"Maximize Passive Income: Top High-Yield Dividend Stocks for 2024"

Investors can gain $1,000 in annual dividend income by investing $11,620 in high-yield dividend stocks such as AT&T, Ares Capital, and Altria Group. AT&T offers a 6.6% dividend yield and is expected to steadily raise its payout, while Ares Capital, a business development company, has a 9.5% yield and focuses on lending to middle-market businesses. Altria Group, the U.S. tobacco giant, provides a 9.8% dividend yield and has a history of steady raises despite declining cigarette smoking popularity.