Banco Bradesco (BBD) is a Top Dividend Stock Right Now: Should You Buy?

Company Overview - Banco Bradesco (BBD) is a financial holding company headquartered in Osasco, with a price change of 59.16% year-to-date [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.03 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.83%, which is higher than the Banks - Foreign industry's yield of 3.33% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.53% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of Banco Bradesco is $0.12, reflecting an 11.1% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 9.01% [4] - The current payout ratio is 7%, indicating that the company paid out 7% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - Banco Bradesco is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $0.39 per share, representing an 18.18% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - Dividends are favored by investors for various reasons, including tax advantages and reduced portfolio risk, which can enhance stock investing profits [6] - Larger, established companies like Banco Bradesco are often viewed as better dividend options compared to high-growth firms or tech start-ups that typically do not pay dividends [7] - Banco Bradesco is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]