Energy Transfer (ET), Pfizer (PFE), and Verizon Communications (VZ) offer a compelling income opportunity for investors with $10,000 to put to work this October.
Spreading $10,000 equally across those three stocks could generate more than $634 in annual dividend income, far outpacing what the broader market offers.
By comparison, investing that same $10,000 in the S&P 500 would produce only around $100 in annual dividend income at current index yields.
The strategy is straightforward: allocate roughly one-third of the investment to each stock and let their above-average yields do the heavy lifting.
Pfizer carries a forward dividend yield of 6.12%, meaning a $3,333 stake in the pharmaceutical giant would generate approximately $204 in annual income.
Verizon’s yield of 6.15% is only marginally higher than Pfizer’s, with a similar $3,333 investment producing around $205 in dividend income over the next year.
Energy Transfer leads the trio with a yield of 6.77%, and a $3,333 position in the midstream limited partnership would deliver more than $225 in annual distributions.
Combined, those three positions push total annual income above $634, giving income-focused investors a meaningful yield on a modest initial outlay.
The income potential actually grows more attractive when future dividend growth is factored in, as Energy Transfer expects to increase its distribution by 3% to 5% per year.
Verizon has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, and that streak is predicted to continue into 2027, adding further confidence to the income thesis.
Pfizer’s dividend growth outlook is less certain given patent cliff pressures, but CEO Albert Bourla expressed confidence in maintaining the current payout level.
Bourla said during the 2026 second-quarter earnings conference call, “We feel extremely confident that we will — even in the most stretched scenarios that we are running, we will be able to maintain our dividend.”
For investors seeking reliable passive income, the combination of ET, PFE, and VZ provides a diversified mix of energy, healthcare, and telecommunications exposure.
Risks remain, particularly around Pfizer’s patent cliff and the long-term sustainability of its payout, which investors should weigh carefully before committing capital.
