Core Viewpoint - Edison International announced a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.8775 per share, increasing the annual dividend rate to $3.51 per share, which is a 6% increase from the previous rate of $3.31 per share, marking the 22nd consecutive year of dividend growth [1]. Group 1: Dividend Announcement - The quarterly common stock dividend is set at $0.8775 per share, payable on January 31, 2026, to shareholders of record on January 7, 2026 [1]. - The annual dividend rate has increased to $3.51 per share, reflecting a 6% increase from the previous rate of $3.31 per share [1]. - This marks the 22nd consecutive year of dividend growth for Edison International [1]. Group 2: Company Overview - Edison International is one of the largest electric utility holding companies in the United States, focused on providing clean and reliable energy [2]. - The company is headquartered in Rosemead, California, and is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, which delivers electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central, and Coastal California [2]. - Edison International also oversees Trio, a portfolio of nonregulated competitive businesses that provide integrated sustainability and energy advisory services in North America and Europe [2].

Core Viewpoint - Edison International announced a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.8775 per share, increasing the annual dividend rate to $3.51 per share, which is a 6% increase from the previous rate of $3.31 per share, marking the 22nd consecutive year of dividend growth [1] Group 1: Dividend Announcement - The quarterly common stock dividend is set at $0.8775 per share, payable on January 31, 2026, to shareholders of record on January 7, 2026 [1] - The annual dividend rate has increased to $3.51 per share, reflecting a 6% increase from the prior rate of $3.31 per share [1] - This marks the 22nd consecutive year of dividend growth for Edison International [1] Group 2: Company Overview - Edison International is one of the largest electric utility holding companies in the United States, focused on providing clean and reliable energy [2] - The company is headquartered in Rosemead, California, and is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, which delivers electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central, and Coastal California [2] - Edison International also oversees Trio, a portfolio of nonregulated competitive businesses that provide integrated sustainability and energy advisory services in North America and Europe [2]

Core Viewpoint - Lincoln Electric Holdings (NASDAQ: LECO) has declared a quarterly dividend increase of 5.3% to $0.79 per share, marking its 30th consecutive year of dividend growth, supported by strong financial metrics and a healthy payout ratio [2][8]. Financial Performance - The annual dividend is $3.04 per share, with a current yield of 1.23% [3]. - The earnings payout ratio is 32.6%, indicating a healthy balance between dividends and retained earnings for reinvestment [4][6]. - In Q3 2025, Lincoln Electric generated $205.1 million in free cash flow, with a free cash flow payout ratio below 50%, demonstrating strong cash generation capabilities [5][6]. Debt and Balance Sheet - Total debt increased by 13.8% year over year to $1.32 billion, primarily due to the Alloy Steel acquisition [8][9]. - Net debt stands at $939 million after accounting for $377 million in cash, with a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 1.15x, indicating manageable leverage despite an upward trend from 0.91x in 2023 [9][10]. - The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.99, and total liabilities rose by 14.8% year over year, suggesting increased financial obligations [10].

Core Viewpoint - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) has consistently increased its dividend payments annually since its inception, making it a strong option for investors seeking reliable income [1][3]. Dividend Growth Strategy - SCHD employs a targeted stock selection process, requiring stocks to have at least 10 consecutive years of dividend payments to be considered for its portfolio [5]. - Stocks are further screened based on four criteria: return on equity (ROE), cash-flow-to-debt ratio, dividend yield, and five-year dividend growth rate, with the top 100 stocks forming the final portfolio [6]. Dividend History - SCHD has shown a consistent increase in annual dividends since its launch in October 2011, with the most recent payout in 2024 being $0.9944 per share [8][9]. - The fund has paid out $0.7694 per share through the first three quarters of 2025, and if the fourth-quarter dividend is $0.23 or more, it will mark 14 consecutive years of dividend growth [9]. Portfolio Composition - The ETF's portfolio consists of durable, mature cash-flow generating companies, with top sector holdings in energy (19.3%), consumer staples (18.5%), healthcare (16.1%), industrials (12.3%), and financials (9.4%) [10]. - Major holdings include Merck, Amgen, Cisco Systems, AbbVie, and Coca-Cola, which are not high-growth tech stocks but provide steady income [11]. Market Position - SCHD currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.7, significantly lower than the S&P 500's 25, suggesting potential downside protection in market downturns [12]. - The fund offers a current yield of 3.8%, which is over three times that of the S&P 500, and has a low expense ratio of 0.06%, making it an attractive option for dividend-seeking investors [13].

Group 1 - BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund (DSU) is a closed-end fund that offers exposure to a diverse range of debt investments, which can generate attractive income [1] - The fund is part of a 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] - The approach aims to create a hybrid system that balances growth and income, targeting a total return on par with the S&P [1]

Core Insights - The current market environment is favorable for income investors, particularly as the focus shifts towards AI stocks with high valuations, suggesting a potential opportunity for defensive investment strategies [2]. Group 1: Investment Focus - iREIT+HOYA Capital specializes in income-producing asset classes, aiming to provide sustainable portfolio income, diversification, and inflation hedging [1][2]. - The investment group offers high-yield, dividend growth ideas, targeting dividend yields up to 10% across various asset classes including REITs, ETFs, closed-end funds, and preferred stocks [2]. Group 2: Market Context - The market is characterized by a significant interest in AI stocks, which are currently trading at elevated valuations, indicating a potential misalignment in investment focus that could benefit income-oriented strategies [2].

Core Viewpoint - Brookfield Infrastructure has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 over the past five years, despite strong financial results and a high-yielding dividend [1][2][5]. Performance Summary - Over the past five years, Brookfield Infrastructure's stock has returned -3.8%, while the S&P 500 has returned 88.9% [2]. - The one-year, three-year, and five-year performance of Brookfield Infrastructure compared to the S&P 500 shows significant underperformance in all periods [2][4]. Dividend Analysis - Brookfield Infrastructure offers a dividend yield of 3.8%, which is more than double that of the S&P 500 at 1.2% [3]. - The company has increased its dividend for 16 consecutive years, with a compound annual growth rate of 9% [3]. Financial Performance - In 2020, Brookfield generated $1.5 billion or $2.09 per share of funds from operations (FFO), and it expects to produce $2.6 billion or $3.32 per share of FFO this year, indicating compound annual growth rates of 13% and 10% respectively [5]. - The dividend payout ratio has decreased from 78% to 67% as earnings have grown faster than dividend payments [5]. Valuation Insights - Brookfield Infrastructure's valuation has become cheaper, currently trading at about 13.5 times its FFO, down from approximately 21.5 times five years ago [6]. - The company has faced headwinds such as a strong U.S. dollar and higher borrowing costs, which have impacted FFO growth [7]. Future Outlook - Positive trends are expected as the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates and the U.S. dollar may weaken, potentially leading to a reacceleration of FFO per share growth towards its long-term average of 14% annually [8]. - The organic project backlog has significantly increased from $2 billion in 2020 to $8 billion today, indicating growth potential [8]. Investment Considerations - Brookfield Infrastructure's stock has delivered underwhelming performance due to previous premium valuations and headwinds that slowed growth [9]. - With a much cheaper valuation and growth rate poised to reaccelerate, the company could deliver higher total returns for investors in the coming years [9].

Industry Overview - Traditional TV advertising spending in the U.S. is projected to reach $56.00 billion by 2025, but is expected to decline at a rate of approximately 3.81% annually through 2030 as advertising budgets shift towards digital platforms [1] Company Focus: Nexstar Media Group - Nexstar Media Group is highlighted as the largest local television and media company in the U.S., recognized for strong dividend growth and solid cash generation, with a robust balance sheet that supports ongoing dividend increases despite industry challenges [3][4] - The company offers an annual dividend yield of 3.9%, which is significantly higher than the sector average of 2.62%, making it attractive for income-focused investors [6] Financial Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, Nexstar's stock has increased by 10.4%, and year-to-date, it has risen by 19.3%, indicating strong investor interest in its cash generation capabilities [5] - In Q3, Nexstar reported net revenue of $1.2 billion, a decrease of 12.3% year-over-year, primarily due to the absence of political advertising that had surged in the previous election cycle [7] - The company's net quarterly income fell to $65 million, a 63.9% decline, impacted by weaker political advertising and one-time corporate costs related to the pending TEGNA deal [8] - Adjusted EBITDA was reported at $358 million, down approximately 29.8%, and adjusted free cash flow was $166 million, nearly 50% lower year-over-year, reflecting cyclical factors rather than a fundamental shift in the business model [9] - Despite these declines, with an annual net income of $722 million and ongoing free cash flow generation, Nexstar remains well-positioned to sustain its dividend and reward long-term shareholders [9]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the opportunity to join a community focused on achieving high dividend yields of 6-7% while maintaining conservative risk-taking strategies [1][2] - Scott Kaufman, known as Treading Softly, is highlighted as the lead analyst for Dividend Kings, leveraging over a decade of experience in the financial sector to provide insights into high-quality dividend growth and undervalued investment opportunities [2] Group 2 - The platform, Seeking Alpha, is noted for its ability to attract new readers consistently, indicating a growing interest in investment insights and analysis [2]

Core Insights - The Capital Group Dividend Growers ETF (CGDG) aims to invest in global equities that offer attractive dividend yields and long-term dividend growth [1] Group 1 - CGDG was launched in September 2023 [1] - The ETF focuses on equities with potential for dividend growth [1]