Income investors are facing a tricky mix of resilient global growth, sticky inflation and shifting interest rate expectations. Bond yields move on every new data point and energy prices keep pressure on household and business budgets. In this setting, many readers look to steady cash returns from high quality dividend stocks as a potential anchor. The Dividend Powerhouses screener focuses on companies with yields above 5% that the current data suggests are well covered, growing and stable. In this article you will see 3 stocks from the Dividend Powerhouses screener that stand out for further research.

Accenture (ACN)

Overview: Accenture is a global consulting and technology services company that helps large businesses and governments design strategy, modernize their IT, adopt AI and cloud, and run day to day operations across functions like finance, supply chain and customer service. It works across sectors from banking and healthcare to energy, telecoms and consumer goods, often running long term managed services alongside project work.

Operations: Accenture generates about US$22.3b from Products clients, US$13.8b from Financial Services, US$14.9b from Health & Public Service, US$12.4b from Communications, Media & Technology and US$9.8b from Resources, with additional revenue from Asia Pacific of about US$10.6b.

Market Cap: US$100.8b

Accenture stands out in this dividend list because it combines a 3.77% yield with a long history of serving blue chip and public sector clients, while also pushing hard into AI projects and cybersecurity for organizations like NATO and large hotel groups. Earnings and revenue growth forecasts are moderate rather than fast, and margins have eased slightly, so you are not paying for a hyper growth story. Instead you are looking at a large, profitable services company with high forecast returns on equity, active share buybacks and acquisitions in areas like device security that could reshape its mix of work. The key question for investors is how this AI and automation pivot affects future cash flows and the sustainability of those dividends.

Accenture’s steady 3.77% yield, AI push and active buybacks hint at a story that is still evolving. Before you decide how it fits in your income plan, review the DCF valuation analysis for Accenture

Watsco (WSO)

Overview: Watsco distributes air conditioning, heating and refrigeration equipment, along with a wide range of replacement parts and supplies, to contractors and dealers across the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Its branches are the link between large original equipment makers and the residential and light commercial customers who need new systems or urgent repairs. This makes Watsco a key player in everyday HVAC replacement and new build projects.

Market Cap: US$14.1b

Income-focused investors may want to look at Watsco because it combines a 4.12% dividend yield with a debt-free balance sheet, more than US$3b in equity and a long history of paying dividends. The business is focusing on higher efficiency A2L and premium HVAC systems. Recent mix shifts and pricing have supported margins; however, recent results show pressure on earnings as costs, tariffs and refrigerant supply risks affect performance. That tension between quality fundamentals and real operating headwinds, plus ongoing acquisitions such as Jackson Supply and investments in e-commerce and AI tools, means the gap between today’s valuation and the implied fair value will depend on how confidently you view the next phase of HVAC replacement demand and pricing power.

Watsco’s debt free balance sheet and more than US$3b in equity could be hiding a very different risk reward profile. Put the yield, HVAC demand and valuation into context with the analysis report for Watsco

CME Group (CME)

Overview: CME Group runs some of the world’s largest futures and options exchanges, where investors, banks, companies and governments trade contracts tied to interest rates, stock indexes, currencies, commodities and crypto to manage risk or gain exposure. It also provides clearing and settlement services and sells real time and historical market data to clients ranging from professional traders to central banks.

Operations: CME Group generates about US$6.8b in revenue from its services across trading, clearing and market data.

Market Cap: US$93.5b

CME Group combines a 4.28% dividend yield with net profit margins of 63.1%, record recent volumes, and a steady stream of new contracts across crypto, single stock futures and AI compute pricing. This keeps it closely linked to some of the largest current themes in markets. At the same time, the stock trades on a P/E above its own estimated fair multiple, free cash flow coverage of the dividend is not strong, and insider selling plus funding risk without deposits present issues to weigh. When you add in competition from DeFi, regulatory debate over perpetual futures and an upcoming CEO transition, CME Group appears as a complex income-focused story rather than a simple bond proxy.

Record volumes and a 4.28% yield could mean the CME Group story is less about past income and more about the outlook for its cash flows and risk profile. Get the full picture from the analysis report for CME Group

The three dividend stocks in this article are only a starting point, and the full Dividend Powerhouses screen has surfaced 86 more companies with equally compelling income stories and business narratives in the Dividend Powerhouses (3%+ Yield) screener. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts and narrative drivers that matter most to you so you can focus on the highest conviction dividend ideas.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If CME Group or any of these companies have caught your attention, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value and track any new developments as they happen. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Beyond Dividends

Markets move fast and the next breakout opportunities rarely stay quiet for long. Use these fresh idea lists while the information still matters and momentum is building, then act now.

• Spot companies quietly building strong cash positions before the crowd notices by reviewing the list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (48 results). This tool provides a shortlist of financially resilient stocks that are under the radar for now.
• Explore long term infrastructure and energy transitions by scanning the 90 nuclear energy infrastructure stocks. Identify businesses involved in grid upgrades while valuations have room to reset.
• Look for early movers in electrification and industrial activity by using the 8 top copper producer stocks. Shortlist producers that could be positioned to benefit if demand momentum builds and supply remains tight.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.