Group 1: Dividend-Paying Stocks Overview - The average dividend yield for S&P 500 stocks is currently 1.39%, making it challenging to find attractive options [1] - Altria Group and AT&T are highlighted as stocks with yields above 6%, specifically 9.5% and 6.9% respectively [1][2][5] - High dividend yields often indicate market concerns about the underlying businesses, which is the case for both Altria and AT&T [1] Group 2: Altria Group - Altria Group, known for Marlboro cigarettes, has seen a 9.9% decline in cigarette shipments in 2023 compared to the previous year [2] - Despite competition from illicit e-vapor products, Altria reported a 2.3% increase in adjusted earnings per share in 2023 [2] - The company has raised its dividend payout 58 times over the past 54 years, indicating a strong commitment to returning value to shareholders [3] - The FDA's enforcement actions against illicit e-vapor products may benefit Altria in the future [4] Group 3: AT&T - AT&T reduced its dividend payout by 47% in 2022 but currently offers a 6.9% yield, with potential for future payout increases [5] - The company added 1.7 million postpaid phone customers and 1.1 million AT&T Fiber subscribers in the last year, leading to revenue growth of 4.4% and 8.3% respectively [5] - AT&T's net debt was $128.9 billion at the end of 2023, but management expects to reduce the debt-to-EBITDA ratio from 2.97 to 2.5 by the first half of 2025 [6] - Capital investments are projected to decrease from $23.6 billion in 2023 to between $21 billion and $22 billion in 2024, which could enhance profitability and support dividend increases [6]
2 S&P 500 Dividend Stocks With Yields Above 6% That You Can Buy With $100