When volatility strikes and uncertainty becomes the market's favorite pastime, investors tend to gravitate toward dividend-yielding stocks. It makes sense: these are typically companies generating substantial free cash flow who share the wealth with shareholders through consistent dividend payouts. You get paid to wait out the storm.
Wall Street analysts spend their days scrutinizing these companies, and some have proven better than others at calling the shots. Here's what some of the most accurate analysts are saying about three high-yielding materials sector stocks right now.
Sonoco Products Co
Dividend Yield: 4.65%
Sonoco Products (SON) has caught the attention of analysts at major financial institutions recently. B of A Securities analyst George Staphos upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy on January 5, 2026, raising his price target from $56 to $60. This analyst maintains a 53% accuracy rate on his calls.
Meanwhile, Wells Fargo analyst Gabe Hajde, who sports a more impressive 78% accuracy rate, maintained an Overweight rating and increased his price target from $50 to $52 on October 24, 2025.
On the corporate action front, Sonoco completed the sale of its ThermoSafe unit to Arsenal Capital Partners on November 3. The divestiture represents a strategic shift for the packaging solutions company as it refocuses its portfolio.
Eastman Chemical Co
Dividend Yield: 5.19%
Eastman Chemical (EMN) offers an even more attractive yield at 5.19%, though analysts have shown mixed sentiment on the chemical manufacturer.
Wells Fargo analyst Michael Sison, with a 59% accuracy rate, downgraded the stock from Overweight to Equal-Weight on December 19, 2025, setting a price target of $70. The downgrade signals a more cautious stance on the company's near-term prospects.
Not everyone shares that pessimism, though. Citigroup analyst Patrick Cunningham, who has a 56% accuracy rate, maintained a Buy rating and actually raised his price target from $70 to $72 on December 18, 2025.
The divergence in analyst opinions comes after Eastman Chemical posted disappointing quarterly results on November 3, which may have prompted some of the reassessments.
Ternium SA
Dividend Yield: 6.94%
For investors really hunting for yield, Ternium (TX) offers the most generous dividend of the three at nearly 7%. The Luxembourg-based steel producer has drawn attention from analysts tracking the metals and mining space.
Scotiabank analyst Alfonso Salazar, with a 54% accuracy rate, maintained a Sector Outperform rating on September 3, 2025, though he trimmed his price target slightly from $41 to $40. The small reduction suggests some caution but overall optimism remains.
Wells Fargo analyst Timna Tanners took a more bearish view when she initiated coverage on August 14, 2025, with an Underweight rating and a $30 price target. This analyst brings a 71% accuracy rate to her calls, making her skepticism worth considering.
Ternium reported mixed quarterly results on October 28, which helps explain why analysts might be taking different sides on the stock's prospects.
Why Analyst Accuracy Matters
Not all Wall Street opinions carry equal weight. An analyst with a 78% accuracy rate has demonstrated a much better track record of correctly predicting stock movements than one hovering around 53%. When evaluating these dividend stocks, it's worth considering not just the yield and the rating, but also how often that particular analyst has been right in the past.
These three materials sector stocks offer investors meaningful income potential while they wait for capital appreciation. Whether you're looking for a 4.65% yield with Sonoco, a 5.19% payout from Eastman Chemical, or the nearly 7% dividend from Ternium, each presents different risk-reward profiles reflected in the varying analyst opinions.
The materials sector isn't always the most exciting corner of the market, but when these companies generate strong cash flows and return capital to shareholders, they become considerably more interesting, especially when markets get rocky.
