Core Insights - Lightpath received a perfect score of 100 and a 5-Star Rating on the 2025 GRESB Infrastructure Asset Benchmark Report, ranking first among private data transmission companies in the fiber networks sector in the Americas [1] - The GRESB 5-Star Rating places Lightpath in the top 20% of all participating entities, achieving two designations: Infrastructure Asset Super Class Leader and Sector Leader – Data Infrastructure [2] - Lightpath's score of 97 in the 2024 GRESB Report demonstrates consistent performance in sustainability metrics [2] Company Overview - Lightpath is an all-fiber connectivity provider that offers a comprehensive portfolio of custom-engineered connectivity solutions, emphasizing performance, reliability, and security [5] - The company has been trusted by thousands of enterprises, governments, and educators for over 30 years to power their innovation [5] - Lightpath is jointly owned by Optimum Communications, Inc. and Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners [5] ESG Commitment - The achievement of a perfect GRESB score highlights the company's commitment to sustainability, as emphasized by its leadership [4] - Lightpath aims to embed sustainability principles into its core strategy and decision-making processes [4] - The internal teams focused on ESG goals are crucial in driving progress and setting new benchmarks for the industry [4]

Group 1 - The article celebrates the fifth anniversary of High Yield Investor by offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, encouraging new memberships [1] - High Yield Investor is releasing its Top Picks for 2026, emphasizing the potential for high returns with low risk [1] - The ideal investment strategy highlighted involves selecting high-quality, durable growth businesses with strong investment-grade balance sheets that provide sustainable high yields [1] Group 2 - Samuel Smith, a lead analyst and Vice President with extensive experience in dividend stock research, leads the High Yield Investor group [1] - The investment team, including Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake, focuses on balancing safety, growth, yield, and value in their investment approach [1] - High Yield Investor offers various portfolio services, including core, retirement, and international portfolios, along with trade alerts and educational content [1]

Group 1: Investment Strategy - The article emphasizes the appeal of dividend stocks, particularly when combined with a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP), allowing investors to buy shares and reinvest dividends without active management [2][3] - The author suggests that while alternative energy sources are gaining attention, oil remains a dominant force in the energy sector, with Enterprise Products Partners being a strong investment option [3][6] Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) - Enterprise Products Partners operates a vast network of oil and natural gas pipelines in the U.S., ensuring efficient distribution of oil [5] - The company has a market capitalization of $71 billion and currently pays an annual distribution of $2.20 per share, yielding 6.69% at current prices, with a history of growing its dividend for 27 consecutive years [5][6] Group 3: T. Rowe Price Group (TROW) - T. Rowe Price Group has been providing financial services since 1937 and boasts a nearly 40-year dividend growth streak [7] - The company has a market capitalization of $23 billion, with a current dividend yield of 4.77% and a growth rate of 7.13% over the past five years, supported by strong financials including negligible debt and significant cash reserves [9] Group 4: PepsiCo (PEP) - PepsiCo is highlighted as a strong investment choice, with a current market capitalization of $198 billion and an annual dividend of $5.69 per share, yielding 3.89% [11][12] - The company has a remarkable history of growing its dividend for 53 years, with a growth rate of 6.93% over the past five years, outperforming its competitor Coca-Cola, which has a lower yield and growth rate [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - The article addresses the need for consistent income in retirement beyond Social Security, highlighting the demand for more frequent payouts than the quarterly dividends typically offered by many stocks and ETFs [1] Group 1 - There is a growing interest among retirees for investment options that provide regular income streams [1] - The traditional reliance on quarterly dividends may not meet the needs of all investors seeking more immediate cash flow [1]

Core Insights - Most investors focusing on emerging markets tend to favor large-cap companies, which leads to overlooking smaller firms that can provide better long-term returns and dividends [1] Group 1 - Large-cap companies are often the primary focus for investors seeking exposure in emerging markets [1] - Smaller companies in these markets frequently outperform larger counterparts in terms of long-term returns [1] - Smaller firms also tend to offer dividend payments, adding to their attractiveness for investors [1]

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. has launched an interactive suite of 2026 New Year content across its YouCam app series, which includes YouCam Makeup, YouCam Perfect, YouCam AI Pro, YouCam Enhance, and YouCam Video [1] - The YouCam apps have achieved over 1.1 billion total downloads, indicating significant user engagement and market penetration [1] Company Overview - Perfect Corp. is recognized as a leading provider of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality (AR) solutions specifically tailored for the beauty and fashion tech sectors [1] - The company's innovative offerings are transforming how users celebrate holidays by providing new visualization methods [1]

Core Insights - Investing in stocks is a preferred method for wealth building, providing both income and growth potential. Dividend stocks are essential for passive income investors, but selecting the right ones can be challenging due to the vast options available [1][2]. Company Summaries Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is a leading global beverage company with a diverse product portfolio, including soft drinks, teas, coffee, and juices. The company has successfully increased product prices while achieving higher revenue and sales [3][4]. - Coca-Cola is an asset-light business model focusing on syrup concentrate production, which allows for higher profit margins and lower operating costs, resulting in significant cash flow and shareholder rewards [4]. - The company has a strong dividend history, being a dividend aristocrat with 63 consecutive years of dividend increases, a yield of 2.90%, and an annual dividend of $2.04. The payout ratio stands at 67.85% [5]. - In Q3, Coca-Cola reported revenue of $12.5 billion, a 5% year-over-year increase, with organic revenue growth of 6%. Operating income surged by 59%, and EPS rose by 30% to $0.86. The company is expected to perform well in 2026 due to its global presence and steady dividend growth [6]. 3M Company - 3M (NYSE:MMM) is a global conglomerate with a diverse range of products in healthcare, industrial, safety, and consumer sectors. The company has recently seen a positive turnaround, with management raising full-year guidance [7][8]. - In Q3, 3M reported revenue of $6.50 billion, up 3.5%, and generated $1.3 billion in adjusted free cash flow. The safety and industrial segment grew by 5.4%, and EPS was reported at $1.55. The company is on a recovery path [8][9]. - The management anticipates full-year EPS between $7.95 and $8.05, with organic revenue expected to improve by over 2%. In Q3, 3M allocated $900 million for buybacks and dividends [9][10]. - The stock is currently priced at $161.76, reflecting a 24.72% increase in 2025, with a dividend yield of 1.81% and an annual dividend of $2.92. The payout ratio is 36.54% [10][11]. Morgan Stanley - Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., known for its investment banking and wealth management services. It has a dividend yield of 2.31% and a history of 28 years of dividend payments [12][13]. - The company has seen a 38% stock price increase in 2025, currently trading at $172.96. It has a healthy investment banking pipeline and is positioned to benefit from increased M&A and IPO activities [12][13]. - In Q3, Morgan Stanley reported an 18% revenue increase to $18.22 billion, with profits soaring by 45% to $4.61 billion. The investment banking segment experienced a 44% growth, while equities trading revenue rose by 35% [14][15].

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. is experiencing one of its most successful years for the YouCam App Suite, driven by the rapid global adoption of AI-first visualization experiences [1] Group 1: Company Performance - The YouCam ecosystem, which includes YouCam Perfect, YouCam Makeup, YouCam Video, YouCam AI Pro, and YouCam Enhance, has seen users embrace a significant wave of creativity powered by multimodal Generative AI, AR visualization, and agentic AI workflows [1] Group 2: Industry Trends - The holiday season marks a peak in user engagement and creativity within the AI-driven visualization sector, indicating a strong market trend towards AI integration in consumer applications [1]

Core Insights - Investing in low-cost, diversified ETFs can help individuals achieve financial independence and retirement goals [1][2] - A disciplined approach to investing, including managing market volatility and making informed choices, is essential for long-term success [1] ETF Recommendations - **Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF (VTI)**: Offers exposure to the entire U.S. stock market with over 3,500 stocks and an expense ratio of 0.03%, making it a cost-effective choice for investors [5][6] - **Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIG)**: Focuses on companies with a history of increasing dividends for at least 10 consecutive years, providing a balance of income and growth potential with a current dividend yield of 1.6% [7][8] - **Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ)**: Mirrors the Nasdaq-100 index, primarily investing in large non-financial companies, with a significant portion in technology stocks, making it a suitable option for those seeking tech exposure [9][11]

Core Insights - Perfect Corp. is set to unveil a new era of AI agents and developer-first API innovation at CES 2026, highlighting advancements in AI and AR solutions for the beauty, fashion, and retail sectors [1] Company Developments - The company will demonstrate how its AI Beauty Agent tools are evolving beyond static try-on and analysis experiences, indicating a shift towards more dynamic and personalized shopping experiences [1] Industry Impact - The introduction of intelligent AI agents and modular, scalable APIs is expected to redefine personalization, product discovery, and visual experiences for modern shoppers, showcasing a significant transformation in the retail landscape [1]