Trump's trade agenda has rocked and shaken equity markets this year. It's been a bit of a roller-coaster ride, and although stocks have somewhat recovered from the beating they took earlier this year due to the president's proposed tariffs, we are not out of the woods just yet. Trump is still pushing aggressive tariffs -- he recently threatened to impose some as high as 70% on various countries. Amid all this uncertainty, it's worth it for investors to buy shares of companies that the president's trade poli ...

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of a hybrid investment strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1]. Investment Strategy - The company advocates for a balanced approach to investing, focusing on high-quality dividend stocks that provide long-term growth potential and reliable income [1]. - The strategy aims to create a portfolio that not only generates income but also captures total returns in line with the S&P 500 index [1].

While many investors are constantly trying to find the next big winners, there are some market participants who are happy owning businesses that cut them a check. Generating income from the stocks in your portfolio can provide stability and peace of mind, especially when there are heightened geopolitical and macro risks to worry about.An even better situation can be to buy a company like this that's trading at a dirt cheap valuation. In theory, this should add significant upside. Investors don't have to loo ...

Core Insights - Ryder System, Inc. (R) announced a 12% increase in its quarterly cash dividend, raising it to $0.91 per share from $0.81, reflecting the company's commitment to enhancing shareholder returns [2][10] - The dividend hike is the first since July 2024, indicating Ryder's confidence in its financial stability despite challenging macroeconomic conditions [3][6] - Ryder has a long history of consistent dividend payments, marking its 196th consecutive quarterly cash dividend and over 49 years of uninterrupted payouts [3][10] Financial Performance - In 2022, Ryder returned $123 million in dividends and repurchased shares worth $557 million; in 2023, dividends increased to $128 million with share repurchases of $337 million; in 2024, total returns to shareholders reached $456 million [4] - During the first quarter of 2025, Ryder returned $202 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks [4][10] Industry Context - Other companies in the transportation sector, such as Delta Air Lines and FedEx, have also announced dividend hikes in 2025, indicating a broader trend of rewarding shareholders within the industry [7][8][9]

Group 1 - The article highlights that many overseas markets have shown impressive returns in 2025, with the top 15 markets ranging from Hong Kong at 92.2% to Italy at 18.4% [1] - The investment group "Hidden Dividend Stocks Plus" focuses on identifying solid income opportunities with dividend yields between 5% to 10% or more, supported by strong earnings [1] - The portfolio managed by "Hidden Dividend Stocks Plus" can include up to 40 holdings at a time, along with features such as a dividend calendar, weekly research articles, and trade alerts [1] Group 2 - Robert Hauver, known as "Double Dividend Stocks," has over 30 years of investing experience and previously served as VP of Finance for an industry-leading corporation for 18 years [2]

Group 1: Lockheed Martin - Lockheed Martin's dividend yield is 2.84% with an annual dividend of $13.20, and it has a 22-year track record of dividend increases [2][5] - The company derives over 70% of its revenue from the U.S. government, providing insulation against macroeconomic headwinds [3] - Despite challenges in the F-35 program and a lost contract in 2024, these issues are already reflected in the stock price, which is near critical support [2][4] - Revenue growth is inconsistent quarterly but shows an annual upward trend, with a mid-single-digit growth pace expected to sustain balance sheet health [4] - Share repurchases have reduced the share count by an average of 2.6% year-over-year in the first quarter [5] Group 2: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola's dividend yield is 2.92% with an annual dividend of $2.04, and it has a 64-year track record of dividend increases [8] - The company relies heavily on a localized supply chain, which helps mitigate tariff impacts through price hedging and efficiency improvements [8] - Despite struggling with growth in 2025, Coca-Cola's diversified beverage strategy allows for steady revenue, maintaining balance sheet health [9] - Analyst trends indicate a consensus Buy rating with an expected price target increase of about 8% [10] Group 3: Walmart - Walmart's dividend yield is 0.99% with an annual dividend of $0.94, and it has a 53-year track record of dividend increases [12] - The company benefits from a well-localized supply chain and is positioned as a primary shopping destination in North America, leading industry growth [13] - Walmart's dividend payout ratio is under 40%, indicating reliable growth and a healthy balance sheet [14] - Analyst activity is driving Walmart shares to new all-time highs, with a Moderate Buy rating and a consensus price target suggesting a potential 10% gain [15]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes a commitment to focus on retired investors and those nearing retirement, aiming to help them maximize income from their investments [1] - The platform offers in-depth research on various income alternatives including REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, and ETFs [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial data or performance metrics related to any companies or sectors [2][3]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of a hybrid investment strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds like the S&P 500 [1]. Investment Strategy - The company advocates for a balanced approach to investing, focusing on high-quality dividend stocks that provide long-term growth potential and reliable income [1]. - The strategy aims to create a robust investment portfolio that not only generates income but also captures total returns that align with market benchmarks [1].

Core Thesis - Owens Corning is positioned to benefit from the aging housing market and growth in its core markets, with strong fundamentals and a cheap stock valuation [4][5][10] Industry Trends - The typical home in the U.S. reached a record age of 36 years in 2024, up from 27 years in 2012, due to a lack of new supply and better affordability of older homes [5][6] - The U.S. construction industry has seen a significant decline in new home builds, with only 9% of homes built in the 2010s, the lowest share since the 1940s [6] Company Segments - Owens Corning has three reportable business segments: Roofing (44% of revenue), Insulation (35%), and Doors (21%) as of 1Q25 [11][10] - Each of these segments is forecasted to grow over the next decade, providing long-term opportunities for the company [10][19] Financial Performance - Since 2014, Owens Corning has achieved an 8% annual revenue growth and a 17% annual growth in net operating profit after tax (NOPAT) [12][13] - The NOPAT margin improved from 6% in 2014 to 14% in the trailing twelve months (TTM), with return on invested capital (ROIC) increasing from 4% to 11% [13][17] Shareholder Returns - The company has paid $898 million in cumulative dividends since 2019, increasing its quarterly dividend from $0.22/share in 1Q19 to $0.69/share in 1Q25, resulting in a current yield of 1.9% [18] - Owens Corning repurchased $2.8 billion worth of shares from 2019 to 1Q25, with a new authorization for 12 million shares in May 2025 [20][21] Cash Flow Generation - From 2019 to 2023, Owens Corning generated $4.6 billion in free cash flow (FCF), equating to 25% of the company's enterprise value [22] - Despite a negative FCF of -$3.7 billion in 2Q24 due to an acquisition, the company has since reported positive and rising FCF in subsequent quarters [23] Market Challenges - Current economic uncertainty is impacting consumer spending, particularly in home purchases, with homes selling at the slowest pace in six years [26] - A significant number of homes (worth $698 billion) are currently for sale, representing a 20% increase from the previous year [26] Valuation Insights - At a current price of $140/share, the market expects Owens Corning's profits to decline by 10% from TTM levels, despite historical growth rates of 19% compounded annually over the last five years [29][30] - If NOPAT grows at a slower rate of 2% annually through 2034, the stock could be worth $171/share, indicating a potential upside of 22% [31]

Company Overview - PPG Industries is headquartered in Pittsburgh and operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically in paint and coatings [3] - The company's stock has experienced a price change of -0.98% this year [3] Dividend Information - PPG Industries currently pays a dividend of $0.68 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.3%, which is higher than the Chemical - Specialty industry's yield of 0.94% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] - The annualized dividend of $2.72 has increased by 2.3% from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, PPG Industries has raised its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 5.96% [4] - The current payout ratio is 34%, indicating that the company pays out 34% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PPG's earnings in 2025 is $7.89 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 0.25% [5] Investment Considerations - PPG Industries is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] - The company is positioned well for income investors, especially compared to tech start-ups or growth businesses that typically do not offer dividends [6]