Core Viewpoint - Enbridge Inc. is recognized as a strong dividend payer, recently increasing its quarterly dividend by 2.9%, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders and maintaining a robust annual dividend yield of 5.77% [2][3]. Financial Performance - Enbridge raised its quarterly dividend to C$0.97 per share, marking 31 consecutive years of dividend growth [3]. - The company forecasts a distributable cash flow of C$5.70 – C$6.10 per share for FY 2026, which is a 4% increase from the midpoint of its 2025 guidance [4]. - Enbridge expects to generate an adjusted core profit of C$20.2 billion – C$20.8 billion in 2026, compared to C$19.4 billion – C$20 billion for 2025 [4]. Growth Initiatives - The company plans to invest approximately CA$10 billion (approximately $7.2 billion) into growth capital projects in the upcoming year [4]. - Enbridge anticipates strong growth in 2026 driven by new projects and favorable regulatory outcomes in Gas Distribution and Gas Transmission [5].

Group 1 - Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is recognized as one of the 11 energy stocks suitable for a retirement portfolio, highlighting its stability and potential for long-term investment [1][2] - PEG is primarily a regulated energy company that provides electric and gas services, indicating its focus on essential utility operations [2] - Morgan Stanley has reduced its price target for PEG from $109 to $107 while maintaining an 'Overweight' rating, reflecting a cautious outlook amid the utilities sector's underperformance in October [3] - PEG has a strong track record of increasing its distributions for 14 consecutive years, with a recent quarterly dividend announcement of $0.63 per share, showcasing its commitment to returning value to shareholders [4] - The company is undertaking a significant 5-year capital investment program valued between $22.5 billion and $26 billion, aimed at sustaining its dividend growth without the need for new equity issuance or asset sales [4] - As of the latest information, PEG offers an attractive annual dividend yield of 3.2%, making it appealing for income-focused investors [4]

Core Insights - Regularly growing dividends indicate a company's strong fundamental health, providing investors with passive income and reassurance of sound cash management [2] - Dividend stocks are prevalent across various sectors, with long-term growth opportunities often found in stable market segments [3] Company Analysis - Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) is a leading semiconductor firm with a market value exceeding $1 trillion, recognized for its significant dividend history and strong position in GPU technologies [3] - Broadcom's dividend has remained at 59 cents for the last four quarters, with a five-year annualized dividend growth rate of 14.76% and a current yield of 0.59% [4] - Analysts predict a 19% earnings growth for Broadcom in the coming year, with the stock having gained approximately 73% in value year-to-date, maintaining a Buy rating from 34 out of 35 analysts [4] Investment Opportunities - Companies like Broadcom, Verizon, and HASI are highlighted as potential candidates for continued dividend growth, appealing to investors seeking stability and increasing passive income [5]

Core Insights - Realty Income Corporation has increased its monthly dividend to 27.00 cents per share, marking its 133rd dividend increase since its 1994 NYSE debut, reflecting a commitment to shareholder returns [1][8] - The annualized dividend now stands at $3.24, with a yield of 5.68% based on the closing price of $57.05 on December 9 [1] Dividend Stability - Realty Income's inclusion in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index is supported by over 30 consecutive years of dividend growth and 113 uninterrupted quarterly hikes, showcasing its resilience through various market cycles [2] - The company's portfolio consists of 15,542 properties, with 91% of annualized retail base rent coming from tenants in service-based, non-discretionary, and value-oriented sectors, which helps mitigate risks from economic downturns and e-commerce disruptions [3] Financial Strength - Realty Income maintains $3.5 billion in liquidity, investment-grade ratings, and a fixed-charge coverage ratio of 4.6, which supports the sustainability of its dividends [4] - Management anticipates a 75 basis points credit loss in 2025, primarily related to tenants from earlier acquisitions, indicating potential isolated pressures despite overall diversification [4] Market Performance - Realty Income's shares have increased by 6.8% year-to-date, contrasting with an 8.7% decline in the industry [7] - The stock trades at a forward 12-month price-to-FFO of 12.93, which is below the industry average but close to its one-year median of 13.12 [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Realty Income's 2025 FFO per share remains unchanged, while the estimate for 2026 has been revised upward over the past 60 days [10]

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]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The company advocates for a diversified approach to investing, focusing on high-quality dividend stocks and assets that provide long-term growth potential [1]. - A hybrid system is proposed, blending growth and income strategies to optimize investment returns [1]. Group 2: Performance Comparison - The total return achieved through this hybrid strategy is reported to be on par with the S&P 500 index, indicating its effectiveness [1].

Core Insights - Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) has declared a 1.2% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.84 per share, extending its dividend growth streak to 16 years [2] - The company generated $402 million in operating cash flow in Q3 2025, an increase from $396 million in the same period last year, and distributed $146 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [2] - Eastman is targeting $100 million in cost cuts for 2026, in addition to $75 million already achieved this year, to maintain strong cash generation and shareholder returns [2] Financial Performance - The quarterly dividend increase reflects the company's commitment to delivering value to shareholders and maintaining consistent earnings [2] - Operating cash flow for Q3 2025 was $402 million, showing a year-over-year growth [2] - Shareholder distributions included $146 million through dividends and share repurchases [2] Strategic Focus - Eastman Chemical Company prioritizes cash generation and has implemented cost reduction measures to enhance financial performance [2] - The company aims to achieve $100 million in cost cuts for 2026, building on previous cost-saving efforts [2]

Core Points - Realty Income Corporation has announced an increase in its monthly cash dividend to $0.2700 per share from $0.2695 per share, effective January 15, 2026 [1] - The new monthly dividend translates to an annualized amount of $3.240 per share, compared to the previous annualized amount of $3.234 per share [1] - This marks the 133rd dividend increase since the company was listed on the NYSE in 1994 [2] Company Overview - Realty Income, known as "The Monthly Dividend Company," is an S&P 500 company founded in 1969, serving as a full-service real estate capital provider [2] - As of September 30, 2025, the company has a diversified portfolio of over 15,500 properties across all 50 U.S. states, the U.K., and seven other European countries [2] - The company has declared 666 consecutive monthly dividends and is recognized as a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats index for increasing its dividend for over 30 consecutive years [2]

Core Thesis - Fortis Inc. is viewed positively due to its stable returns, predictable dividends, and disciplined growth strategy, with a current share price of $51.70 and P/E ratios of 21.69 (trailing) and 20.28 (forward) [1][2] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Fortis reported adjusted EPS of $0.87, slightly up from $0.85 in the previous year, attributed to rate base growth and regulatory adjustments at Central Hudson [2] - The company's 5-year capital plan increased by 11% to $28.8 billion, focusing on regulated assets, particularly in U.S. transmission utility ITC [2] Dividend and Capital Structure - Fortis increased its quarterly dividend by 4.1%, achieving 52 consecutive years of dividend growth, solidifying its status as a dividend king [3] - The capital structure remains robust, with no new equity needed and stable leverage, allowing the company to fully fund its growth plan while maintaining flexibility through DRIP and ATM programs [3] Market Position and Outlook - The combination of predictable rate base growth, disciplined capital deployment, and potential demand from AI-driven electricity consumption positions Fortis for continued stability and compounding returns [4] - The stock currently yields 3.56%, slightly below its 5-year average of 3.81%, and is considered a long-term hold for reliable income with limited downside [4] Investment Appeal - Fortis exemplifies the value of regulated cash flows, providing steady results in a volatile market, making it a core holding for income-oriented investors [5] - Additional buying may be considered if valuations become more attractive, reflecting a disciplined investment approach [5]

Core Insights - Lincoln Electric Holdings declared a quarterly dividend of $0.79 per share, representing a 5.3% increase [1] - This increase marks the company's 30th consecutive year of dividend growth [1]

Core Insights - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF and SPDR S&P Dividend ETF are positioned to provide growing yields, especially as the Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates, making high-yield investments scarcer [1][2] Group 1: Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF - Launched in October 2011, the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on companies that have increased dividends for at least 10 consecutive years [4] - The fund emphasizes consistent dividend growth and strong fundamentals, using metrics like cash-flow-to-debt ratio and return on equity, and it removes any stock that cancels its dividend [5] - The ETF has a current yield of 3.8%, significantly higher than the average S&P 500 company, and has returned an average of 12.17% per year since inception [7][8] Group 2: SPDR S&P Dividend ETF - The SPDR S&P Dividend ETF (SDY) aims to track the S&P High Yield Dividend Aristocrats® Index, selecting stocks that have raised dividends for at least 20 consecutive years [9] - Since its inception in November 2005, the fund has achieved an average annual return of 8.65%, with a current yield of 2.6%, which is more than double that of the average S&P 500 company [11][14] - The fund's top holdings include Verizon, Chevron, and Target, which raised their dividends by 1.88%, 5%, and 1.8% respectively in 2025 [11] Group 3: Comparative Analysis - The SPDR S&P Dividend ETF is more diversified with 152 holdings and includes exposure to REITs, which benefit from falling interest rates [13][15] - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% compared to the SPDR S&P Dividend ETF's 0.35%, making it potentially more attractive for short-to-medium term investors [8][14][16] - Both funds offer above-average yields that could grow significantly, appealing to investors navigating a low-rate environment [16]