2 Juggernaut Dividend Stocks to Buy With $500

Group 1: Caterpillar Inc. - Caterpillar reported sales and revenues near $65 billion for 2024, solidifying its position as the world's leading manufacturer in construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, diesel-electric locomotives, and industrial gas turbines [3] - The company possesses substantial intellectual property and a significant number of patents, which create customer switching costs and support its premium pricing strategy [4] - Caterpillar has improved margins and cash flow while returning substantial cash to shareholders through share repurchases and a consistently increasing dividend, making it a stable business for investment portfolios [5] Group 2: Ford Motor Company - Ford's Model e division, responsible for electric vehicles, incurred a loss of $5.1 billion in 2024, with similar losses expected in 2025, highlighting the challenges in profitability for EVs [6][7] - Ford is transforming its traditional assembly line into an "assembly tree," which is expected to increase production speed by 15% at its Louisville assembly plant [7] - Ford offers a robust dividend yield over 5%, indicating a strong return to shareholders despite current challenges in the EV sector [8]