Looking for dividend income? Explore these high-paying dividend stocks from the S&P 500 for potential returns in 2025.

Oil stocks can be excellent sources of passive income for investors who can stomach the volatility of the cyclical energy sector. And with oil prices down 9% or so in the last year, many oil and gas stocks have sold off even as broader indexes like the S&P 500 make new highs.

Dividend stocks lack the glitz and glam of high-octane growth stocks. Similarly, value stocks are priced based on their existing profits rather than what they could make in the future. Here's why these three Motley Fool contributors have identified American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP),