Economic Overview - The U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, marking the first quarter of negative growth since Q1 2022 and missing analysts' expectations of 0.4% growth [3] - Consumer confidence fell by 7.9 points to 86 in April, reaching a five-year low, indicating a lack of investor confidence in the economy [6] Trade and Tariffs - Concerns are rising that President Trump's tariffs could negatively impact economic health, despite a temporary 90-day pause on tariffs that led to a 41.3% increase in imports for the quarter, while exports only grew by 1.8% [4][6] Consumer Behavior - Consumer spending has slowed as individuals are saving more in anticipation of tougher economic conditions, alongside a significant decline in federal expenditures contributing to sluggish GDP figures [5] Dividend-Paying Stocks - In light of economic uncertainty, investing in dividend-paying stocks is recommended as they tend to provide steady income and stability [2][7] - Atkore Inc. (ATKR) announced a dividend of $0.33 per share with a dividend yield of 2%, having increased its dividend once in the past five years with a payout ratio of 12% [9][8] - Enact Holdings, Inc. (ACT) declared a dividend of $0.21 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.07%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years with a payout ratio of 16% [11][10] - Pool Corporation (POOL) announced a dividend of $1.25 per share with a dividend yield of 1.64%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years and a payout ratio of 46% [13][12] - American Water Works Company, Inc. (AWK) declared a dividend of $0.83 per share with a dividend yield of 2.08%, having increased its dividend six times in the past five years and a payout ratio of 57% [15][14]

Whenever a popular company launches a new product, there is a rush of excitement. People tend to split into groups. Some scramble to be early adopters, paying a premium just to own the latest gadget first. Others rushHigh Dividend Opportunities, #1 On Seeking AlphaSave yourself thousands of dollars by creating a portfolio that pays you to hold it. No selling required to fund your retirement dreams. Tired of going it alone or visiting a financial advisor who just doesn't seem to care? Join our lively group! ...

Join iREIT on Alpha today to get the most in-depth research that includes REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, and other income alternatives. 438 testimonials and most are 5 stars. Nothing to lose with our FREE 2-week trial .One reason is that forecasting the economy is nearly impossible, as none of us can look into the future. All we can do is work based on current data and developments, which isAnalyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ODFL, FIX, CP either through ...

Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at notable 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 investors to engage and share insights [2]

Core Viewpoint - The concept of blue chip stocks varies among investors, indicating a subjective nature in defining high-quality investments [1] Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, Business Development Companies (BDCs), and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) [2] - It highlights a buy-and-hold investment strategy focused on quality over quantity, aiming to supplement retirement income through dividends within the next 5-7 years [2] - The goal is to assist lower and middle-class workers in building investment portfolios comprised of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [2] Group 2 - The analyst has disclosed a beneficial long position in shares of Starbucks (SBUX) and PepsiCo (PEP), indicating a personal investment interest in these companies [3] - The article expresses personal opinions and does not involve compensation from any mentioned companies, ensuring an independent perspective [3] - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results and that the views expressed may not represent the platform as a whole [4]

Samuel Smith has a diverse background that includes being lead analyst and Vice President at several highly regarded dividend stock research firms and running his own dividend investing YouTube channel. He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional and holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering & Mathematics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and has a Masters in Engineering from Texas A&M with a focus on applied mathematics and machine learning.Samuel leads the High Yield Inve ...

My desire is to eventually become financially independent. I want to reach the point where my investments produce enough passive income to cover my basic living expenses. That would remove all the stress of needing to work to pay the bills. I strive to make progress toward my goal of reaching financial freedom every month. One way I do that is by investing in dividend-paying stocks. I look for high-quality companies with higher-yielding payouts that steadily rise. That combination of yield and growth should ...

If you are a dividend investor looking for high yields today, you may want to consider companies that provide energy in some form. Modern society can't exist without reliable sources of energy and, thus, energy companies are providing a basic necessity. That said, there are different ways to go about investing in high-yield energy-related stocks. Here are three options that have reliable histories of increasing their dividends.1. Black Hills is a Dividend KingBlack Hills (BKH -0.56%) provides electricity an ...

Company Overview - Mosaic is headquartered in Tampa and operates in the Basic Materials sector, specifically in fertilizer production [3] - The company's stock has experienced a price change of 23.07% year-to-date [3] Dividend Information - Mosaic currently pays a dividend of $0.22 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.91%, which is higher than the Fertilizers industry's yield of 2.46% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.64% [3] - The annualized dividend of $0.88 represents a 4.8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Mosaic has increased its dividend three times, achieving an average annual increase of 45.27% [4] - The current payout ratio is 42%, indicating that Mosaic pays out 42% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mosaic's earnings is projected at $2.20 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 11.11% [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [6] - Established firms with secure profits are typically viewed as the best dividend options, while high-growth businesses and tech startups rarely offer dividends [7] - Mosaic is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]

Company Overview - Associated Banc-Corp (ASB) is headquartered in Green Bay and has experienced a price change of -6.23% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.23 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.11%, which is higher than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.28% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.64% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of $0.92 represents a 3.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Associated Banc-Corp has increased its dividend four times, averaging an annual increase of 5.65% [4] - The current payout ratio is 41%, indicating that the company pays out 41% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share in 2025 is $2.44, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 2.52% [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors for various reasons, including improving stock investing profits and providing tax advantages [6] - High-yielding stocks may face challenges during periods of rising interest rates, but ASB is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile [7] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]