Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Say Hold These 3 Defensive Stocks With Over 5% Dividend Yields

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.

Altria Group, Inc. MO

• Dividend Yield: 8.64%
• Morgan Stanley analyst Pamela Kaufman maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $46 to $45 on June 2, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.
• Citigroup analyst Adam Spielman maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $49.5 to $47 on April 17, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.
• Recent News: Altria updated its 2023 full-year earnings guidance, and now sees FY23 EPS of $4.89-$5.03.

Medifast, Inc. MED

• Dividend Yield: 8.02%
• DA Davidson analyst Linda Bolton Weiser maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $94 to $71 on May 2, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.
• Jefferies analyst Stephanie Wissink downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold and slashed the price target from $345 to $150 on Aug. 4, 2022. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 81%.
• Recent News: Medifast reported better-than-expected first-quarter results.

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. WBA

• Dividend Yield: 5.88%
• Mizuho analyst Ann Hynes maintained a Neutral rating and cut the price target from $41 to $35 on June 13, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72%.
• UBS analyst Kevin Caliendo maintained a Neutral rating and slashed the price target from $39 to $37 on March 29, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 73%.
• Recent News: AmerisourceBergen to repurchase 275,984 of its shares from Walgreens Boots Alliance for $50 million.

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