With the Federal Reserve shifting into rate-cut mode, income-seeking investors should look beyond bonds. As yields on fixed-income securities taper off, dividend-paying stocks, especially those with reliable payouts and high yields, look attractive. With that in mind, I turned to Barchart’s stock screener to hunt for the most compelling opportunities. The goal was simple: find dividend stocks yielding at least 7% and backed by bullish analyst sentiment. CTO Realty Growth (CTO) and Energy Transfer (ET) sto ...

WINTER PARK, Fla., Dec. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CTO Realty Growth, Inc. (NYSE: CTO) (the “Company” or “CTO”), an owner and operator of high-quality open-air retail centers located primarily in higher-growth markets in the Southeast and Southwest regions, announced the grand openings of two new tenants at Beaver Creek Crossings in the Raleigh-Durham metro area: One Life Fitness (45,000 square feet) and Lime & Lemon Indian Grill & Bar (6,600 square feet). One Life Fitness, a health club operator with mor ...

Core Insights - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. has fully leased its last non-core office building, totaling 212,000 square feet, to two investment-grade tenants: Fidelity and the State of New Mexico [2][3] - The State of New Mexico has amended its lease to increase its total space to 98,000 square feet, with a 10-year agreement and two five-year options [3] - Fidelity has reduced its occupied space to 114,000 square feet, with its lease running through November 2028 and including two five-year options [3] - The blended annualized base rent for the property is expected to grow by approximately 9% upon the commencement of rent [4] Company Overview - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. specializes in owning and operating high-quality open-air shopping centers located in higher-growth markets in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States [4] - The company also manages and holds a significant interest in Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. [4]

Core Insights - Mr. Mavroudis is a professional portfolio manager with a focus on risk management and financial market analysis [1] - He has successfully navigated major crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic [1] - Mr. Mavroudis is the CEO of FAST FINANCE Investment Services, a registered Greek company [1] Professional Background - Mr. Mavroudis holds multiple degrees, including an MSc in Financial and Banking Management, an LLM in Law, and a BSc in Economics [1] - He is certified in various financial disciplines, including portfolio management and derivatives [1] - He has published three books on investments and contributes articles to financial media [1] Engagement and Community - By writing on Seeking Alpha, Mr. Mavroudis aims to engage with a community of investors and market enthusiasts [1] - His goal is to foster mutual growth and knowledge sharing within the investment community [1]

Core Insights - iREIT+HOYA Capital focuses on income-producing asset classes that provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1][2] - The investment group targets high-yield, dividend growth opportunities, aiming for dividend yields up to 10% [2] Group 1 - The service offers investment research on various asset classes including REITs, ETFs, closed-end funds, preferreds, and dividend champions [2] - The investment strategy emphasizes defensive stocks with a medium- to long-term horizon [2] Group 2 - The group provides a free two-week trial for potential investors to explore its income-focused portfolios [1] - The focus on overlooked stocks that offer the best value is highlighted as a key investment strategy [2]

Core Points - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.38 per share for Q4 2025, representing an annualized yield of approximately 8.8% based on the stock's closing price on November 17, 2025 [1][2] - The dividend is payable on December 31, 2025, to stockholders of record as of December 11, 2025, with the ex-dividend date also on December 11, 2025 [2] - Additionally, a quarterly cash dividend of $0.39844 per share for the 6.375% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock has been declared for Q4 2025, also payable on December 31, 2025 [3] Company Overview - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. specializes in owning and operating high-quality, open-air shopping centers in the Southeast and Southwest markets of the United States [4] - The company has been public and paying annual dividends for over 50 years, having been established in 1910 [5]

Core Insights - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. has signed a 30,000 square foot, 10-year lease with a co-working operator, set to open in 2026 at the Shops at Legacy in Dallas, Texas [1] - The recent leasing activity has significantly filled vacancies at the center, with a total of nearly 60,000 square feet of smaller shop leases executed over the past two years [2] - Leased occupancy at the center now stands at approximately 85%, featuring a mix of upscale retailers and various national and local restaurants [3] Company Overview - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. specializes in owning and operating high-quality open-air shopping centers primarily located in high-growth markets in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States [4]

Core Insights - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. announced the grand opening of The Picklr, an indoor pickleball club, at The Collection at Forsyth on November 22, 2025, marking a significant addition to the center's tenant mix [1][2] Group 1: Company Overview - CTO Realty Growth, Inc. specializes in owning and operating high-quality open-air shopping centers primarily in high-growth markets in the Southeast and Southwest regions of the United States [5] - The company also manages and holds a significant interest in Alpine Income Property Trust, Inc. [5] Group 2: Recent Developments - The Picklr will occupy 23,775 square feet and aims to provide a vibrant fitness experience, including indoor courts, lessons, leagues, and social events [2] - The Collection at Forsyth has seen approximately 37,000 square feet of new space open recently, with an additional 17,000 square feet of leases expected to commence in 2026 [3] Group 3: Performance Metrics - The leased occupancy at The Collection at Forsyth has increased significantly to 91%, indicating strong demand for retail space in this premier outdoor lifestyle destination [4] - The center spans 561,000 square feet and features a diverse mix of national retailers, local boutiques, restaurants, fitness concepts, and entertainment venues [4]

Core Viewpoint - Shopping center REITs are positioned to exploit a partial arbitrage opportunity between private and public real estate markets, which can enhance earnings and shareholder value [1][5]. Group 1: Arbitrage Mechanics - Arbitrage occurs when the same asset trades at different prices across markets, leading to profit opportunities [2]. - Current real estate markets exhibit a partial arbitrage, with private real estate values being 10%-40% higher than public market prices [3]. - The valuation gap between private and public markets has persisted for about two years, allowing REITs to capitalize on this discrepancy [5]. Group 2: REIT Strategies - REITs can buy back their stock and sell properties at higher private market prices, effectively closing the valuation gap [6][11]. - The implied cap rate of a REIT can be calculated by dividing its forward net operating income (NOI) by its enterprise value, which can then be compared to market cap rates for similar properties [7]. - For example, if a shopping center REIT has an implied cap rate of 8% while similar properties sell at 6%, the REIT can sell assets and use the proceeds to buy back stock, resulting in increased NOI per share [8][10]. Group 3: Case Studies - Kite Realty (KRG) plans to sell $500 million in assets to repurchase shares, highlighting the strategy of redeploying capital for shareholder value [11]. - Brixmor (BRX) is also considering buybacks as its share price remains below NAV, with a recent 7% increase in its annual dividend [23]. - CTO Realty Growth (CTO) has already begun executing buybacks, having repurchased $9.3 million in common stock in 3Q25 [24]. Group 4: Market Conditions - The shopping center sector is experiencing a significant disconnect between positive fundamentals and negative stock pricing, leading to mispricing opportunities [30][31]. - Many shopping center REITs are trading at implied cap rates of 7.5%-9%, while high-quality assets could be valued closer to 6% cap rates [32].

Core Insights - The article discusses various high-yield dividend stocks and investment opportunities, emphasizing the importance of reliable income streams for investors [3][6][7] Investment Opportunities - Ares Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: ARCC) is highlighted as a high-yielding business development company (BDC) with a 9.56% dividend yield, specializing in financing middle-market companies through various financial strategies [2][12] - CTO Realty Growth Inc. (NYSE: CTO) is noted for its 9.21% dividend yield and a strong occupancy rate of 96%, making it an attractive option for passive income investors [13][14] - Energy Transfer L.P. (NYSE: ET) is recognized for its substantial 7.68% distribution and extensive portfolio of energy assets, solidifying its position in the midstream energy sector [19][20] - OneMain Holdings Inc. (NYSE: OMF) offers a 7.43% dividend yield and provides personal loan products, indicating significant upside potential from current trading levels [22][25] - Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is highlighted for its 7.06% dividend and solid performance, trading at 9.13 times its estimated 2026 earnings [26][31] Market Trends - The article notes a potential pullback in the market after significant fluctuations in 2025, suggesting that investors should focus on stocks with solid forward momentum [4][5] - The emphasis on dividend stocks reflects a broader trend among investors seeking reliable income amidst market volatility [6][7]