I own a lot of dividend stocks. They're a big part of my investment strategy. I'm working toward eventually generating enough passive income to cover my basic living expenses. Last year, five stocks supplied me with more than $500 of dividend income apiece.

The year 2025 is just getting started, and investors have as much pressure as ever to get their portfolios set in the right direction, as a few winners in the first half of the year can not only give investors confidence but also plenty of liquidity and room to then pursue the more aggressive deals in the market during the second half of the year.

Everybody loves dividends, as they provide a passive income stream, limit drawdowns in other positions, and provide more than one way to profit from an investment. And when considering dividend-paying stocks,

The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF ( SCHD 0.57%), JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF ( JEPI 0.43%), and Vanguard Real Estate ETF ( VNQ -0.07%) are three great ETFs for generating passive income. They pay higher-yielding dividends that have grown over the years.