Why ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB) is a Top Dividend Stock for Your Portfolio

Company Overview - ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB) is based in Englewood Cliffs and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -0.74% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.18 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.17%, which is higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.87% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.64% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of $0.72 represents a 1.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, ConnectOne Bancorp has increased its dividend 4 times, achieving an average annual increase of 18.45% [4] - The current payout ratio is 38%, indicating that the company pays out 38% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projects earnings of $2.48 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 36.26% [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [6] - While established firms are typically viewed as the best dividend options, high-growth businesses and tech start-ups rarely offer dividends [7] - CNOB is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]