3 No-Brainer Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now

Dividend investors operate a little differently than most. For many, dividends are a long game. Each stock that pays cash to shareholders is a little golden goose, sending dividend income to investors, who can then use that money to pay their bills or reinvest it in more dividend-paying shares.

There are numerous high-quality dividend stocks in the consumer goods sector. Shares of companies with well-known brands don't often come cheap, but these three have hit some turbulent waters that have weighed on their share prices.

Here is why each one is down, and why they, despite their declines, are no-brainers to buy right now.

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1. Changes are coming to this alcohol behemoth

The past few years have been difficult for Diageo (NYSE: DEO), the world's largest spirits company. Diageo sells various global brands, including Johnnie Walker, Captain Morgan, Guinness, Ketel One, and Crown Royal, among others. A slow alcohol industry and global trade tensions have dragged on the company's business results.

Diageo has changed its leadership; new CEO Sir Dave Lewis started in January 2026. He has already rocked the boat, slashing Diageo's dividend in half to free up cash flow and discussing targeting mass consumers with more affordable products. There are clearly changes afoot at Diageo, which makes the stock a bit riskier than investors might expect from this long-time stalwart.

How can Diageo be a no-brainer pick then? It's still a juggernaut with unmatched size and scale, and the alcohol industry will likely stabilize. According to Renub Research, the global alcohol market will still grow by roughly 5% annually through 2033. Diageo stock trades at just 12 times forward earnings estimates, less than half its average P/E ratio over the past decade. It's hard not to like Diageo at these prices, even with the risks that come with business changes.

2. A deep value stock in the grocery aisle

The grocery store isn't flashy, but it's where you'll find many defensive stocks, such as The Campbell's Company (NASDAQ: CPB), known for its famous canned soup brand, as well as other snack and food brands, like Prego, Goldfish, Rao's, Snyder's of Hanover, and more. What immediately stands out about the stock today is its massive 7.2% dividend yield.

High dividend yields are often red flags and admittedly, Campbell's has been working through restructuring efforts for the past few years. However, the financials should alleviate some of those worries. Campbell's Company generated $2.31 per share in free cash flow over the past four quarters, while only paying out $1.56 in dividends. That leaves a healthy financial cushion for the dividend.

Campbell's biggest challenge is getting earnings growth back on track. Analysts only expect a little more than 1% annualized growth over the next three to five years. But investors don't need much growth when the dividend yield is 7.2%, and the stock's valuation, trading at less than 10 times forward earnings, appropriately reflects the growth outlook. Growth exceeding expectations would likely add to the stock's returns.

3. A blue chip stock rounding back into form

Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ) is an entrenched leader in biscuits, candy, and chocolate, with brands including Oreo, Ritz, Triscuit, Cadbury, and Sour Patch Kids. A cocoa shortage has driven commodity prices through the roof over the past couple of years, weighing on Mondelez's profit margins. Now, with cocoa prices down 66% from their early 2025 levels, the company is bound to feel some relief.

The stock offers a solid starting dividend yield of 3.5%, and the payout isn't under any real financial pressure at just 66% of this year's estimated earnings. Analysts estimate that Mondelez will grow earnings by an average of 8% annually over the next three to five years, which, valuation aside, sets the stock up for total returns of around 11% to 12% annually.

Many consumer stocks have drifted lower amid the tech boom over the past few years. Mondelez stock is still about 30% off its 2023 peak, but could bounce back in 2026 if margins recover over the year on lower cocoa prices. Mondelez's solid earnings growth outlook makes it a no-brainer for long-term investors at just 18 times its estimated 2026 earnings.

Justin Pope has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Campbell's and Diageo Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.