Income investing works best when dividends connect to sustainable business models rather than yield traps. The strongest opportunities combine high current income with credible catalysts that support future payouts, whether that's a successful transformation already rewarded by the market or a temporary setback creating a bargain shopping opportunity.

Two stocks deliver this combination: a tobacco company successfully executing its smoke-free transition with rising dividends to prove it, and a pharmaceutical giant trading at a distressed valuation despite stabilizing fundamentals and renewing growth initiatives. Both offer high yields -- one at 3.84% with momentum, the other at 7% with recovery potential.

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Source Fool.com