4 Tech Stocks With Surprisingly Strong Dividends

Stocks staged a ferocious rally on Wednesday after President Donald Trump reversed his ‘reciprocal' tariff policy in response to plummeting markets and alarming bond market activity. 

While most countries are now exempt from the steepest import taxes, a 10% flat tariff remains in effect, and the tariffs on China have increased to 145%.

However, bond yields remain high, and stocks remain significantly below the all-time highs set in February, then fell again on Wednesday. Uncertainty continues to dominate the markets, and the risk of recession remains elevated.

It’s a great time to invest in dividends rather than capital gains. You can do that while still investing in tech stocks.

Here are five great tech stocks paying huge dividends.

Now, tech stocks aren't usually considered dividend payers, but there are a few with relatively sturdy payouts that investors can use to ride out this storm of uncertainty.

Today, we've compiled a list of four tech companies that have been raising their dividend payouts for at least 10 years. Each company has a dividend yield of at least 2%, a manageable payout rate, fair valuation, and a path to avoiding the most stringent tariffs currently being levied on China.

Avnet Inc. 

Avnet Inc. AVT is a distributor of electronic components, including semiconductors, active and passive components, and other electromechanical parts, as well as design solutions and technical training. The company operates on every continent except Antarctica and is the largest chip distributor in Europe. Avnet's vast market reach should help it avoid the worst of the tariffs, and its valuation looks appealing following a rough showing in 2024.

AVT shares are still underwater for 2025, but the stock trades at just 8.3 times forward earnings with a 0.18 Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratio. The dividend yield is currently 3.17%, and the payout rate is just 37%. Avnet has raised its annual dividend payout for 12 consecutive years and the 12% annualized growth rate over the last three years. The stock also has a 91.81 Value score from Benzinga Edge ratings, indicating a potentially undervalued company with a steady dividend.

Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems CSCO was the poster child of the dot-com bubble excess as its market cap rose above $500 billion by the turn of the millennium – a number it's never come close to reaching in the two-plus decades since. It's also been 25 years since the stock made a new all-time high over $77 per share (split-adjusted), although it came close in January this year when shares topped $66. Cisco will never dominate the tech landscape like it did during the dot-com years, but that doesn't mean it’s still an uninvestable company.

Cisco currently yields 3.08% with a 12-year history of raising annual payouts. The dividend payout rate (DPR) is relatively high at 71%, but it’s still sustainable for a company that sells as much high-margin software as Cisco. The company posted more than $54 billion in sales in the last 12 months but still trades at just 14.6 times forward earnings.

With a focus on cybersecurity software over hardware, the company should be minimally impacted by the China tariffs. Analysts have a consensus Buy rating on the stock with an average price target of $63.43, including an $80 price target from Rosenblatt issued on February 13.

Qualcomm Inc. 

Qualcomm Inc. QCOM is an example of a remarkable turnaround story in the market. Like Cisco, Qualcomm was a dot-com darling that rose to unsustainable heights during the bubble. Once the bubble popped in late 2000, Qualcomm shares plummeted and continued making new lows until the great financial crisis in November 2008. However, the stock rallied in the decade following the GFC and finally topped its dot-com bubble high in early 2019.

Qualcomm's focus is on the development and licensing of wireless tech and chips for smartphones. Qualcomm products can be found in nearly every wireless device, and it does more than $40 billion in annual sales. QCOM shares also have a strong and steady dividend, yielding 2.73% with a manageable 36% payout rate. The company has a 22-year history of dividend increases, including a 7% annualized growth rate over the last three years. An affordable valuation backs the dividend; the stock trades at just 11.7 times forward earnings with impressive margins (26% profit margin in the most recent quarter).

Analysts are also bullish, with a $195 average price target indicating an upside potential of 35%. Benzinga Edge also gives Qualcomm a 91.82 Value score, the highest of today's selections.

CSG Systems International Inc. 

Our smallest and least known company of the day might hold the most promise. CSG Systems International Inc. CSGS runs a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform specializing in financial management and customer experience solutions. The company aims to help firms in the communications sector optimize their digital footprint while effectively managing revenue, licensing, and infrastructure. CSG Systems has been publicly traded for nearly 30 years but has just a $1.73 billion market cap and does $1.2 billion in annual sales. The company has solid margins (47% gross margin last quarter) and trades at just 12 times forward earnings.

Small and mid-cap companies are usually known for substantial dividends, but CSG Systems is an exception. The stock currently yields 2.13% and has a healthy 42% dividend payout rate. Despite its relatively small stature, CSGS has raised its annual payout for 12 consecutive years with a 6.3% annualized growth rate over the last three.

Unlike the rest of the market, CSGS shares are still positive year-to-date, including an impressive 17% gain over the last three months. Even during the worst of the tariff tantrum, the stock only dropped from $61 to $56 before rebounding back above $60 when the tariffs were withdrawn. This stability during the madness is likely why CSGS scored a 90.51 Momentum ranking from Benzinga Edge – shareholders barely noticed the disturbance!

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