Top 3 Dividend Stocks to Buy for 2026: Nucor, Realty Income, and Procter & Gamble

Three top dividend stocks to buy for 2026 are Nucor (NUE), a US steel manufacturer with a 50-year dividend growth streak and a forward annual dividend of $2.24 per share and 1.33% yield. NUE trades near $164 and has a market capitalization of approximately $37.5 billion, a trailing P/E ratio of 22.7 times, and a price-to-book ratio of 1.75 times. The company has reported strong earnings, and the consensus analyst rating is "Strong Buy" with an average price target of $178.83.