FedEx Corp ( FDX ) & United Parcel Service ( UPS ), two transportation companies that deliver goods in the U.S. and internationally, have both been beaten down over the past year. At the time of writing, both areContributing analyst to the iREIT+Hoya Capital investment group. The Dividend Collectuh is not a registered investment professional nor financial advisor and these articles should not be taken as financial advice. This is for educational purposes only and I encourage everyone to do their own due dil ...

Group 1: Investment Opportunities - Stocks trading near their 52-week lows can present attractive buying opportunities, as lower prices may indicate overreactions or justifiable risks [1] - Lowe's Companies, Procter & Gamble, and Chevron are highlighted as stocks with strong business fundamentals despite recent underperformance [2] Group 2: Lowe's Companies - Lowe's has experienced a share price decline of over 9% since the beginning of the year, nearing its 52-week low of $206.39, due to concerns about consumer spending on home renovations [4] - The company projects comparable sales to be flat to up 1% for the current fiscal year, indicating stability rather than significant growth [5] - Lowe's has a modest payout ratio of 38%, supporting its dividend, and has increased its dividend for over 50 consecutive years, classifying it as a Dividend King [6] Group 3: Procter & Gamble - Procter & Gamble offers a dividend yield of 2.6% and is trading close to its 52-week low of $156.58, having declined around 5% since the start of the year [7] - The company's net sales for the first quarter totaled $19.8 billion, down 2% year over year, but its organic growth rate remained steady at 1% [8] - Procter & Gamble has a strong portfolio of essential consumer brands and has raised its dividend for 69 consecutive years, making it a solid long-term investment [10] Group 4: Chevron - Chevron has the highest yield among the three stocks at 4.8%, with a slight decline of around 1% this year amid falling oil prices [11] - The company's net income fell by 37% to $3.5 billion in the most recent quarter, but its dividend growth streak spans 38 years, with a payout ratio of around 75% [12] - Chevron remains a stable investment option in the oil and gas sector, trading near its 52-week low of $132.04, making it a potential buy [13]

Company Overview - ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB) is based in Englewood Cliffs and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 1.09% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.18 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.11%, which is higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.78% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.57% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $0.72 represents a 1.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, ConnectOne Bancorp has increased its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 18.45% [4] - The company's payout ratio stands at 38%, indicating that it paid out 38% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, CNOB anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $2.50 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 37.36% [5] Investment Appeal - ConnectOne Bancorp is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]

Company Overview - First Bancorp (FBNC) is headquartered in Southern Pines and operates in the Finance sector [3] - The stock has experienced a price change of 0.27% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - First Bancorp currently pays a dividend of $0.22 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.09% [3] - The average dividend yield for the Banks - Southeast industry is 2.37%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.57% [3] - The company's annualized dividend of $0.92 has increased by 4.5% from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, First Bancorp has increased its dividend 2 times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 4.32% [4] - The current payout ratio is 29%, indicating that 29% of its trailing 12-month EPS has been paid out as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for First Bancorp's earnings in 2025 is $3.54 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 27.80% [5] Investment Perspective - First Bancorp is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]

Core Insights - Dividend yield is a key metric for identifying dividend stocks, reflecting the amount of a company's dividend as a percentage of its stock price, which can fluctuate daily [1] - A strong balance sheet, indicated by a low debt-to-equity ratio, is essential for long-term dividend sustainability [2][3] Company Summaries Costco - Costco has a dividend yield of 0.53% with an annual dividend of $5.20 and a 22-year track record of dividend increases [5] - The company has delivered a total return of over 266% over the past five years, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21%, indicating strong financial health [6] - Investors should focus on the 12.7% average dividend growth over the last three years rather than the current yield [7] Archer-Daniels-Midland (ADM) - ADM boasts a dividend yield of 3.86% with an annual dividend of $2.04 and a 53-year history of dividend increases [8] - The company's debt-to-equity ratio stands at 0.34%, suggesting a stable dividend outlook [8] - However, ADM's growth is closely tied to commodity prices, which are cyclical, making it less defensive compared to consumer staples [9] Medtronic - Medtronic has a dividend yield of 3.26% with an annual dividend of $2.84 and a 49-year history of dividend increases [11] - The company is well-positioned in the aging population market and in AI and machine learning, with a debt-to-equity ratio of around 0.53% [12][13] - Despite its potential, Medtronic is not currently highlighted as a top buy by analysts, indicating some caution among investors [14]

Company Overview - Peoples Financial Services (PFIS) is headquartered in Dunmore and has experienced a price change of -3.09% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.62 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.98%, which is significantly higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.77% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.58% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $2.47 represents a 20.2% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, PFIS has increased its dividend 4 times year-over-year, averaging an annual increase of 9.97% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 52%, indicating that it paid out 52% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - Earnings growth for PFIS appears strong, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $5.97 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 58.36% [5] Investment Appeal - PFIS is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend yield and strong Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [7]

Group 1 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at various firms [1] - He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional, holding degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Masters in Engineering with a focus 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 in investment strategies [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 share insights and strategies [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses three dividend stocks: Ares Capital, W.P. Carey, and Realty Income, highlighting their high yields and strong track records in maintaining and increasing dividends [1][3]. Ares Capital - Ares Capital is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC) with a $27 billion portfolio yielding an average of 9.8% [4]. - The company offers an 8.7% quarterly dividend yield, with a history of stable or rising payouts since 2009 [5]. - Ares Capital has a low nonaccrual rate of 0.9% in its investment portfolio, supported by a well-experienced underwriting team [6][7]. W.P. Carey - W.P. Carey is a diversified real estate investment trust (REIT) that has faced pressure after spinning off its office portfolio in 2023, resulting in a 19.7% dividend reduction [8][9]. - The REIT has a history of raising dividends, currently offering a 5.7% yield, with expectations for significant growth in the future [10]. - Management projects adjusted funds from operations (FFO) between $4.82 and $4.92, sufficient to cover its annualized dividend commitment of $3.60 [11]. Realty Income - Realty Income is a diversified REIT with a strong history of profit growth and a 5.7% yield, having raised its monthly dividend for the 131st time since its IPO in 1994 [12][13]. - The company operates 15,627 commercial properties across eight countries and recently issued €1.5 billion in notes at an effective rate of 3.7% [14]. - Realty Income's business model includes leasing back properties, providing a steady stream of income and potential for future dividend increases [15].

Group 1: Market Overview - The market experienced significant volatility this year, falling into bear market territory from its highs in February, but has since recouped losses and is approaching near all-time highs [1] Group 2: Investment Opportunities - Investors may consider adding dividend stocks for reliable passive income, with Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio being a prime example [2] - Investing $25,000 in two selected Warren Buffett stocks could generate approximately $1,200 in annual passive income [2] Group 3: Chevron - Chevron has a dividend yield of 4.77% and is a significant position in Berkshire's $283 billion equities portfolio, making up 6% of it [3][7] - The company operates extensive oil operations, particularly in the Permian Basin, projecting 5% to 6% compound annual growth in oil production and $2 billion in free cash flow growth by 2026 [5] - Chevron expects to increase total free cash flow by $9 billion by 2026, assuming Brent Crude Oil prices remain around $60 per barrel [6] - The company has increased its dividend for 38 consecutive years and has a trailing free cash flow yield of nearly 5.3%, allowing it to cover its dividend [7] - Chevron is also repurchasing $10 billion to $20 billion in stock annually as a method to return capital to shareholders [7] Group 4: Sirius XM - Sirius XM has a dividend yield of 4.80% but has seen its stock decline by about 59% over the last five years due to subscriber growth challenges [8][9] - Berkshire Hathaway has acquired over 35% of Sirius' outstanding shares, betting on management's long-term plan to grow subscribers from 40 million to 50 million and increase free cash flow from $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion [10] - The company plans to enhance in-car technology, launch a new pricing structure, and grow its advertising business, which currently constitutes only 20% of its revenue [10][11] - Sirius XM has paid and increased its dividend every year since 2016, with a trailing-12-month free cash flow yield exceeding 12%, making the dividend sustainable [12] - The stock is currently trading at less than 8 times forward earnings, presenting a potentially attractive investment opportunity while management executes its turnaround plan [12]

Core Viewpoint - A high dividend yield, such as TriplePoint Venture Growth's (NYSE: TPVG) current yield of 17.9%, often indicates potential concerns regarding the company's financial health [1] Group 1 - TriplePoint Venture Growth has a current dividend yield of 17.9% [1]