3 Dividend Stocks With Insiders Buying in 2026

Summary

Dividends are a driving force of the investment world, providing investors with access to company profits and a reliable income stream. Add in the signals provided by insider buying, and the stage is set for market-beating total returns over time. The question is whether insider buying and dividends, on their own, are enough to merit investor confidence—and the answer may be "no." Factors such as growth, profitability, and market interest must also be considered to maximize returns and avoid unnecessary losses. Bankwell Financial Group Grows, Improves ProfitsBankwell Financial Group NASDAQ: BWFG is a small, local bank operating in Illinois, but it is growing, improving its deposit base, widening its margin, and reducing dependence on third-party services. The stock price is rising, and insiders are buying into the rally. Insider activity is noteworthy because it was very tepid for years until Q3 2025, and then it exploded. Activity has remained solid since, with numerous insiders acquiring shares, and driving total ownership over 20%. Bankwell Financial Group TodayBWFGBankwell Financial Group$51.32 +0.76 (+1.50%) As of 05/18/2026 04:00 PM Eastern52-Week Range$33.26▼$53.86Dividend Yield1.56%P/E Ratio10.31Price Target$52.00 Bankwell Financial Group’s dividend is worthwhile. The stock yields about 1.5% with shares near $50, the payout ratio is low at about 15%, and annual distribution increases are becoming a possibility. A dividend increase would serve as a market catalyst, potentially triggering an influx of new capital. Analyst and institutional trends are relatively strong for a bank this small. Institutions own about 36% of the stock and have been aggressively accumulating. The trailing 12-month pace as of mid-May was approximately $4-to-$1, with bullish behavior sustained for seven consecutive quarters. Analyst trends are less robust, with only four tracked, but they rate the stock as a consensus Moderate Buy. The only downside is that analysts view the stock as ...