely disbursed significant cash in H1 2025. Its stable cash flow from cigarette sales (e.g., Marlboro) supports robust payouts.
- Estimated H1 Payout: Assuming ~1.75 billion shares outstanding and two quarterly payments of $1.02, Altria likely paid ~$3.57 billion in H1 2025.
- Source:,
- Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ)
- Dividend Yield: 6.6% (as of July 16, 2025)
- Annual Dividend: $2.71 per share
- Market Cap: ~$170 billion
- Why Included: As the largest U.S. wireless carrier, Verizon is a Dividend Aristocrat with 18 years of dividend increases. Its high yield and large share count make it a top payer.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~4.2 billion shares and two quarterly payments of ~$0.6775, Verizon likely paid ~$5.69 billion.
- Source:,,
- AT&T Inc. (T)
- Dividend Yield: ~6% (based on Forbes, July 2025)
- Annual Dividend: ~$1.11 per share (based on quarterly dividend of $0.2775)
- Market Cap: ~$135 billion
- Why Included: AT&T’s focus on telecom services and 5G expansion supports its high dividend. Its large share count contributes to substantial total payouts.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~7.2 billion shares and two quarterly payments of $0.2775, AT&T likely paid ~$4 billion.
- Source:
- Pfizer Inc. (PFE)
- Dividend Yield: 7% (as of July 16, 2025)
- Annual Dividend: ~$1.68 per share
- Market Cap: ~$160 billion
- Why Included: Despite recent share price declines, Pfizer’s consistent profitability in pharmaceuticals and large market cap make it a significant dividend payer.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~5.6 billion shares and two quarterly payments of ~$0.42, Pfizer likely paid ~$4.7 billion.
- Source:,
- Realty Income Corp. (O)
- Dividend Yield: 5.96% (Motley Fool, January 2025) or 5.13% (Nasdaq, October 2024)
- Annual Dividend: $3.16 per share (Nasdaq)
- Market Cap: ~$55 billion
- Why Included: Known as “The Monthly Dividend Company,” Realty Income is a REIT with 635 consecutive monthly dividends and 120 increases over 55 years. Its large property portfolio and share count drive high total payouts.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~870 million shares and six monthly payments of ~$0.2633, Realty Income likely paid ~$1.37 billion.
- Source:,,
- United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS)
- Dividend Yield: 6.5% (as of July 16, 2025)
- Annual Dividend: $1.64 per share
- Market Cap: ~$110 billion
- Why Included: Despite a challenging 2024, UPS’s 16 years of dividend increases and large share count make it a major payer. Its focus on high-margin logistics supports payouts.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~860 million shares and two quarterly payments of $0.41, UPS likely paid ~$1.41 billion.
- Source:,,
- Kraft Heinz Co. (KHC)
- Dividend Yield: 5.7% (as of July 16, 2025)
- Annual Dividend: $1.60 per share
- Market Cap: ~$40 billion
- Why Included: Kraft Heinz’s high yield, despite operational challenges, and its large share count place it among top payers. Its dividend is ~60% of earnings, suggesting sustainability.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~1.22 billion shares and two quarterly payments of $0.40, Kraft Heinz likely paid ~$976 million.
- Source:,
- ExxonMobil Corp. (XOM)
- Dividend Yield: 3.67% (as of January 2025)
- Annual Dividend: ~$3.88 per share
- Market Cap: ~$450 billion
- Why Included: As one of the largest energy companies, ExxonMobil’s massive market cap and consistent dividends (a Dividend Aristocrat) result in significant cash disbursements.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~4 billion shares and two quarterly payments of ~$0.97, ExxonMobil likely paid ~$7.76 billion.
- Source:
- Chevron Corp. (CVX)
- Dividend Yield: 4.31% (as of October 2024)
- Annual Dividend: $6.52 per share
- Market Cap: ~$260 billion
- Why Included: Chevron, another energy giant and Dividend Aristocrat, has a high per-share dividend and large share count, leading to substantial payouts.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~1.85 billion shares and two quarterly payments of $1.63, Chevron likely paid ~$6.03 billion.
- Source:
- Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD)
- Dividend Yield: 6.59% (as of January 2025)
- Annual Dividend: ~$2.12 per share
- Market Cap: ~$63 billion
- Why Included: This midstream energy company has increased distributions for 26 consecutive years. Its large share count and high yield make it a top payer.
- Estimated H1 Payout: With ~2.17 billion shares and two quarterly payments of ~$0.53, EPD likely paid ~$2.3 billion.
- Source:
Notes and Limitations
- Data Gaps: Exact total cash disbursed for H1 2025 isn’t explicitly provided in the sources. Estimates are based on dividend yields, annual dividends, and share counts from July 2025 or earlier, assuming no major dividend changes in H1 2025. Actual payouts depend on ex-dividend dates and share counts, which may vary.
- Methodology: Stocks were selected from S&P 500 companies and other high-yield names (e.g., EPD) highlighted in sources like Forbes, Morningstar, and Nasdaq. Preference was given to Dividend Aristocrats and companies with large market caps, as they tend to disburse more total cash due to higher share counts.
- Exclusions: Stocks like International Seaways (INSW, 13.3%-15.59% yield) and Mesabi Trust (MSB, 27.02% yield) from Fidelity’s screener () were excluded due to smaller market caps (~$1-2 billion), which likely result in lower total cash payouts despite high yields.
- Risks: High yields (e.g., Kraft Heinz, Pfizer) may reflect share price declines, raising concerns about dividend sustainability. Investors should verify payout ratios and cash flow coverage.
- Sources Used:,,,,,. No X posts were directly relevant.
Final Thoughts
The above stocks are likely among the top dividend payers in H1 2025 due to their high yields, large market caps, and consistent dividend histories. For precise cash disbursed, investors should check company filings (e.g., 10-Q reports) for Q1 and Q2 2025, as these provide exact share counts and dividend declarations. If you’d like me to dig deeper into specific companies or provide a chart of their yields, let me know!