Looking For Yields: Essential Utilities, Verizon, And WesBanco Are Consistent Moneymakers

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Companies with a long history of paying dividends and consistently hiking them remain appealing to income-focused investors. Essential Utilities, Verizon, and WesBanco have rewarded shareholders for years and recently announced dividend increases. These companies currently offer dividend yields of up to around 6%.

Essential Utilities

Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services in the U.S.

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Essential Utilities has raised its dividends every year for the last 34 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on July 30, the board increased the quarterly payout by 5.25% to $0.3426 per share, equal to an annual figure of $1.37 per share. The current dividend yield on the stock is 3.34%.

The company’s annual revenue as of June 30 stood at $2.34 billion. Essential Utilities on July 31 posted Q2 2025 revenues of $514.91 million and EPS of $0.38, both beating the consensus estimates.

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Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is a major technology and telecommunications company, known for its massive wireless network and services for consumers, businesses, and government entities.

Verizon has raised its dividends consecutively for the last 19 years. In its most recent dividend announcement on Sept. 5, the company increased the quarterly dividend by 1.25% to $0.69 per share, equaling an annual figure of $2.76 per share. Currently, the dividend yield on the stock is 6.68%.

The company’s annual revenue as of June 30 stood at $137 billion. Verizon on July 21 posted Q2 2025 revenues of $34.50 billion and EPS of $1.22, both beating the consensus estimates.

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WesBanco

WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBC) provides retail banking, corporate banking, personal and corporate trust, brokerage, mortgage banking and insurance services to individuals and businesses in the U.S.

WesBanco has increased its dividends every year for the last 14 years. In its most recent dividend hike announcement on Nov. 20, it raised the quarterly payout from $0.36 to $0.37 per share, which is equal to an annual figure of $1.48 per share. More recently, in its dividend announcement on Aug. 22, the company maintained the payout at the same level. Currently, the dividend yield stands at 4.40%.

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WesBanco's annual revenue as of June 30 stood at $762.17 million. In its Q2 2025 earnings release on July 29, the company posted revenues of $216.77 million, missing the consensus estimate of $259.75 million, while EPS of $0.91 came in above the consensus of $0.86.

Essential Utilities, Verizon, and WesBanco are good choices for investors seeking reliable passive income. Their dividend yields of up to around 6% and long history of consistent hikes make them attractive to income-focused investors.

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This article Looking For Yields: Essential Utilities, Verizon, And WesBanco Are Consistent Moneymakers originally appeared on Benzinga.com

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