Check Out 3 High-Yielding Dividend Stocks In Defensive Sector From Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.

Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting our Analyst Stock Ratings page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including by analyst accuracy. Here's a look at the most recent high-yield dividend stock ratings from the most accurate Wall Street analysts, according to Benzinga's Analyst Stock Ratings.

Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer staples sector.

Medifast, Inc. MED

• Dividend Yield: 6.85%
• DA Davidson analyst Linda Bolton Weiser maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $106 to $94 on Feb. 22, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.
• Jefferies analyst Stephanie Wissink downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold and cut the price target from $345 to $150 on Aug. 4, 2022. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 80%.
• Recent News: Medifast posted better-than-expected quarterly results.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation KMB

• Dividend Yield: 3.48%
• Deutsche Bank analyst Steve Powers upgraded the stock from Sell to Hold rating and raised the price target from $122 to $123 on March 20, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 75%.
• Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $137 to $132 on Oct. 4, 2022. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.
• Recent News: Kimberly-Clark reported fourth-quarter FY22 sales flat at $4.96 billion, missing the consensus of $4.98 billion.

SpartanNash Company SPTN

• Dividend Yield: 3.49%
• Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Trussell maintained a Hold rating on the stock and cut the price target from $35 to $30 on Feb. 27, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 74%.
• BMO Capital analyst Kelly Bania maintained a Market Perform rating and raised the price target from $29 to $31 on Aug. 19, 2022. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.
• Recent News: SpartanNash said its Board of Directors approved a 2.4% increase in quarterly cash dividend.

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