Investors look for dividends that pay well to shareholders for a steady flow of income and often go for the top stocks in consumer companies or utilities.

Pharmaceuticals, however, provide a lot of stability in an area that has enormous growth potential.

Drug manufacturers may go through ups and downs because of regulations or new products on the pharmaceutical market, but they usually have healthy dividend payments to offer investors because of the continual advances in medicine.

Here are seven of the top dividend-paying stocks in pharmaceuticals:

• AbbVie (ABBV) — The latest dividend yield for the big pharma stock is 4.19 percent, according to the Motley Fool, which predicts the company will continue to raise its yield in the future. It produces Humira, an anti-inflammation drug for many conditions.
• Pfizer (PFE) — Its reputation as one of the oldest and most successful pharmaceutical companies keeps it attractive, especially with its 3.9-percent yield, Forbes reports. It includes the international market to withstand turmoil in the U.S.
• Novartis (NVS) — The multi-national Swiss company offers a dividend yield of 3.7 percent. It manufactures generic drugs, surgical and vision care products, and oncology medicines.
• Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) — A dependable company over the years, the attractive dividends offer a safe haven for retirement investors, The Street notes. It provides a 2.6-percent yield and has had an above average dividend growth rate of 8.8 percent over the past 10 years.
• GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) — Earnings were better than expected at the end of last year, but there may be a slowdown ahead with competition. However, with a strong dividend yield of 5 percent, the drugmaker continues to grow, InvestorPlace reports.
• Sanofi (SNY) — Based in France, Sanofi has become a noticeable competitor with the major companies. It has a 3.9-percent dividend yield and helps with including international investing in a portfolio, InvestorPlace reports.
• Teva Pharmaceutical (TEVA) — The company has gone through some difficulties, but the future looks good with promising returns, according to InvestorPlace. It has a dividend yield of 4 percent.

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