If you crave dividends, a pullback can feel like the market put your snack on sale. Today, these two dividend stocks sit below recent highs, and both still run the kind of cash engines that matter for income investors. Let’s get into it.
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BIR
Birchcliff Energy (TSX: BIR) makes money by producing Canadian natural gas and liquids, then selling into more than one market so it does not rely on AECO alone. The dividend stock has climbed about 22% over the past year, yet it still trades roughly 10% below its 52-week high, with recent pricing around $7.25. That gap gives dividend hunters a better entry point without demanding perfect timing.
The latest quarter shows why Birchcliff looks down but not out. In Q3 2025, it reported petroleum and natural gas revenue of $149.6 million. The energy producer generated cash flow from operating activities of $78.5 million and adjusted funds flow of $87.1 million, or $0.32 per share. It also delivered free funds flow of $15.6 million. Net income came in at a loss of $14.1 million, or negative $0.05 per share, which highlights how earnings can swing even when cash holds up.
The near-term outlook looks constructive, with real numbers behind it. Birchcliff averaged 80,406 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in Q3, up 7% year over year, and it lifted 2025 production guidance to 79,000 to 80,000 boe/d. For 2026, it outlined a $325 million to $375 million capital plan that targets 81,000 to 84,000 boe/d, and it declared a $0.03 quarterly dividend for Q4 2025. The valuation looks higher, trading at 27 times earnings, so you should assume commodity prices will drive the story.
IMO
Imperial Oil (TSX: IMO) offers a steadier kind of dividend appeal. It runs oil sands production, refining, and chemicals, and that mix can smooth results when one segment cools. The dividend stock has gained about 39% over the past year, and it recently traded around its all-time high. That is not a bargain-bin dip, but it still counts as a pullback for a name many investors treat as a core holding.
Its Q3 2025 results show strong operations even with some one-off noise. Imperial reported estimated net income of $539 million, while net income excluding identified items reached $1.1 billion. Kearl averaged record total gross bitumen production of 316,000 boe/d. Refinery throughput averaged 425,000 barrels per day with 98% utilization. It also generated $1.8 billion in cash flow from operating activities in the quarter and paid $0.72 per share in dividends during the period.
Looking into 2026, Imperial has pointed to higher spending and slightly higher upstream production, with a 2026 capital and exploration budget of $2 billion to $2.2 billion and upstream production guidance of 441,000 to 460,000 boe/d. That plan aims to lift cash flow and lower unit costs, which can support dividends and buybacks. The valuation still looks fair for a cash-heavy business, trailing at 18 times earnings, but oil prices can swing and maintenance can pinch downstream results.
Bottom line
Together, these two dividend stocks give you two different dividend flavours while prices sit off their peaks. Birchcliff offers more upside if gas markets co-operate, plus a forward valuation that can look kinder if cash flow stays strong. Imperial offers scale, operational muscle, and a shareholder-return habit that keeps showing up in the numbers. And right now, here’s what $7,000 can bring in from dividends alone.
| COMPANY | RECENT PRICE | NUMBER OF SHARES | ANNUAL DIVIDEND | ANNUAL TOTAL PAYOUT | FREQUENCY | TOTAL INVESTMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIR | $7.26 | 964 | $0.12 | $115.68 | Quarterly | $6,998.64 |
| IMO | $140.13 | 49 | $2.88 | $141.12 | Quarterly | $6,866.37 |
Buy them for cash generation and discipline, not for a quick bounce, and you set yourself up for a calmer 2026.
