2 Dividend Stocks Worth Doubling Down on Right Now

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the resilience of certain healthcare companies, specifically Medtronic and Johnson & Johnson, in maintaining and increasing their dividends despite facing various challenges in the market. Group 1: Medtronic - Medtronic is a leading medical device company that has faced challenges, including tariffs impacting financial results, yet it has performed well this year and exceeded analyst estimates [4] - The company has a strong underlying business with consistent revenue and earnings growth, driven by the development and marketing of new products across multiple therapeutic areas [6] - Medtronic has increased its dividends for 48 consecutive years, with a current forward yield of 3.1%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's average of 1.3% [8] Group 2: Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson is also encountering challenges, such as tariff-related issues and generic competition, but it has shown strong performance and increased its guidance for fiscal year 2025 [9] - The pharmaceutical segment is well-diversified, with robust R&D spending leading to consistent new product launches, helping to offset losses from products that have fallen out of patent protection [10] - Johnson & Johnson has a long history of dividend increases, with 62 consecutive years, and maintains a higher credit rating than the U.S. government, indicating its capability to fulfill financial obligations despite recent challenges [12][13]