The Motley Fool·2025-11-19 09:20Core Insights - In uncertain economic times, dividend-paying stocks are considered a safer investment option due to their potential for consistent payouts regardless of market fluctuations [1][2] Company Summaries UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group's share price has decreased by 36% year-to-date, primarily due to a Department of Justice investigation for alleged Medicare fraud [3][4] - The company is viewed as "too big to fail," and its valuation may become more attractive for investors believing in its recovery [3] - The growing and aging U.S. population will continue to drive demand for healthcare services [3] - Current market capitalization is $284 billion, with a recent dividend yield of 2.73%, and total yield including share buybacks is approximately 5.75% [5][6] Bank of America - Bank of America is another holding of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns about 8% of the bank [7] - The bank has been reducing its position, possibly due to decreasing interest rates affecting profitability [7] - Despite this, Bank of America has growth drivers in brokerage accounts and wealth management services, which are less impacted by interest rates [9] - The recent dividend yield is 2.15%, with total annual payout per share increasing from $0.20 in 2015 to $1.06 recently [10] Lennar - Lennar is a major American homebuilder, benefiting from the ongoing demand for affordable housing [11] - Falling interest rates could stimulate home buying, positively impacting Lennar's business [13] - The company has a backlog of nearly 17,000 homes valued at $6.6 billion and has repurchased $507 million worth of shares [14] - Recent dividend yield stands at 1.7%, with significant shareholder value enhancement through stock buybacks [14] Vanguard International High Dividend Index ETF - The Vanguard International High Dividend Index ETF focuses on dividend-paying stocks outside the U.S., appealing to investors concerned about the domestic market [15] - The ETF has a dividend yield of 3.9% and a five-year average annual return of 14% [16] FMC - FMC, a specialist in crop protection and nutrition, has a high dividend yield of 17% but has seen a stock price drop of nearly 73% year-to-date [17][18] - The company recently cut its per-share dividend by 92%, indicating financial distress [18] - FMC's challenges are linked to its India business, which is being divested, making it a riskier investment compared to other alternatives [18]