Market Response - The market has reacted negatively to the August 1st deadline for tariffs and a weaker than expected jobs report, with all three major indexes down over 1% [1] Analyst Perspective - The contributing analyst is affiliated with the iREIT+Hoya Capital investment group and emphasizes a focus on dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs [1] - The analyst aims to assist lower and middle-class workers in building investment portfolios of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [1]

Core Insights - ArcelorMittal has been recognized as a Top 5 dividend-paying stock in the metals and mining sector according to Dividend Channel's weekly "DividendRank" report [1][2] - The report highlights ArcelorMittal's attractive valuation and strong profitability metrics, along with a solid semi-annual dividend history and favorable long-term growth rates in key fundamentals [1][2] Dividend Information - The annualized dividend for ArcelorMittal is $0.55 per share, distributed in semi-annual installments, with the next ex-dividend date set for November 13, 2025 [2] - The long-term dividend history of ArcelorMittal is emphasized as crucial for assessing the sustainability of its recent dividend payments [2]

Group 1 - The article presents a 4-Factor Dividend Growth Strategy as an alternative to the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD), suggesting it is a customized version tailored for individual investors [1] - The author has over 10 years of experience in the investment field, starting as an analyst and progressing to a management role, indicating a strong background in investment analysis [1] Group 2 - The author holds a master's degree in Analytics and a bachelor's degree in Accounting, which supports their expertise in financial analysis and investment strategies [1]

Core Insights - Sirius XM's recent financial update has led to a significant drop in share price, indicating investor dissatisfaction with the results [2][4] - The company is facing challenges in growth due to a declining user base and competition from internet-enabled streaming services [6][11] Financial Performance - In Q2 2024, Sirius XM's revenue decreased by 2% year-over-year to $2.1 billion, with a loss of 460,000 subscribers, bringing the total to 32.8 million [4] - The company reported a net profit margin of 9.6% despite a 23% drop in diluted earnings per share [7] - Free cash flow (FCF) increased by 27% to $402 million in Q2, with projections of $1.5 billion in FCF by 2027, a 30.4% increase from the forecast of $1.15 billion for this year [8] Revenue Composition - Sirius XM generates 76.2% of its revenue from subscriptions, which are more stable compared to the 20.2% from advertising [5] - The company is not facing direct competition from other satellite radio providers, as it is the only one legally allowed in the U.S. [5] Cost Management and Shareholder Returns - Management is implementing cost-cutting measures aimed at achieving $200 million in annual expense reductions [8] - Sirius XM repurchased $45 million worth of shares in Q2, resulting in a 5.6% reduction in diluted outstanding share count compared to the previous year [9] - The company paid a dividend of $92 million in Q2, with a dividend yield of 5.11% based on a low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 8.1 [10] Market Outlook - Analysts predict a revenue decline at an annualized rate of 0.7% from 2024 to 2027, primarily due to competition from streaming services like Apple, Spotify, and YouTube [6][11]

Group 1 - The top 15 selections for July did not perform well, but the watchlist maintains a modest lead year-to-date over both benchmarks [1] - The SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF (SPY) rose by 2.30% [1] Group 2 - The analyst has a beneficial long position in shares of various companies including ACN, DPZ, GPN, MSCI, MPWR, MA, ODFL, ROL, SBAC, and ZTS [2]

Company Overview - Investar (ISTR) is headquartered in Baton Rouge and operates as a holding company for Investar Bank, with a current stock price change of -1.18% this year [3] - The company is currently distributing a dividend of $0.11 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.03%, which is lower than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.36% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [3] Dividend Performance - Investar's annualized dividend of $0.44 has increased by 7.3% from the previous year, with a historical average annual increase of 11.29% over the last five years [4] - The current payout ratio for Investar is 20%, indicating that the company pays out 20% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Investar's earnings in 2025 is projected at $1.93 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 2.12% [5] - The company is expected to experience earnings expansion this fiscal year, which will influence future dividend growth [5] Investment Considerations - Investar is positioned as a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile, despite the general trend of high-yielding stocks facing challenges during rising interest rates [6] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stable investment outlook [6]

Company Overview - Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) is located in Dover and operates within the Utilities sector, experiencing a price change of -1.21% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.69 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.29%, which is lower than the Utility - Gas Distribution industry's yield of 3.32% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [3] - Chesapeake Utilities has an annualized dividend of $2.74, reflecting a 9.2% increase from the previous year, with an average annual increase of 9.90% over the last five years [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CPK's earnings per share for 2025 is $6.27, indicating a year-over-year growth rate of 16.33% [5] - The company's current payout ratio is 46%, meaning it distributes 46% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Investment Considerations - CPK is considered a strong dividend play and is currently rated with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), making it an appealing investment opportunity [6]

The second half of 2025 kicks off right where the first half left off, with July being an overall positive month for stocks. The SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF ( SPY ) rose by 2.30% inI have a masters degree in Analytics from Northwestern University and a bachelors degree in Accounting. I have worked in the investment arena for over 10 years starting as an analyst and working my way up to a management role. Dividend investing is a personal hobby and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with the Seeking Alpha commu ...

Company Overview - Medtronic plc is a medical device manufacturer based in Ireland with global operations [1] - The company operates through four reportable segments: Cardiovascular, Medical Surgical, Neurosciences, and Diabetes [1] Recent Developments - Management announced plans to spin off one of its segments, although the specific segment is not detailed in the provided content [1]

Company Overview - Intesa Sanpaolo SpA (ISNPY) is based in Turin and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 49.65% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.84 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.64%, which is significantly higher than the Banks - Foreign industry's yield of 3.2% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Intesa Sanpaolo is $1.68, reflecting a 13.6% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 61.59% [4] - The current payout ratio stands at 48%, indicating that the company distributes 48% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Intesa Sanpaolo anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $3.70 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 18.59% [5] Investment Appeal - Intesa Sanpaolo is positioned as a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend yield and strong earnings growth potential [6] - The stock holds a strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive market sentiment [6]