1 Magnificent S&P 500 Dividend Stock Down 47% to Buy Right Now for a Lifetime of Passive Income

Core Viewpoint - Clorox, a consumer staples company, is currently undervalued with shares down 22% year-to-date and 47% from all-time highs, presenting a potential investment opportunity in a market dominated by high-beta stocks [3][10]. Group 1: Company Performance and Challenges - Clorox has faced significant challenges, including a cyberattack in 2023 and the ongoing replacement of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, which has led to sales and inventory fluctuations [5][6]. - Despite these challenges, Clorox's brands remain strong, with the company maintaining a healthy consumer value metric and growing household penetration in fiscal year '25 [6][7]. Group 2: Financial Metrics and Valuation - Clorox is expected to generate approximately $6.10 in adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in 2026, trading at a reasonable 20 times forward earnings, which is below the S&P 500 average of around 30 [10]. - The company boasts a return on invested capital (ROIC) of 25%, indicating strong profitability and the potential for market-beating returns over the long term [11]. - Clorox has returned its free cash flow (FCF) margin to 11%, with expectations to reach 13% after ERP system changes and divesting from lower-margin businesses [12]. Group 3: Dividend and Share Buybacks - Clorox offers a dividend yield of 3.9%, near a decade-long high, and has sufficient FCF to cover these payments despite recent challenges [12][14]. - The company has reduced its shares outstanding by 0.6% annually over the last decade, with a more significant reduction of 1.3% in the past year, enhancing per-share metrics [17]. Group 4: Investment Outlook - While Clorox may not provide multibagger returns in the near term, its strong brand moat, attractive dividend yield, and potential for margin improvement suggest it could deliver market-matching returns and consistent passive income with lower risk [18].