These 3 Defensive Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields Are Recommended By 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.

The Coca-Cola Company KO

• Dividend Yield: 3.24%
• Morgan Stanley analyst Dara Mohsenian maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $70 to $65 on Oct. 25, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.
• B of A Securities analyst Bryan Spillane maintained a Buy rating and slashed the price target from $74 to $60 on Oct. 17, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.
• Recent News: The Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected third-quarter financial results and raised full-year guidance.

PepsiCo, Inc. PEP

• Dividend Yield: 2.90%
• DZ Bank analyst Axel Herlinghaus upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy with a price target of $187 on Oct. 19, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 67%.
• Barclays analyst Lauren Lieberman maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $166 to $154 on Oct. 12, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.
• Recent News: PepsiCo reported better-than-expected earnings for its third quarter.

General Mills, Inc. GIS

• Dividend Yield: 3.59%
• Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $88 to $77 on Sept. 18, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.
• Argus Research analyst David Coleman upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy with a price target of $90 on July 14, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%.
• Recent News: General Mills partnered with Walmart and Sam's Club to boost the adoption of regenerative agriculture on 600,000 acres in the U.S. by 2030.

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