Group 1: Chevron - Chevron has a long history of increasing dividends, having raised them for 38 consecutive years [3] - The latest dividend hike on January 31 increased the quarterly payout by 5% to $1.71 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $6.84 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for Chevron is 4.37% [3] - As of June 30, Chevron's annual revenue was $187.74 billion, with Q2 2025 revenues reported at $44.82 billion, which was below the consensus estimate of $45.88 billion [4] - Chevron's EPS for Q2 2025 was $1.77, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.70 [4] Group 2: Robert Half - Robert Half has consistently raised its dividends for the last 20 years [6] - The most recent dividend increase on February 12 raised the quarterly payout from $0.53 to $0.59 per share, equating to an annual figure of $2.36 per share [6] - The current dividend yield for Robert Half stands at 8.06% [6] - As of June 30, Robert Half's annual revenue was $5.57 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues reported at $1.35 billion, meeting Street estimates [7] Group 3: Horace Mann Educators - Horace Mann Educators provides various insurance products and financial services specifically designed for educators and their families [7]

Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at several firms [1] - He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional, holding degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Masters in Engineering with a focus on applied mathematics and machine learning [1] - Samuel leads the High Yield Investor investing group, collaborating with Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake to balance safety, growth, yield, and value [2] Group 2 - High Yield Investor offers various investment portfolios, including core, retirement, and international options, along with regular trade alerts and educational content [2] - The service features an active chat room for investors to engage and share insights [2]

Riddy / iStock via Getty Images After a career spanning two decades at Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers, and Morgan Stanley, I gained an institutional perspective on dividend stock investing. My tenure at these premier Wall Street firms exposed me to fundamental analysis, credit evaluation, and risk management practices, which directly translate into selecting quality dividend-paying companies. Having witnessed firsthand the 2008 financial crisis and its aftermath—including the collapse of Bear Stearns and Le ...

Performance Overview - The Dividend Kings experienced a decline of 1.58% in September, underperforming the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 4.47% [1] Current Month Performance - The performance in the current month is not showing improvement compared to previous results [1]

Core Insights - Financial content creator Andrei Jikh presents a new perspective on affordability, suggesting that true affordability is based on passive income generated from investments rather than income earned from labor [2][4]. Group 1: Affordability Framework - Jikh argues that most people measure affordability in terms of hours worked, but this is a flawed approach [3]. - He introduces the "dividend investing mindset," which calculates the cost of recurring expenses based on the amount needed to be invested to generate sufficient passive income [4]. - Using the 4% rule, Jikh states that a $13 monthly subscription, totaling $156 annually, requires an investment of $3,900 to be considered affordable [5]. Group 2: Financial Freedom Strategies - Jikh emphasizes that the fastest path to financial freedom may not be building a larger investment portfolio, but rather eliminating recurring costs [6]. - He notes that cutting significant recurring expenses, such as a car payment, can have a financial impact equivalent to saving $100,000 for retirement [6]. - Once passive income covers expenses, individuals can experience what Jikh calls the "stacked freedom effect," where various bills start to feel "free" [7].

Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at various firms [1] - He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional, holding degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Masters in Engineering with a focus on applied mathematics and machine learning [1] - Samuel leads the High Yield Investor investing group, collaborating with Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake to balance safety, growth, yield, and value [2] Group 2 - High Yield Investor provides real-money core, retirement, and international portfolios, along with regular trade alerts and educational content [2] - The service includes an active chat room for investors to share insights and strategies [2]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing as a pathway to financial freedom, highlighting its accessibility and potential for steady income [1] Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The company combines financial expertise with value investing principles to create a strong financial foundation through dividend investing [1] - Dividend investing is presented as a straightforward method for individuals to work towards achieving financial independence [1] Group 2: Professional Background - The company has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and business valuation, having evaluated numerous businesses and facilitated both sell-side and buy-side transactions [1] - Daily activities include financial modeling, conducting commercial and financial due diligence, negotiating deal terms, and engaging in numerous meetings [1] Group 3: Sector Focus - The company focuses on various sectors including technology, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples, which are also the core of its investment portfolio [1] - Years of advisory experience in these sectors contribute to the company's investment strategy and insights shared on the platform [1]

Company Overview - Entergy (ETR) is based in New Orleans and operates in the Utilities sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 27.38% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.60 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.48%, which is lower than the Utility - Electric Power industry's yield of 3.02% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.49% [3] Dividend Performance - Entergy's current annualized dividend of $2.40 has increased by 4.6% from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Entergy has raised its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 5.80% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 60%, indicating that it distributes 60% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth and Investment Appeal - For the fiscal year, Entergy anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $3.90 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 6.85% [5] - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [5] - Entergy is recognized as an attractive dividend investment and holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a compelling investment opportunity [6]

Core Insights - Dividend stocks are gaining popularity as investors seek to diversify portfolios amid market volatility and concerns over an AI bubble [1] - A study by Hartford Funds indicates that dividend-paying companies have historically outperformed non-dividend stocks during market downturns [1] Group 1: Investor Insights - A Redditor reported earning approximately $118,000 annually in dividends from a portfolio valued at about $1 million, primarily investing in business development companies, master limited partnerships, real estate investment trusts, and closed-end funds [3] - The investor emphasized the power of compounding, noting that returns from investments are now exceeding income from businesses as retirement approaches [3] Group 2: Investment Vehicles - The Alternative Access First Priority CLO Bond ETF (NYSE:AAA) is highlighted as a top holding, investing in AAA-rated securities with a dividend yield of around 5% [4] - Energy Transfer LP (NYSE:ET), a midstream energy company, offers a dividend yield of approximately 7.8% but has seen a 15% decline in stock price this year; Scotiabank has initiated coverage with a Sector Outperform rating and a $23 price target [5] - The Putnam BDC Income ETF (NYSE:PBDC) provides exposure to business development companies with a yield of about 9% [6] - Eagle Point Income (NYSE:EICC) invests in junior debt tranches of collateralized loan obligations, offering a dividend yield of around 8% and pays monthly [6]

Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at several firms [1] - He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional with degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Master's in Engineering focused on applied mathematics and machine learning [1] - Samuel leads the High Yield Investor investing group, collaborating with Jussi Askola and Paul R. Drake to balance safety, growth, yield, and value [2] Group 2 - High Yield Investor provides real-money core, retirement, and international portfolios, along with regular trade alerts and educational content [2] - The service includes an active chat room for like-minded investors to share insights and strategies [2]