Social Security reform is back in the headlines, and the bipartisan PROMISE Act has put retirement income security under a brighter spotlight. With projections of a 22% cut to benefits by 2032 if nothing changes, many retirees and near retirees may rethink how much they rely on government programs alone. That is where dividend stocks with consistent payouts and moderate risk scores can play a supporting role. This article looks at 3 dividend stocks from the screener that appear well positioned to respond to this policy uncertainty, helping you assess which income streams might deserve a closer look.

Abbott Laboratories (ABT)

Overview: Abbott Laboratories is a global healthcare company that develops and sells a wide range of products, including diagnostics, medical devices, branded generic medicines, and nutritional products for children and adults.

Operations: Abbott Laboratories generates US$18.2b in revenue from the United States, with an additional US$28.4b recorded as segment adjustments.

Market Cap: US$173.6b

Investors watching Social Security reform may consider Abbott Laboratories as a large, diversified healthcare stock that combines a long dividend track record with exposure to areas such as diagnostics, cancer testing and diabetes care. Recent results and higher full year guidance indicate momentum in businesses such as continuous glucose monitoring and cardiovascular devices. The stock is currently assessed as trading meaningfully below estimated fair value. At the same time, profit margins have compressed, debt levels are high and competition plus regulatory scrutiny in areas such as diagnostics and nutrition could keep pressure on returns. For income focused investors, an important consideration is whether Abbott’s mix of healthcare demand and ongoing product launches can offset these risks over the long run.

Abbott Laboratories’ mix of steady healthcare demand, new product launches and a stock that screens as meaningfully below estimated fair value hints at a story investors may be underestimating. Start with the DCF valuation analysis for Abbott Laboratories to see what the market might be missing.

Yü Group (AIM:YU.)

Overview: Yü Group is a UK based utilities supplier that provides electricity, gas, water, smart metering and related engineering services to business customers, from micro enterprises through to larger industrial and commercial firms.

Operations: Yü Group generates about £700m in revenue mainly from its Retail segment, with additional contributions from Smart (£10.9m) and Metering Assets (£1.8m), and earns virtually all of its £700.4m revenue in the United Kingdom.

Market Cap: £310.3m

Yü Group stands out in the Dividend Stocks screener because it combines utility style exposure, which some investors associate with concerns about Social Security reform, with growth traits more typical of a younger business. Forecast revenue growth of 25.1% a year, high quality earnings and a projected ROE of about 28.6% sit alongside an extended hedging facility with Shell. This facility supports annual revenues well above £2b and is linked to its 7% to 9% market share ambition. At the same time, an unstable dividend record, reliance on external borrowing and a newer management team mean this is not a simple buy-and-hold utility. For investors, the key question is whether Yü Group’s growth and pricing power are enough to justify these risks as part of an income focused portfolio.

Yü Group’s accelerating revenue ambitions and high projected ROE hint that the market may not be pricing the full story yet, but the real test is how its growth holds up under closer scrutiny in the analyst forecasts for Yü Group

Artesian Resources (ARTN.A)

Overview: Artesian Resources is a regulated water and wastewater utility that supplies drinking water, sewer services, and related protection plans and engineering support to households, businesses, and public agencies across Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Operations: Artesian Resources generates about US$107.2m from its Regulated Utility operations and US$7.9m from Other non utility services, with a small inter segment elimination of US$0.3m, all within the United States.

Market Cap: US$343.9m

For income investors worried about Social Security reform, Artesian Resources offers exposure to essential water and wastewater services, which tend to be less sensitive to consumer confidence than discretionary spending. Earnings grew 8.9% over the past year, net margins sit above 20%, and the stock trades on a P/E close to the global water utility average, suggesting investors are not paying a large premium for that stability. At the same time, the company leans heavily on debt funding and its 3.7% dividend is not well covered by free cash flow, so the balance sheet and payout capacity deserve close attention. The combination of regulated utility cash flows, dividend income and higher funding risk creates a mix that many investors may be overlooking.

Artesian Resources’ steady utility cash flows and 3.7% dividend are only half the picture; the more interesting half sits in how its funding and payout profile stack up inside the Artesian Resources financial health report

The three dividend stocks covered here are just a starting point, and the full Dividend Stocks screener surfaces 21 more companies with income profiles and risk characteristics that could be just as interesting. Use Simply Wall St to unlock filters for payout ratios, dividend growth, balance sheet strength, and the specific catalysts mentioned here so you can identify and analyze the dividend ideas that best fit your own conviction.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If Yü Group or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. 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.

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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.