Core Insights - The end of the government shutdown is a significant relief for small businesses, allowing them to resume operations and cash flow [2][3]. Group 1: Impact on Small Businesses - Small businesses are experiencing a resurgence as government payments resume, particularly benefiting defense contractors and tech suppliers [3]. - FS Credit Opportunities (FSCO), a small business lender, has a 3.7% stake in TCFIII Owl Finance, which is poised to benefit from the unlocking of contracts [4]. - FSCO also lends to Penn Foster, an online education platform, which can now restart funding and enrollments after federal job grants were frozen during the shutdown [5]. Group 2: Performance of FSCO - FSCO's net asset value (NAV) has increased by 1.7% in 2025 despite the disruptions caused by the shutdown [7]. - FSCO has maintained its monthly dividend payments, increasing from 6 cents to 6.8 cents per share, yielding 12.5% annually [8]. - The current trading price of FSCO is at a 10% discount to its NAV, presenting a potential opportunity for contrarian investors [10][11].

Core Viewpoint - Pool Corp. is currently facing challenges due to external economic factors, leading to a significant decline in stock price, yet it remains a fundamentally strong company with potential long-term investment appeal [1][2][3]. Company Performance - Pool Corp. has experienced a 56% decline from its peak stock price, attributed to consumers struggling with affordability in housing and large projects post-pandemic [1][2]. - The company's earnings per share (EPS) have decreased from their peak, with sales growth reported at just 1% in the third quarter of the current year [7]. Dividend Yield - The stock's dividend yield is currently nearly 2%, the highest it has been in over a decade, indicating a potential value opportunity for investors [6]. - Pool Corp. has a strong history of dividend payments, having raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years, which reflects its commitment to returning value to shareholders [5][6]. Financial Resilience - Despite the economic challenges, Pool Corp. has substantial recurring revenue streams and a modest dividend payout ratio, positioning it well to navigate current adversities [9]. - The company has a long-standing track record, suggesting that it may be a worthwhile investment while its stock price is down [9].

Core Viewpoint - SM Energy has been recognized as a Top 10 dividend-paying energy stock, showcasing attractive valuation and strong profitability metrics [1][2]. Group 1: Valuation and Profitability - SM Energy's recent share price of $19.32 corresponds to a price-to-book ratio of 0.5, significantly lower than the average energy stock's price-to-book ratio of 2.5 [1]. - The annual dividend yield for SM Energy is 4.14%, which exceeds the average yield of 4.0% for energy stocks in the Dividend Channel's coverage [1]. Group 2: Dividend History - SM Energy pays an annualized dividend of $0.8 per share, distributed quarterly, with the most recent dividend ex-date on October 17, 2025 [2]. - The company has a strong quarterly dividend history, which is crucial for assessing the sustainability of its dividends [2].

Core Insights - The article discusses overlooked dividend-paying stocks that present strong investment opportunities, emphasizing the historical performance of dividends in generating total returns across various market conditions [1][4]. Dividend Performance - Dividend-paying stocks have historically contributed nearly half (49.3%) of the broader market's total return since 1871, with the remainder coming from price appreciation [4]. - From May 1971 to February 2025, the S&P 500 delivered an average annual return of 118.6%, while reinvested dividends provided a return of 195.3%, highlighting the power of compounding [2]. Investment Methodology - The selection process focused on dividend-paying companies with a market capitalization above $2 billion that have raised their dividends for at least ten consecutive years, identifying firms with steady dividend policies and consistent shareholder returns [6]. Company Highlights - **California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT)**: - Reported Q3 2025 revenue of $311.2 million, a 4% year-over-year increase, but fell short of analyst projections by over $10 million [11]. - Announced its 323rd consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, extending a 58-year streak of annual dividend increases, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% over the past five years [12]. - Management indicated potential for a nearly 12% annualized growth in the regulated rate base if the proposed 2024 GRC and infrastructure improvement plan is approved [13]. - **Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA)**: - Reported Q3 2025 revenues of $403 million, a 2.35% increase from the previous year, but missed analyst expectations by $14.7 million [15]. - Plans to issue approximately $120 million in long-term debt and up to $80 million in common stock in 2026 [15]. - CFO highlighted $363 million in capital expenditures for the first three quarters of the year, with total spending expected to reach $525 million for 2025 [16]. - **Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPO)**: - Reported Q3 2025 total revenue of $147.1 million, an 8% increase, with revenue before reimbursements rising 10% to $137.1 million [21]. - Strong performance driven by growth in dispute-related work across various sectors, including energy and life sciences [20]. - The company is positioned to leverage opportunities from artificial intelligence while managing risks associated with technological changes [19].

In trading on Monday, shares of Extra Space Storage were yielding above the 5% mark based on its quarterly dividend (annualized to $6.48), with the stock changing hands as low as $129.24 on the day. Dividends are particularly important for investors to consider, because historically speaking dividends have provided a considerable share of the stock market’s total return. To illustrate, suppose for example you purchased shares of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) back on 12/31/1999 — you would have paid $146.88 per shar ...

Group 1 - W.P. Carey cut its dividend in 2023 after 24 consecutive years of increases, aiming to position itself as a stronger net lease REIT for the future [1][5][6] - Realty Income is recognized as the leading net lease REIT with a market cap of $52 billion and a 5.7% dividend yield, making it a foundational investment choice [2][3] - W.P. Carey, with a market cap of $14.5 billion, is expected to provide more growth opportunities compared to Realty Income due to its ability to make impactful investments with less capital [4][8] Group 2 - The decision to reduce the dividend was linked to W.P. Carey's exit from the office property sector, which was a significant part of its portfolio [5][8] - Following the dividend cut, W.P. Carey resumed its quarterly dividend increases, indicating strong financial performance and validating the decision to cut the dividend [6][7] - In the third quarter of 2025, W.P. Carey's adjusted funds from operations (FFO) per share increased by 5.9%, outperforming Realty Income's 2.9% growth [8]

Company Overview - Ares Capital is a business development company (BDC) that provides loans to smaller businesses, distributing a significant portion of its cash flows as dividends [2] - The company operates under a specific corporate structure designed for tax-efficient income distribution to shareholders, similar to real estate investment trusts (REITs) [2] Business Model and Risks - Ares Capital's loans generally carry high interest rates, with an average yield of 10.6% in Q3 2025, indicating that clients often seek these loans due to the unavailability of cheaper capital options [3] - The companies receiving loans from Ares Capital are typically smaller, which inherently carries more risk, especially during economic downturns [4] - The BDC model means that Ares Capital will face challenges with troubled loans even in strong economic conditions, but the risk escalates during recessions when many businesses may struggle simultaneously [6][10] Dividend Insights - Ares Capital has a high dividend yield of 9.4%, but the dividend is subject to volatility, particularly during economic downturns, making it less reliable as a consistent income stream [1][10] - Historical data shows that dividend fluctuations are common, especially during periods of broad economic distress [7] - Despite the risks, Ares Capital is recognized as a well-respected BDC and has successfully navigated past economic challenges, including acting as an industry consolidator during the Great Recession [9] Market Position - Ares Capital is one of the largest BDCs by market capitalization, supported by Ares Management, which oversees its daily operations [9] - The company is positioned for long-term success, but investors should not rely solely on its dividends for consistent income [11]

Core Viewpoint - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and consistent increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Virtus Investment, Fifth Third Bancorp, and VICI Properties recently announcing dividend hikes and offering yields up to nearly 6% [1] Group 1: Virtus Investment Partners - Virtus Investment Partners Inc. is an asset management company providing investment products and services to individual and institutional clients [2] - The company has raised its dividends every year for the last eight years, with a recent increase of 7% to $2.40 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $9.60 per share, leading to a current dividend yield of 5.99% [3] - As of June 30, the annual revenue stood at $884.72 million, with Q3 2025 revenues of $216.38 million reported on Oct. 24, surpassing the consensus estimate of $197.11 million, while EPS of $6.69 was slightly below the consensus of $6.75 [4] Group 2: Fifth Third Bancorp - Fifth Third Bancorp operates as the bank holding company for Fifth Third Bank in the U.S. [4] - The company has consecutively raised its dividends for the last 10 years, with an 8% increase in the most recent announcement to $0.40 per share, equating to an annual figure of $1.60 per share, resulting in a current dividend yield of 3.85% [5] - As of June 30, the annual revenue was $8.45 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues of $2.31 billion and EPS of $0.93, both exceeding market expectations [5] Group 3: VICI Properties - VICI Properties Inc. is a real estate investment trust specializing in casino and entertainment properties [6] - The company has increased its dividends every year for the last eight years, with a recent hike from $0.4325 to $0.45 per share, leading to an annual figure of $1.80 per share and a current dividend yield of 5.98% [7]

Group 1 - REITs have experienced significant changes over the past three years, but investing in them now is expected to yield long-term benefits [1] - Many quality REITs are currently trading at attractive valuations, making them appealing investment opportunities [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting personal due diligence before making investment decisions [2] - The author aims to assist lower and middle-class workers in building investment portfolios focused on high-quality, dividend-paying companies [2]

Strange but true: seniors fear death less than running out of money in retirement. And unfortunately, even retirees who have built a nest egg have good reason to be concerned-with the traditional approaches to retirement planning, income may no longer cover expenses. That means retirees are dipping into principal to make ends meet, setting up a race against time between dwindling investment balances and longer lifespans. Retirement investing approaches of the past don't work today. For many years, bonds ...