Best Income Stocks to Buy for January 26th: A Detailed, SEO-Friendly Rewrite (With SFNC, TNK, and AU)

Meta Description: Best Income Stocks to Buy for January 26th highlights three Zacks Rank #1 income candidates—SFNC, TNK, and AU—plus practical tips on dividends, estimate revisions, and risk checks for long-term investors.

If you’re hunting for dividend income, it’s easy to get distracted by flashy headlines and forget the basics: steady cash returns, business quality, and a realistic plan for volatility. In this detailed rewrite of the Zacks commentary published for January 26, 2026, we’ll break down what the list is actually saying, why these picks were highlighted, and how a cautious investor might use the information in a real-world portfolio.

The original note points to three stocks that combine Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) status with “income” characteristics—meaning a meaningful dividend yield and improving earnings outlooks based on estimate revisions. Those three names are:

• Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC)
• Teekay Tankers Ltd. (TNK)
• AngloGold Ashanti (AU)

Let’s unpack the logic behind these “income stock” additions and what it could mean for an investor who cares about dividends, stability, and total returns.

What This “Best Income Stocks” List Really Means

This type of daily list is built around a simple idea: income investors often want dividends, but they also want a business that looks increasingly profitable over time. The Zacks approach emphasizes earnings estimate revisions—when analysts raise (or lower) their forecasts for a company’s earnings. When estimates rise, it can signal improving fundamentals, better pricing power, lower costs, stronger demand, or operational progress.

In the January 26 edition, each highlighted stock shows a specific improvement in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the last 60 days. This matters because income investing isn’t just about grabbing the highest yield; it’s about finding dividends that can be maintained (or grown) through different market cycles.

Also important: Zacks Rank #1 is the highest rank in that system. Zacks publicly reports long-run performance characteristics of Rank #1 stocks as a group (not a guarantee for any single stock). Still, the idea is that positive estimate revisions often correlate with stronger price performance over time.

Why Income Investors Care About Estimate Revisions

Here’s the plain-language version: dividends come from cash flows, and cash flows tend to track long-term earnings power. If the market collectively believes earnings are rising, the “room” to sustain a dividend often looks better. If earnings expectations fall, dividend safety can start to look shaky, especially for companies with high payout ratios or heavy debt.

Three Quick Benefits of Following Revisions

• Early signal: Revisions may reflect new information before it shows up in quarterly results.
• Dividend confidence: Improving earnings expectations can strengthen dividend coverage.
• Valuation support: If earnings rise and price doesn’t, the stock can look cheaper on forward metrics.

One Big Caution

Estimate revisions are not magic. Analysts can be wrong, industries can turn quickly, and one unexpected event can change everything. So, treat this list as a starting point—a shortlist of tickers to research—rather than an automatic “buy now” signal.

Snapshot: The Three Picks for January 26, 2026

According to the published list, these were the key points:

• SFNC: Current-year earnings estimate increased 5.2% over the last 60 days; dividend yield around 4.2% vs. industry average 2.1%.
• TNK: Current-year earnings estimate increased 12.1% over the last 60 days; dividend yield around 1.6% vs. industry average 1.1%.
• AU: Next-year earnings estimate increased 21.8% over the last 60 days; dividend yield around 3.4% vs. industry average 0.0%.

Those numbers are the “headline ingredients” that earned them a spot as Zacks Rank #1 income candidates for the day.

Deep Dive 1: Simmons First National Corporation (SFNC)

What SFNC Does

Simmons First National Corporation is a holding company for Simmons Bank. In simple terms, it’s part of the banking world—earning revenue through interest income (loans and investments), fees, and other financial services activities.

Why It Was Highlighted on January 26

The commentary emphasizes two things:

• Earnings outlook improving: The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SFNC’s current-year earnings rose 5.2% over the past 60 days.
• Dividend yield stands out: SFNC’s dividend yield is listed around 4.2%, higher than the cited industry average of 2.1%.

That combination—improving expected earnings plus a relatively higher yield—is exactly what many income investors look for.

How an Income Investor Might Interpret SFNC

Bank dividends can be appealing because banks often aim to return capital to shareholders through dividends and buybacks when conditions allow. But bank results can also swing based on:

• Interest rates and the shape of the yield curve
• Loan demand and credit quality
• Deposit competition (how much banks must pay depositors)
• Regulatory capital requirements

So if you’re considering SFNC as an income holding, it’s wise to look beyond yield. Check dividend history, payout ratio trends, credit quality indicators, and management commentary from recent earnings calls.

Practical “Next Checks” Before Buying

• Dividend sustainability: Is the dividend covered by earnings and operating cash flow?
• Credit risk: Any warning signs in charge-offs or non-performing loans?
• Rate sensitivity: How does management describe exposure to rate shifts?

Deep Dive 2: Teekay Tankers Ltd. (TNK)

What TNK Does

Teekay Tankers operates in marine transportation, serving the oil industry by moving products across global shipping routes. This is a very different kind of dividend story than a bank: tanker companies can be strongly cyclical, often influenced by freight rates, global oil flows, fleet supply, and geopolitics.

Why It Was Highlighted on January 26

The list notes:

• Earnings outlook improving: TNK’s Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings rose 12.1% over the last 60 days.
• Dividend yield: Listed at about 1.6%, compared with an industry average around 1.1%.

In other words, the “income” angle here is more modest yield—but backed by a stronger improvement in expected earnings than SFNC, at least over that 60-day window.

Why Tanker Dividends Can Be Tricky

Shipping companies often experience “boom and bust” cycles. When rates are high, profits can surge and dividends may rise. When rates fall, profits can drop quickly. This means a dividend yield snapshot (like 1.6%) doesn’t always tell the full story.

For TNK, a careful investor would want to consider:

• Spot vs. contract exposure: Are revenues tied to volatile spot rates or steadier contracts?
• Balance sheet strength: Debt levels and refinancing needs matter a lot in cyclical industries.
• Fleet strategy: Vessel age, efficiency, and regulatory compliance can impact costs and competitiveness.

How TNK Might Fit in an Income Portfolio

If you’re building a conservative “sleep-well-at-night” dividend portfolio, a tanker stock may be a smaller, tactical position rather than a core holding. But for investors comfortable with cycles, TNK can offer a way to diversify income sources away from the usual utilities, consumer staples, or telecom names.

Deep Dive 3: AngloGold Ashanti (AU)

What AU Does

AngloGold Ashanti is a gold mining company. Gold miners often behave differently from the broad stock market because their revenue is tied, directly or indirectly, to gold prices—plus operational factors like production costs, mine performance, and geopolitical risk in mining jurisdictions.

Why It Was Highlighted on January 26

The article highlights:

• Next-year earnings outlook improving: AU’s consensus estimate for next-year earnings rose 21.8% over the last 60 days.
• Dividend yield: Listed around 3.4%, while the cited industry average is 0.0%.

The “industry average 0.0%” detail suggests many peers may not be paying meaningful dividends at all, making AU’s yield stand out in that comparison set.

Why Gold Miners Attract Income Investors (Sometimes)

Gold miners can become attractive income picks when they generate strong free cash flow and choose to return part of it through dividends. But mining is a capital-intensive business. Costs can rise, production can vary, and profits can swing with commodity prices.

Smart Checks Before Buying AU for Income

• Dividend policy: Is the dividend fixed, variable, or tied to cash flow?
• All-in sustaining costs (AISC): Lower costs generally mean more resilience if gold prices pull back.
• Operational stability: Consistent production and fewer disruptions can support steadier payouts.

How to Use “Best Income Stocks” Lists Without Getting Burned

Lists like this can be helpful, but only if you use them wisely. Here’s a practical, step-by-step way to treat this information like a pro:

Step 1: Confirm the Income Is Real (Not Just a One-Time Spike)

Dividend yields can jump if the stock price falls suddenly. That doesn’t always mean the dividend is safe—sometimes it’s a warning sign. Look at dividend history, payout ratio, and recent company guidance.

Step 2: Identify the “Why” Behind Earnings Estimate Increases

Did estimates rise because of a true business improvement, or because of short-term factors like commodity price moves, temporary demand spikes, or one-time benefits?

Step 3: Match the Stock to Your Risk Tolerance

These three picks are spread across very different risk profiles:

• SFNC (bank): Often considered more “traditional income,” but still sensitive to rate cycles and credit.
• TNK (tanker shipping): Cyclical and can be volatile—income may vary with industry conditions.
• AU (gold miner): Commodity-linked and operationally complex; can diversify but may swing with gold markets.

Step 4: Don’t Ignore Valuation

Even a great dividend stock can be a poor buy if it’s overpriced. Consider common valuation lenses (like forward P/E or price-to-book for banks) and compare against peers.

Dividend Yield vs. Total Return: The Mistake Many Beginners Make

It’s tempting to chase yield—especially when you’re excited about passive income. But the goal should usually be total return (dividends + price performance) with a risk level you can live with.

For example:

• A 6% yield doesn’t help much if the stock drops 20% and the dividend gets cut.
• A 2%–4% yield can be fantastic if it grows steadily and the stock compounds over time.

That’s why the Zacks “estimate revision” angle can be useful: it pushes investors to consider whether the business outlook is improving, not just whether the yield looks big today.

Quick Comparison Table (Investor-Friendly Summary)

Stock	Sector / Theme	Estimate Change Mentioned	Dividend Yield Mentioned	Main Risk Type
SFNC	Banking / Financials	Current-year +5.2% (60 days)	~4.2%	Rates, credit cycle
TNK	Shipping / Energy-linked	Current-year +12.1% (60 days)	~1.6%	Freight-rate cycles
AU	Gold mining / Commodities	Next-year +21.8% (60 days)	~3.4%	Gold price, operations

Note: The estimate changes and yields above are the figures cited in the referenced January 26 article and are time-sensitive snapshots.

Portfolio Ideas: Three Simple Ways to Position These Picks

1) Conservative Income Tilt

If you prefer steadier businesses, you might treat SFNC as the “core” candidate among these three, while keeping the others as watchlist names until you’ve studied the risks.

2) Diversified Income Basket

Some investors like the idea of blending different dividend sources: financials (SFNC), cyclicals (TNK), and commodities/hedge-like exposure (AU). This can reduce reliance on a single sector, though it doesn’t eliminate risk.

3) Tactical Income + Momentum in Estimates

Because this list is tied to revisions and ranking signals, a more active investor might use it as a short-term “screen,” then apply strict rules—like position sizing, stop-loss planning, or scheduled re-evaluation after earnings.

FAQs About These January 26 Income Stock Picks

1) Are SFNC, TNK, and AU guaranteed to go up because they’re Zacks Rank #1?

No. A ranking system can highlight trends (like rising earnings estimates), but no method guarantees price gains. Always research fundamentals, valuation, and risk before investing.

2) Why does the list focus on earnings estimate increases over 60 days?

The idea is that estimate revisions can reflect improving business conditions. A 60-day window is a common “recent trend” period used to capture meaningful changes without being too noisy.

3) Which stock has the highest dividend yield in this list?

Based on the cited figures, SFNC shows the highest listed yield at about 4.2%, followed by AU at 3.4%, and TNK at 1.6%.

4) Should I buy income stocks right before an ex-dividend date?

Not automatically. Dividend timing can matter, but buying solely for an upcoming payout can backfire if the stock drops by more than the dividend amount, or if news changes the outlook. Focus on long-term dividend safety and business strength.

5) Why is AU compared with an “industry average dividend yield of 0.0%”?

In the cited comparison set, many peers may not pay dividends (or pay very little), which can make AU’s yield look more notable. Still, you should verify peers and understand how the “industry” is defined in the screen.

6) What’s the biggest risk with TNK as an income stock?

Cyclicality. Tanker shipping can swing sharply based on freight rates, global oil flows, fleet supply, and macro events. Dividends in cyclical industries may be less predictable than in more defensive sectors.

7) Can I rely on this list alone to build a dividend portfolio?

It’s better to use it as a research starting point. Build your portfolio with diversification, dividend safety checks, valuation discipline, and a time horizon that matches your goals.

Conclusion: A Smart, Realistic Take on the January 26 Income Stock List

The January 26, 2026 edition of Best Income Stocks to Buy for January 26th spotlights three names with Zacks Rank #1 status and improving earnings expectations: SFNC, TNK, and AU. The list mixes a higher-yielding bank stock (SFNC), a lower-yield but revision-strong cyclical shipper (TNK), and a dividend-paying gold miner (AU) with a sharp upward shift in next-year earnings expectations.

The key lesson is simple: dividend investing works best when you combine income with fundamental strength and risk awareness. Use this shortlist to dig deeper—read filings, review recent earnings, compare peers, and decide whether each business fits your personal investing style.

Source references: This rewrite is based on the Nasdaq-hosted version of the Zacks commentary and Zacks’ public explanation of its ranking approach.

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