Quick Read
Prudential Financial (PRU) is an income grower offering an annual dividend yield exceeding 5%. Altria (MO), which pays a 6.33% annual dividend yield, is shifting toward smoke-free alternatives to tobacco products. VICI Properties (VICI) increased its 2025 net income to $2.8 billion last year and currently delivers a nearly 6% annual yield. Extra Space Storage (EXR) improved its net income by nearly 14% in 2025, and EXR stock’s 4.39% dividend outperforms U.S. bonds.
Government bonds can provide steady income, but they might leave you with the nagging feeling that you can do better. After all, some dividend stocks not only provide a better yield than government bonds, but they also offer share-price appreciation.
Right not, the annual interest rate on a 10-year U.S. Treasury bond is around 4%. You could do worse than that, but I invite you to beat bonds with today’s carefully chosen dividend stocks.
That way, you won’t have to settle for less wealth than you deserve. By selecting high-quality stocks that pay more than 4% per year in dividends, you can cultivate income streams to potentially last for years.
Prudential Financial (PRU)
Throughout the ups and downs of the economy, there will always be a need for insurance. One of the biggest and most established insurance carriers is Prudential Financial (NYSE:PRU), and the company clearly respects its loyal shareholders.
First and foremost, you’ll want to be confident that PRU stock isn’t collapsing. As it turns out, Prudential Financial stock is up 14% over the past five years, so there doesn’t appear to be any immediate danger.
Turning to the topic of fundamentals, the data indicates that Prudential Financial is a profitable business. In fact, the company’s net income attributable to Prudential Financial grew from $2.727 billion in 2024 to $3.576 billion in 2025.
Now, here’s the really exciting news about Prudential Financial. The company offers a 5.5% annual dividend yield, which easily beats 10-year Treasury bonds.
In other words, PRU stock is the total package: solid company, share-price appreciation, and bond-beating yield. What more could you possibly ask for?
Altria (MO)
Are you ready for another stock pick that yields more than U.S. government bonds? It’s one that, like bonds, could be considered an ultra-safe asset for your portfolio: Altria (NYSE:MO) stock.
Although Altria is known as a supplier of tobacco products, the company is also exploring smoke-free alternatives. Again, we’re focusing on financially solid businesses today; notably, Altria grew its 2025 adjusted diluted earnings by 4.4% year over year to $5.42 per share.
Checking the long-term price chart, MO stock rose 60% during the past five years — not too shabby, you must admit. Hence, there’s no reason to believe that Altria’s shareholders will lose their shirts due to a sustained share-price collapse.
The sweetest part of the deal, however, might be Altria’s dividends. Since MO stock pays a 6.33% annual dividend yield, it certainly seems like a better bet than government bonds right now.
VICI Properties (VICI)
Another way to outperform bond yields is by owning shares of VICI Properties (NYSE:VICI). This company is a diversified real estate investment trust (REIT) with financial interests in hospitality, gaming, entertainment, and other types of properties.
Is this a profitable REIT, though? The answer is yes, as VICI Properties’ net income attributable to common stockholders increased 3.6% year over year to $2.8 billion.
Next, we need to check VICI Properties stock to make sure it’s not falling apart. It looks steady, I’m glad to report, as VICI stock is up by around 7% over the past five years.
In addition, VICI Properties has a good habit of returning capital to its shareholders. Today, you can grab a few shares of VICI stock to take advantage of its juicy 5.94% dividend yield.
Extra Space Storage (EXR)
Want one more stock that yields more than 10-year Treasury bonds? You got it, as pick number four is Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR) stock.
Just to recap, Extra Space Storage is a REIT that owns and/or operates more than 4,000 self-storage stores. Moreover, Extra Space Storage is a financially firm company as it reported net income attributable to the common stockholders of $4.59 per diluted share in 2025, up 13.9% year over year.
Conducting a quick chart check, Extra Space Storage stock gained nearly 20% during the past five years. As you can see, this isn’t a toxic asset that’s likely to destroy your portfolio anytime soon.
So far, we’re hitting all the right notes with EXR stock. Is Extra Space Storage generous with its dividends, though? Since Extra Space Storage provides a 4.39% annual dividend yield, there’s no denying that this company is ready to reward its long-term investors.
PRU, MO, VICI, and EXR stocks are diamonds in the rough for passive income seekers, and I encourage you to conduct your own research on these income producers. Soon enough, you can build a portfolio with a better yield than U.S. Treasury bonds.
