Dividend-paying stocks tend to be lower-risk investments compared to non-payers. They typically produce more than enough cash to fund their growth, leaving them with excess to return to shareholders via dividends.

However, some dividend stocks are less risky than others. Black Hills (NYSE: BKH), Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI), and American States Water (NYSE: AWR) stand out to three Fool.com contributing analysts for their lower risk profiles. As a result, they can turn $1,000 into durable streams of dividend income.

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Black Hills is a boring, high-yield regulated utility

Reuben Gregg Brewer (Black Hills): From a business perspective, the ultimate achievement is a monopoly. This is such a powerful industry position that the government attempts to prevent monopolies from existing...with a few exceptions.

One exception is the utility sector, as building two electric grids in one region would be prohibitively difficult. That's why the government regulates utilities like Black Hills, which has a monopoly on natural gas distribution and electricity in the areas it serves in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

There are both positive and negative aspects to being a regulated utility. One negative is that the government dictates Black Hill's rates and capital investment plans. Regulators try to strike a balance between reward, reliability, and customer costs, leading to slow and steady growth for utilities like Black Hills. That's a positive, as regulator-approved spending generally occurs regardless of what's going on in the economy or on Wall Street. Investors buying Black Hills are, effectively, buying into a fairly reliable business through the economic cycle.

In the case of Black Hills, its customer base is growing around twice as quickly as the broader U.S. population. There's a good reason to believe that more regulator-approved growth lies ahead. Looking backward, meanwhile, investors have benefited from a regularly increasing dividend payment. At this point, Black Hills is one of the few utilities to have achieved Dividend King status, with over five decades of annual hikes.

Given the company's expectation of 4% to 6% earnings growth for the foreseeable future, meanwhile, it seems like the dividend streak will continue. Add in an above industry-average yield of 4.8% and you can see why this low-risk dividend stock might be a great buy today. A $1,000 investment will net you around 17 shares.

A very bankable income stream

Matt DiLallo (Kinder Morgan): Kinder Morgan operates one of the country's largest energy infrastructure platforms. Its pipelines, processing plants, terminals, and other midstream energy assets generate lots of very stable cash flow. Take-or-pay contracts, which entitle the company to payment regardless of volume, back 64% of the company's annual cash flows.

On top of that, Kinder Morgan has hedging contracts that lock in an additional 5% of its cash flows. Meanwhile, another 26% of its cash flows are fee-based, which provides it with a fixed fee based on volumes (most of which tend to be very stable). That leaves only about 5% of its annual earnings exposed to the ups and downs of commodity prices.

The company's highly contracted and predictable cash flows provide a rock-solid foundation for its more than 4% yielding dividend. The company has high visibility in its cash flow, which it expects will grow by 5% to $5.9 billion this year. That's more than enough to cover its expected $2.6 billion dividend outlay.

It's also plenty to fund its entire capital spending level for this year, with room to spare ($150 million in excess free cash flow). That surplus cash will enhance the company's already strong financial flexibility. Kinder Morgan has an investment-grade balance sheet backed by a conservative leverage ratio.

The midstream giant currently has $8.8 billion of growth capital projects underway. Those projects, predominantly natural gas pipelines ($8 billion), will enter commercial service through 2030. As they do, they'll add to the company's stable sources of cash flow. That should give Kinder Morgan more fuel to increase its dividend. The pipeline giant has raised its payout for eight straight years. With a 4% dividend yield, a $1,000 investment would generate about $40 (and growing) of dividend income each year.

70 years of dividend increases

Neha Chamaria (American States Water): Given the uncertain times we are in right now, adding stocks that can earn you some reliable extra income is a smart move. Even better, a defensive, low-risk dividend stock like American States Water should send bigger dividend checks your way every year.

American States Water is one of the largest water utilities in the U.S., serving 1 million consumers across nine states. The company also owns an electric utility and provides water and wastewater services to 12 military bases under 50-year contracts. As a regulated utility, American States Water generates stable cash flows, which is why it has been able to pay a dividend every year since 1931 and has raised it for 70 consecutive years. That incredible dividend streak makes American States Water the top Dividend King, with the longest streak of dividend increases.

After growing its dividend by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% over the past five years, American States expects the trend to continue and is aiming to increase its dividend by a CAGR of over 7% in the long term. Management believes there's ample room for dividends to grow, given the company's earnings growth prospects backed by planned capital expenditures.

All that makes American States Water one of the safest and most reliable dividend stocks out there. The dividend growth potential is the cherry on top, making this 2.4%-yielding stock an incredible buy now.

Should you invest $1,000 in Kinder Morgan right now?

Before you buy stock in Kinder Morgan, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Kinder Morgan wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $713,547!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $966,931!*

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See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025

Matt DiLallo has positions in Kinder Morgan. Neha Chamaria has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Reuben Gregg Brewer has positions in Black Hills. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Investing in high-yielding dividend stocks has benefits and drawbacks. On the plus side, they pay lucrative dividends, making them an excellent way to generate passive income. However, a negative is that many companies have high-yielding dividends because they have nothing better to do with their free cash flow than funnel it back to shareholders.

That's not true with ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) or Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI). They're also investing heavily in growth projects over the next five years. Because of that, you can confidently buy and hold these energy stocks to collect their high-yielding dividends that should steadily rise through at least 2030.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

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A bold plan to 2030

ExxonMobil is a preeminent dividend stock. The oil giant has increased its dividend payment for 42 straight years. That leads the oil industry and is a record that only 4% of companies in the S&P 500 have achieved.

"And we plan for that track record to continue for decades to come," stated CFO Kathy Mikells on Exxon's fourth-quarter earnings conference call. She noted that continuing to deliver dividend growth is "only possible by investing in the high-quality growth opportunities that drive leading returns and higher cash flows."

The oil giant plans to invest $140 billion into major projects and its Permian Basin development program through 2030. It expects "this capital to generate returns of more than 30% over the life of the investments," stated CEO Darren Woods in the press release unveiling its plan to 2030.

That level of investment and returns has the potential to deliver incremental growth of $20 billion in earnings and $30 billion in cash flow by 2030, assuming oil prices average around $60 a barrel (below the current price point). That's a 10% compound annual growth rate for its earnings and an 8% growth rate for cash flow from last year's baseline.

Exxon estimates that this plan could produce a staggering $165 billion in surplus cash through 2030. The company can use the money to increase shareholder distributions by growing the dividend and continuing to buy back boatloads of its stock. It's aiming to repurchase $20 billion of its shares this year and another $20 billion in 2026, assuming reasonable market conditions.

Given Exxon's track record and visible earnings growth through 2030, it seems safe to assume it can continue growing its dividend, which yields nearly 4%, throughout this period.

A growing growth pipeline

Kinder Morgan extended its dividend growth streak to eight straight years in 2025. The pipeline company's payout, which yields over 4%, should continue growing for at least the next five years.

Several factors drive that view. For starters, the company has highly contracted and predictable cash flows. Only 5% of its cash flow is exposed to commodity prices, and another 26% is subject to volume risk. Take-or-pay agreements or hedging contracts that guarantee payment lock in 69% of its cash flow.

Kinder Morgan pays out less than half of its stable cash flow in dividends. It retains the rest to invest in expansion projects and maintain its financial flexibility.

The company currently has $8.8 billion of commercially secured expansion projects underway. That's a $5.8 billion increase from where its backlog was at the end of 2023. Its current slate of projects includes $8 billion of natural gas-related expansions. Those projects have in-service dates through the second quarter of 2030. Because of that, they'll supply the company with steadily growing cash flow through at least the end of that year.

Kinder Morgan plans to continue adding fuel to its growth engine. It recently closed the $640 million acquisition of a natural gas gathering and processing system in the Williston Basin area of North Dakota, which will immediately boost its cash flow. The company has ample financial flexibility to complete additional accretive deals as opportunities arise in the future.

Kinder Morgan is also pursuing a slew of additional growth projects. It's currently working on a substantial number of opportunities to supply additional gas to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals that are under development. The company is also pursuing opportunities to supply a lot more gas to the power sector, which is expected to require substantial additional fuel in the future to support the anticipated surge in electricity demand from catalysts such as AI data centers.

With visible growth coming down the pipeline and more opportunities on the horizon, Kinder Morgan should have ample fuel to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend through at least 2030.

Growth visibility for the next five years

Most companies don't have a lot of growth visibility. That's what makes ExxonMobil and Kinder Morgan stand out. They currently have visibility into their ability to grow their earnings and cash flow through 2030. Because of that, it looks highly likely that they will be able to increase their high-yielding dividends throughout that time frame. That's why you can confidently buy and hold these dividend stocks for the next five years, if not much longer.

Should you invest $1,000 in ExxonMobil right now?

Before you buy stock in ExxonMobil, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and ExxonMobil wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $669,517!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $868,615!*

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Matt DiLallo has positions in Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The energy midstream sector has been a great spot for investors to go if they want to make some passive income. Many companies in this sector produce very stable cash flow as oil and gas flow through their pipelines and related midstream assets. That gives them money to pay lucrative dividends and invest in growing their businesses.

Enbridge (NYSE: ENB), Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE: EPD), and Kinder Morgan (NYSE: KMI) are among the top options, according to a few Fool.com contributors, for those seeking passive income in the sector. Here's why this trio of midstream companies could help you create years of passive income.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Learn More »

Enbridge: A high yielder that's built to last

Reuben Gregg Brewer (Enbridge): The midstream sector is tied at the hip to oil and natural gas producers. But not every pipeline company is the same, and one notable standout is Enbridge. A key corporate goal is to provide the world with the energy it needs. Today, only around 75% of Enbridge's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are linked to oil and natural gas pipelines.

That 75% is a solid core, to be sure, given that Enbridge is one of the largest midstream players in North America. And this foundation has handily supported regular dividend increases, with the annual streak now up to three decades. But long-term dividend investors need to pay particular attention to the other 25% of EBITDA.

The rest of the portfolio is split between regulated natural gas utilities and renewable power investments. Both of these businesses provide reliable cash flows, just like pipelines. However, the utility business tends to provide more consistent opportunities for capital investments, while clean energy investment is expected to grow materially in the years ahead. And both natural gas utilities and renewable power are moving Enbridge in the same "cleaner power" direction as the rest of the world. In other words, Enbridge is preparing today for the energy market of tomorrow.

With a huge 5.8% yield, 30 annual dividend increases, and a business that is changing with the energy needs of the world, Enbridge is the kind of dividend stock you buy and hold for the long term.

These dividends should keep growing

Neha Chamaria (Enterprise Products Partners): Enterprise Products Partners is one of the largest midstream energy companies in the U.S., with a massive pipeline network spanning over 50,000 miles. While its large footprint provides critical energy transportation services to the economy, Enterprise Products has judiciously used capital over the decades to grow its business and reward shareholders while maintaining a strong balance sheet.

Enterprise Products has increased its dividend for 26 consecutive years, and its distributable cash flows (DCF) have covered its dividend payout by at least 1.5 times since 2018. Similar to cash flows from operations, DCF is an important metric for master limited partnerships like Enterprise Products, as they are required to distribute a major portion of their income to shareholders in the form of dividends.

This is a great time to invest in Enterprise Products stock. The midstream giant expects major projects worth $6 billion to come online this year. That's nearly 80% of all major projects under construction. As these projects start contributing to the company's earnings and cash flows, Enterprise Products should be in an even stronger position to not only pay regular dividends but also increase them year after year. With the stock also yielding a hefty 6.8%, Enterprise Products is one of the best midstream stocks to buy to earn years of passive income.

A growing pipeline of projects

Matt DiLallo (Kinder Morgan): Kinder Morgan currently clocks in with a dividend yield approaching 4.5%. That high-yielding payout is on a very sustainable foundation. The natural gas pipeline giant generates very stable cash flow, as 95% comes from highly contracted and predictable sources, like long-term fee-based contracts. Meanwhile, the company pays out less than 45% of its stable cash flows in dividends. That enables it to retain significant excess free cash flow to invest in expanding its operations.

The company has $8.8 billion of growth capital projects in its backlog, primarily natural gas pipeline expansions ($8 billion). It currently has projects underway that it expects will enter commercial service by the end of the decade. That gives it a lot of visibility into its ability to grow its cash flow in the coming years.

Kinder Morgan's backlog has ballooned by more than $5 billion over the past year as it has secured several large-scale natural gas expansion projects. Demand for gas is surging these days, fueled by catalysts like AI data centers, the onshoring of manufacturing, and the electrification of transportation. These drivers should enable Kinder Morgan to continue securing additional expansion projects in the coming years.

The pipeline giant's cash flow should grow briskly over the next several years as its growing backlog of expansion projects enters commercial service. That should enable Kinder Morgan to continue increasing its dividend. The company recently raised its payment for the eighth straight year. Given its high yield and growth visibility, Kinder Morgan can certainly create years of passive income for investors.

Should you invest $1,000 in Enbridge right now?

Before you buy stock in Enbridge, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Enbridge wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $623,685!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $701,781!*

Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 906% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 164% for the S&P 500. Don’t miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor.

See the 10 stocks »

*Stock Advisor returns as of May 5, 2025

Matt DiLallo has positions in Enbridge, Enterprise Products Partners, and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Enbridge and Kinder Morgan. The Motley Fool recommends Enterprise Products Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.