Pfizer's Dividend Faces Big Questions. Here Are 3 Reasons It Should Survive.

Pfizer's (NYSE: PFE) forward dividend yield currently tops 6.2%. You can count the number of S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) members with higher yields on your fingers -- and have several fingers to spare.

Does Pfizer's dividend program face big questions? Absolutely. However, that doesn't mean the drugmaker's dividend is in imminent jeopardy. Here are three reasons Pfizer's dividend should survive.

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1. Management commitment to the dividend

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla emphasized in his opening remarks during the company's second-quarter earnings call in August, "We remain committed to maintaining and, over time, growing our dividend." This statement echoes what Bourla has said multiple times in the past.

Interim CFO Cecile Guegan referenced maintaining the dividend and growing it over the long term, not just once, not just twice, but three times during her financial report in the Q2 call. Guegan stressed that Pfizer would keep the dividends flowing while continuing to invest in growth.

However, the most striking example of Pfizer's commitment to the dividend came later in the earnings call. Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) analyst Terence Flynn asked Bourla point-blank what would have to happen for Pfizer to consider cutting its dividend. Bourla responded that the management team is "extremely confident that we will -- even the most stretched scenarios that we are running -- we will be able to maintain our dividend." He even added that he wanted to "once and for all to make that clear to all" that Pfizer would maintain its dividend and eventually resume growing it.

Sure, executives sometimes say things that they eventually have to walk back. But I think it's highly unlikely that Bourla would make such a forceful statement if he thought there was any chance of a dividend cut in the future.

2. Pfizer's growth portfolio

There's a simple explanation for why some investors are concerned about Pfizer's dividend: The company faces a daunting patent cliff. The good news, though, is that Pfizer's growth portfolio already appears to be offsetting the anticipated revenue declines resulting from products losing exclusivity faster than expected.

Pfizer has exceeded revenue expectations in nine of the past 10 quarters. It has beaten adjusted earnings estimates in all of the past 10 quarters.

One-fourth of Pfizer's operating revenue growth in Q2 came from acquired products. Therapies gained as a result of the Seagen acquisition delivered 21% year-over-year operating revenue growth. In comparison, operating revenue for the migraine drug Nurtec (which Pfizer added with its acquisition of Biohaven) jumped 17%.

Pfizer continues to project a high single-digit compound annual growth rate in revenue over the next five years. New products will be important in achieving this goal, including the promising weight-loss drug berobenatide, which was added to the pipeline through Pfizer's acquisition of Metsera.

3. A nice cash stockpile

Importantly, Pfizer also boasts a sizable cash stockpile on its balance sheet, which further bolsters its ability to fund the dividend program. As of June 28, 2026, the company's cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled roughly $11.7 billion.

We know that Pfizer isn't planning to use its cash to pay down debt. Guegan stated in the Q2 earnings call, "Given the LOE [loss of exclusivity] impact over the next few years, we expect leverage to remain around the current level or modestly higher through this transition period."

Pfizer isn't likely to buy back shares, either. Guegan mentioned "reserving optionality for future value-enhancing actions, including share repurchases," but there was no hint that any share buybacks were imminent.

The company could spend some of its cash on business development. However, Bourla told analysts during the Q2 call that any further acquisitions would be "bolt-on" deals.

No dividend increase anytime soon, but no cuts

Don't bank on Pfizer increasing its dividend in the near future. Management's references to potentially resuming dividend growth are focused on after 2028. However, I don't think investors should be afraid of a dividend cut. Pfizer appears to be in a position to weather the patent cliff while continuing to pay dividends at the current level.

Yes, Pfizer faces challenges with multiple drugs losing exclusivity over the next couple of years. But with an ultra-high yield and a low valuation, this big pharma stock remains a good pick, in my view, for income investors who aren't too risk-averse.

Keith Speights has positions in Pfizer. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Pfizer. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.