Why Novartis (NVS) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now

Company Overview - Novartis (NVS) is headquartered in Basel and has experienced a price change of 17.45% so far this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $2.6 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.27%, which is lower than the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's yield of 2.64% and higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.6% [3] Dividend Performance - Novartis's current annualized dividend of $2.60 represents a 7% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Novartis has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 5.12% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 31%, indicating that it paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Novartis's earnings in 2025 is $8.69 per share, with an expected increase of 11.27% from the previous year [5] Investment Considerations - Novartis is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]