First Financial Bancorp And Two Other Top Dividend Stocks For Your Portfolio

In the last week, the United States market has been flat, though it is up 15% over the past year with earnings projected to grow by 17% annually in the coming years. In light of these conditions, identifying strong dividend stocks like First Financial Bancorp can be a strategic approach for investors seeking stable income and potential growth in their portfolios.

Top 10 Dividend Stocks In The United States

Name	Dividend Yield	Dividend Rating
Peoples Bancorp (PEBO)	4.13%	★★★★★☆
OTC Markets Group (OTCM)	5.45%	★★★★★★
J&J Snack Foods (JJSF)	4.12%	★★★★★☆
Huntington Bancshares (HBAN)	3.61%	★★★★★☆
First Interstate BancSystem (FIBK)	4.98%	★★★★★★
Ennis (EBF)	4.60%	★★★★★★
Donegal Group (DGIC.A)	4.07%	★★★★★★
Columbia Banking System (COLB)	4.79%	★★★★★★
Bladex (BLX)	4.63%	★★★★★☆
Accenture (ACN)	4.23%	★★★★★★

Click here to see the full list of 89 stocks from our Top US Dividend Stocks screener.

Let's review some notable picks from our screened stocks.

First Financial Bancorp (FFBC)

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆

Overview: First Financial Bancorp is a bank holding company for First Financial Bank, offering commercial banking and related services to individuals and businesses in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, with a market cap of approximately $3.55 billion.

Operations: First Financial Bancorp generates revenue primarily through its Community Banking segment, which accounts for $952.89 million.

Dividend Yield: 3.1%

First Financial Bancorp. offers a stable dividend profile, with a 3.1% yield and consistent growth over the past decade. Its dividends are well-covered by earnings, with a current payout ratio of 35%, forecasted to improve to 29.6% in three years. Recent financial results show solid performance, with net interest income rising to US$190.38 million in Q2 2026 from US$158.27 million the previous year, supporting its dividend reliability and attractiveness for investors seeking steady income streams.

• Take a closer look at First Financial Bancorp's potential here in our dividend report.
• In light of our recent valuation report, it seems possible that First Financial Bancorp is trading behind its estimated value.

First Merchants (FRME)

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆

Overview: First Merchants Corporation, with a market cap of $2.69 billion, operates as the financial holding company for First Merchants Bank, offering commercial and consumer banking services.

Operations: First Merchants Corporation's revenue primarily comes from its Community Banking segment, which generated $642.19 million.

Dividend Yield: 3.5%

First Merchants Corporation maintains a reliable dividend, currently yielding 3.47%, supported by a low payout ratio of 46.7%. Despite recent declines in net income to US$43.98 million for Q2 2026 from US$56.83 million a year ago, the company has consistently increased dividends over the past decade. However, significant insider selling and removal from several Russell indices may raise concerns about future stability for dividend-focused investors seeking dependable returns.

• Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of First Merchants stock in this dividend report.
• The valuation report we've compiled suggests that First Merchants' current price could be quite moderate.

Bank OZK (OZK)

Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★★☆

Overview: Bank OZK is a full-service Arkansas state-chartered bank offering retail and commercial banking services, with a market cap of $5.49 billion.

Operations: Bank OZK's revenue primarily comes from its Community Banking segment, which generated $1.55 billion.

Dividend Yield: 3.7%

Bank OZK offers a stable dividend history, with payments increasing over the past decade and a current yield of 3.73%. The payout ratio remains low at 30%, indicating strong coverage by earnings. Despite slightly lower Q2 net income of US$167.37 million compared to last year, the company raised its quarterly dividend by 2.13% to $0.48 per share and announced a US$200 million share buyback plan, underscoring its commitment to returning value to shareholders.

• Click here and access our complete dividend analysis report to understand the dynamics of Bank OZK.
• Our comprehensive valuation report raises the possibility that Bank OZK is priced lower than what may be justified by its financials.

Turning Ideas Into Actions

• Click this link to deep-dive into the 89 companies within our Top US Dividend Stocks screener.
• Have a stake in these businesses? Integrate your holdings into Simply Wall St's portfolio for notifications and detailed stock reports.
• Elevate your portfolio with Simply Wall St, the ultimate app for investors seeking global market coverage.

Searching for a Fresh Perspective?

• Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention.
• Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management.
• Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com