Markets are wrestling with higher oil prices, unsettled Middle East geopolitics and fresh headlines about AI bubbles, yet corporate earnings from the S&P 500 are running at their strongest pace since 2021. Income investors do not need to sit on the sidelines. This article walks through three high dividend stocks from our screener that appear more exposed to these news catalysts and explains how their cash payouts might fit your portfolio plan.

The three stocks below are only a small sample, and the full high dividend screen surfaced 41 more companies with income profiles and business stories that may be just as compelling but are not covered here. If you want to go straight to the source, use the High Dividend Yield Stocks screener to identify, analyze and focus on the high dividend ideas that best match your own risk and income goals.

NexPoint Real Estate Finance (NREF)

NexPoint Real Estate Finance is a US focused commercial mortgage REIT that earns income by originating and investing in real estate debt such as first lien mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity and mortgage backed securities tied mainly to multifamily and single family rental properties. Because it has elected REIT status, NexPoint Real Estate Finance avoids federal corporate income tax if it pays out at least 90% of taxable income as dividends. The company is relatively small, with a market cap of about $405 million.

NexPoint Real Estate Finance stands out in a choppy market because it offers a combination of income and recent earnings strength, supported by an 11.01% dividend yield and net profit margins above 40%. For investors worried about swings in oil prices, AI hype or geopolitical headlines, a portfolio of real estate loans and securities can look like a more anchored source of cash flow. The catch is that forecasts point to sharp declines in earnings and revenue, and the dividend is not well covered by cash flow, which makes payout cuts or balance sheet pressure a real possibility if conditions worsen. For income focused investors, that mix of high yield, modest P/E and clear risk trade offs is what makes NexPoint Real Estate Finance worth a closer look.

High yield and net margins above 40% can make NexPoint Real Estate Finance look like pure income fuel, yet the dividend coverage story is more complicated than it appears at first glance. Read the 2 key rewards and 3 important warning signs (2 are major!)

Build your own high-yield dividend shortlist

NexPoint Real Estate Finance and the two other high dividend stocks in this article all came from a few simple screener filters, and you can set up the same kind of process in minutes. Use our flexible Screener to mix metrics like yield, balance sheet strength and risk flags to suit your style, or tap into our ready made Investing Ideas for curated shortcuts.

Yancoal Australia (ASX:YAL)

Yancoal Australia is one of the country’s largest coal producers, supplying both thermal and metallurgical coal to power utilities and steelmakers across Asia and Europe from a portfolio of mines in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Most of its A$5.9b in revenue comes from Coal Mining in NSW at about A$5.2b, with Coal Mining in QLD adding roughly A$600 million and smaller contributions from freight, royalties and interest income. The stock has a market cap of about A$7.4b, putting it firmly in large cap territory on the ASX.

Income focused investors may find Yancoal Australia interesting because it sits squarely in the heart of global energy security themes, with coal exports feeding power demand across Japan, China, South Korea and other Asian buyers at a time when energy markets are still volatile. Management is guiding to strong 2026 production with recent quarterly data showing higher saleable output, yet earnings have been choppy and profit margins have compressed from earlier levels. The P/E sits just under the broader Australian market and earnings are forecast to grow faster than the index, although dividend history has been uneven and returns have recently lagged local energy peers. That mix of cash generation, commodity exposure and payout uncertainty is exactly what income investors need to weigh carefully before deciding how Yancoal fits into a diversified high yield basket.

Yancoal Australia sits at the crossroads of energy security and choppy earnings, which can mask what really matters for income.Yancoal Australia sits at the crossroads of energy security and choppy earnings, which can mask what really matters for income. Scan the 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs for the twist that could reshape the story

Whitecap Resources (TSX:WCP)

Whitecap Resources is a Canadian oil and gas producer focused on acquiring and developing petroleum and natural gas assets across Western Canada, with core programs in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The company generates all of its CA$7.2b in revenue from oil and gas exploration and production and has a market cap of roughly CA$19.7b, which puts it firmly in large cap territory on the TSX.

Whitecap Resources sits at the intersection of rising oil prices, inflation worries and investor demand for reliable income. The stock couples a 4.51% dividend with record recent free cash flow, ongoing share buybacks and a balance sheet that management has been working to de risk through debt reduction. At the same time, heavy dependence on commodity prices and continued drilling means cash flows can swing if oil or gas prices weaken or if new wells underperform. For investors who want a high dividend stock that is tightly wired to global energy shocks and corporate profit strength, the full story on Whitecap’s cost efficiencies, production scale and risk profile is where the real decision point lies.

Whitecap Resources combines a 4.51% dividend with record recent free cash flow and active buybacks, yet that mix can mask what really drives the investment case. Read the Whitecap Resources financial health report

Seeking Alternatives Before Others Catch On

Fresh stock ideas do not stay under the radar for long. By the time momentum is obvious, the most attractive entry points can be gone. Move first, act now.

• Identify potential breakout miners before sentiment turns sharply toward them by scanning the curated 30 elite gold producer stocks that already screens strongly on production quality and fundamentals.
• Participate in the AI build out while it still feels under the radar by using the focused 55 AI infrastructure stocks that highlights key picks involved in data center development.
• Monitor opportunities in the energy transition as capital continues to shift by screening the targeted 89 nuclear energy infrastructure stocks that focuses on critical grid and reactor suppliers.

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.