These 2 top-notch dividend stocks yield 5.5%+, but which is the better buy?

The article compares two FTSE 100 dividend payers—British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS) and Imperial Brands (LSE: IMB)—that both offer yields above 5.5%, but asks which is the better buy. It frames tobacco as a cash-generating sector despite ESG exclusions and regulatory pressure on cigarettes. Both companies are said to be pursuing similar diversification in 2026 away from legacy cigarettes toward alternatives including vapes, heated tobacco and oral nicotine pouches. For British American Tobacco, first-half 2026 revenues from “New Category” products rose 18%, and the segment’s contribution to profits grew 55%, with guidance expecting mid-teens double-digit growth through 2030. Imperial Brands’ blu vape lineup is described as performing well, while Pulze 3.0 and new iD sticks support heated-tobacco momentum, aided by its acquisition of Black Buffalo and Helwit. The piece notes 2026 fiscal-year targets point to similar double-digit revenue growth for next-generation products, with expectations for steady single-digit net revenue growth from traditional tobacco.