With the S&P 500 at record highs and valuations flashing similar signals to the late 1990s, many investors worry about where the next painful reset might land. Yet this is also when quality can matter most, as resilient dividend payers may stand out if lofty growth stories disappoint. This article walks through three stocks exposed to today’s AI driven enthusiasm and rich valuations, all drawn from a High-Quality Dividend Growth Stocks screener.

The stocks covered below are just a starting sample, and the full screen surfaced 12 more companies with equally compelling dividend and balance sheet stories that are not in this article. To identify, compare, and analyze the highest conviction ideas from this group, head straight to the High-Quality Dividend Growth Stocks screener.

Cisco Systems (CSCO)

Overview: Cisco Systems powers much of the internet behind the scenes, supplying networking, security, collaboration and observability products and services that connect data centers, offices and cloud platforms for businesses and governments worldwide.

Operations: Cisco generates all of its roughly US$60.7b in revenue from its Computer Networks segment across the United States, wider Americas, EMEA and the Asia Pacific, Japan and China regions.

Market Cap: US$478.6b

Cisco Systems sits at the crossroads of AI infrastructure and high-quality dividends, which is a rare mix when valuations across the wider market look stretched. The company is leaning into AI related networking and security, with management talking about multiyear, multibillion dollar refresh cycles and a US$9b AI order target that supports double digit earnings growth forecasts. At the same time, Cisco has high profit margins, strong free cash flow and a long track record of paying and growing its dividend, which may appeal if speculative AI stocks fall out of favor. The catch is a relatively high P/E, reliance on large hyperscaler orders and execution risk as Cisco shifts further into software and subscriptions, all of which deserves closer attention later in this article.

Cisco’s AI order ambitions and dividend story are only half the picture. The real question is whether the growth forecasts backing that US$9b goal truly stack up. Walk through the analyst forecasts for Cisco Systems to see what might be hiding in the assumptions.

Build your own AI dividend shortlist

Cisco Systems and the two other stocks in this article all came from the same screener, which shows how powerful it can be when you take control of the filters. Use our flexible Screener to mix metrics like valuation, growth, balance sheet strength, risks and dividends, or jump straight into our curated Investing Ideas for ready made starting points.

Intuit (INTU)

Overview: Intuit helps individuals and small to mid sized businesses manage money, file taxes and reach customers through products like QuickBooks, TurboTax, Credit Karma and Mailchimp, tying accounting, compliance, lending and marketing into one software ecosystem.

Operations: Intuit generates about US$12.5b in revenue from its Global Business Solutions segment, with total revenue of roughly US$20.9b across the United States and international markets.

Market Cap: US$88.97b

Intuit stands out in a pricey market because it combines high quality fundamentals with real staying power in everyday financial workflows. QuickBooks and TurboTax sit at the center of how customers run their books and file taxes, while Credit Karma and Mailchimp add cross selling opportunities and data that are hard for rivals to match. Earnings growth has been solid, returns on equity are high and the dividend is backed by strong cash generation. However, recent downgrades and concerns about AI related costs have cooled sentiment. For investors, the key question is how to weigh that resilience and the push into AI driven services and the Enterprise Suite against issues such as Mailchimp’s slower progress and credit cycle exposure at Credit Karma.

Intuit’s flywheel across taxes, accounting and marketing looks powerful, yet recent skepticism over AI costs and Credit Karma could be masking the bigger story. Test how the growth narrative really stacks up in the analyst forecasts for Intuit

TE Connectivity (TEL)

Overview: TE Connectivity designs and manufactures the connectors, sensors and power management components that sit inside everything from cars and aircraft to data centers and medical devices, helping move power and data reliably in harsh and demanding environments.

Operations: TE Connectivity generates around US$9.9b in revenue from Transportation Solutions and about US$9.4b from Industrial Solutions.

Market Cap: US$62.6b

TE Connectivity gives you exposure to AI infrastructure, electric vehicles and grid upgrades through a single industrial stock with high quality earnings and a steady dividend record. Recent Q3 2026 results showed record orders of about US$5.7b and strong revenue and EPS growth, helped by rising demand for AI related data center gear and the planned US$1.4b Astrodyne TDI acquisition in power solutions. At the same time, the stock trades below some fair value estimates and below many peers on earnings multiples, which may appeal if stretched market valuations reset. The trade off is heavy exposure to autos, Asia and AI driven spending, plus reliance on higher risk funding on the balance sheet.

TE Connectivity sits where AI infrastructure, autos and grid upgrades meet, yet the real story is how future orders, margins and capital use could interact. Stress test that story through the analyst forecasts for TE Connectivity and see what might be missing.

Seeking Fresh Alternatives Before They Fly

Markets move fast and the next breakout ideas rarely stay under the radar for long. Scan fresh momentum and quality signals before the crowd catches up, then act now.

• Spot potential turning points early and track companies with stronger balance sheets using the list of solid balance sheet and fundamentals (48 results) before valuations get fully priced in.
• Explore accelerating themes in robotics, automation and factory tech with the curated set of 37 robotics and automation stocks while the story is still forming.
• Assess possible infrastructure momentum and grid upgrades through the focused universe of 37 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks while it remains under the radar for now.

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.