ZACKSยท2025-07-16 16:11Core Insights - Dividend investing is gaining popularity in 2025 due to market volatility and uncertainties, with U.S. stocks near record highs driven by trade optimism, strong corporate earnings, and AI advancements [1][2] Group 1: Dividend Growth Strategy - Dividends provide a reliable income stream, making them appealing during uncertain times, and dividend-paying stocks tend to stabilize portfolios [2][9] - Companies with a history of increasing dividends are typically financially strong and offer better long-term capital appreciation, leading to a more resilient portfolio [3][4] - Focusing on dividend growth rather than just yield can enhance returns, as these stocks often have superior fundamentals, including sustainable business models and strong cash flows [5][6] Group 2: Stock Selection Criteria - Selected stocks for dividend growth include Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (AEM), UGI Corporation (UGI), Qifu Technology Inc. (QFIN), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd. (TSM), and Group 1 Automotive (GPI), all showing strong earnings and sales growth [3][9] - Criteria for selection include positive historical dividend growth, sales growth, and earnings per share (EPS) growth, along with expected future EPS growth [7][8] - Stocks are also evaluated based on their price-to-cash flow ratio being less than the industry average and having outperformed the S&P 500 over the past year [8][9] Group 3: Individual Stock Highlights - AEM is a gold producer with a positive earnings estimate revision of $0.42 and an estimated earnings growth rate of 52.5%, holding a Zacks Rank 1 and a Growth Score of B [10][11] - UGI Corp. has an estimated earnings growth rate of 2.29% and an average earnings surprise of 75.67%, also holding a Zacks Rank 1 and a Growth Score of B [12][13] - Qifu Technology has an estimated earnings growth rate of 25.62% and a Zacks Rank 1 with a Growth Score of B [14][15] - TSM has an estimated earnings growth rate of 34.66% and holds a Zacks Rank 2 with a Growth Score of A [15] - Group 1 Automotive has an estimated earnings growth rate of 4.3% and holds a Zacks Rank 1 with a Growth Score of A [16]