Core Insights - The article discusses the challenge of finding discounted investment opportunities in a market where indexes are near all-time highs, suggesting that income-focused funds like Guggenheim Taxable Municipal Bond & Investment Grade Debt Trust may be viable options for investors seeking income [1]. Group 1: Investment Strategies - The article emphasizes the importance of a diversified investment approach that includes classic dividend growth stocks, Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1]. - A hybrid investment system that balances growth and income is proposed as an effective strategy to capture total returns on par with the S&P 500 [1].

Group 1 - The article discusses the appeal of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) as a solid investment for income-focused investors looking to create passive income streams for retirement [1] - The author emphasizes a preference for quality over quantity in investments, particularly in blue-chip stocks, Business Development Companies (BDCs), and REITs [1] - The goal is to assist lower and middle-class workers in building high-quality, dividend-paying investment portfolios to achieve financial independence [1] Group 2 - The author has a beneficial long position in the shares of ADC, indicating a personal investment interest [2] - The article expresses the author's opinions without compensation from any company mentioned, highlighting an independent perspective [2] - Seeking Alpha clarifies that past performance does not guarantee future results and that the views expressed may not reflect the platform's overall stance [3]

Core Insights - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Essential Utilities, Verizon, and WesBanco recently announcing dividend hikes and offering yields up to around 6% [1]. Essential Utilities - Essential Utilities Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) provides water, wastewater, and natural gas services in the U.S. [2] - The company has raised its dividends for 34 consecutive years, with a recent increase of 5.25% to $0.3426 per share, translating to an annual figure of $1.37 per share [3]. - The current dividend yield is 3.34%, and the annual revenue as of June 30 is $2.34 billion. For Q2 2025, the company reported revenues of $514.91 million and EPS of $0.38, both exceeding consensus estimates [3]. Verizon Communications - Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) is a major player in technology and telecommunications, known for its extensive wireless network and services [4]. - The company has increased its dividends for 19 consecutive years, with a recent hike of 1.25% to $0.69 per share, equating to an annual figure of $2.76 per share [5]. - The current dividend yield is 6.68%, and the annual revenue as of June 30 is $137 billion. For Q2 2025, Verizon reported revenues of $34.50 billion and EPS of $1.22, both surpassing consensus estimates [5]. WesBanco - WesBanco Inc. (NASDAQ:WSBC) offers a range of banking and financial services in the U.S. [6]. - The company has raised its dividends for 14 consecutive years, with a recent increase from $0.36 to $0.37 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $1.48 per share [7]. - The current dividend yield stands at 4.40%, and the company maintained its payout level in a recent announcement [7].

Core Insights - Dividend stocks are crucial for total returns, contributing nearly 31% to the S&P 500 index's total returns since 1926 [1] Group 1: Realty Income - Realty Income pays a monthly dividend and has a current yield of 5.4%, trading nearly 28% below its all-time highs [3][4] - The company has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.2% [4] - Realty Income's diversified portfolio includes over 15,600 properties across 91 countries, primarily in non-discretionary businesses [6][7] Group 2: Chevron - Chevron has expanded its asset base significantly through the acquisition of Hess, projecting an incremental free cash flow of $12.5 billion from 2024 to 2026 [8][10] - The company has increased its dividend payout for 37 consecutive years and offers a reliable dividend yield of 4.4% [9][10] - Chevron's upcoming investor day on Nov. 12 is expected to provide updates on long-term financial goals and cash-flow projections [10] Group 3: American Water Works - American Water Works is a regulated water utility serving over 14 million people and has increased its dividend for 17 consecutive years [11][12] - The company is targeting a capital spending of $40 billion to $42 billion, with a rate base CAGR of 8% to 9% and earnings per share CAGR of 7% to 9% [15] - The stock is trading almost 25% off all-time highs, indicating potential for share-price appreciation [14]

Core Insights - Investors are seeking ways to hedge against uncertainty and volatility in traditional equities as markets approach all-time highs [1] Group 1: Investment Strategies - The Flaherty & Crumrine Preferred Income Opportunity Fund is highlighted as a potential investment option for income generation [1] - A hybrid investment strategy combining classic dividend growth stocks, Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds is suggested to enhance investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1] - The approach aims to balance growth and income, allowing investors to capture total returns on par with the S&P [1]

Core Insights - Consistent dividend payments provide comfort to investors during market volatility, allowing them to hold quality companies without the urge to sell [1][15] - The article highlights three Singapore blue-chip companies: Singapore Exchange (SGX), CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), and DBS Group Holdings (DBS), all of which have maintained consistent dividend payouts for over a decade [2][15] Singapore Exchange (SGX) - SGX is the only approved financial exchange in Singapore, benefiting from stable income generated from securities and derivatives trading, making it a reliable dividend payer [3][6] - The annual dividend per share increased by 33.9% from S$0.28 in FY2016 to S$0.375 in FY2025, with an average dividend yield of 3.45% and a current estimated yield of 2.1% [4] - SGX's revenue grew at a CAGR of 5.9% to S$1.37 billion for FY2025, while net profit grew at a CAGR of 7.1%, allowing for a dividend per share growth at a CAGR of 3.3% over the last decade [5] CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) - CICT is Singapore's largest REIT, formed from a merger in November 2020, with a diversified portfolio that provides resilient income even during market stress [7] - The REIT's DPU reached S$0.1088 for 2024, although it remains below the peak DPU of S$0.1197 in 2019; it has maintained a high occupancy rate of 96.3% [9][10] - CICT's DPU increased by 3.5% YoY to S$0.0562 in 1H2025, with an annualized yield of approximately 4.8% [10] DBS Group Holdings - DBS is Singapore's largest local bank, with a strong track record of growing dividends, which increased by 311% from S$0.54 in 2016 to S$2.22 in 2024 [11] - The bank has a healthy dividend payout ratio of 59.4% and net profit grew at a CAGR of 13.9% to S$11.3 billion for the last twelve months [12] - DBS's ROE improved significantly from 9.5% in 2020 to 17.2% in 2024, and its CET1 capital ratio stands at 15.1%, well above the regulatory requirement, supporting its ability to sustain dividends [13][14] Conclusion - The consistent dividend payouts from SGX, CICT, and DBS highlight their strong business fundamentals and commitment to shareholder value, making them suitable anchors for a dividend portfolio [15][16]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the benefits of dividend stocks, highlighting their potential for wealth building through reliable distributions and compound growth, particularly when reinvested [1] - The Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is recommended as a suitable investment option for those looking to invest $1,000 in dividend-focused ETFs [2] - The ETF tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100, which includes only high-quality companies with consistent cash flow, strong balance sheets, a minimum of 10 years of dividend payouts, and strong profitability [4] Group 2 - The ETF's components are selected based on stringent criteria, reducing the risk of yield traps, which are stocks with high yields due to declining share prices from poor performance [5] - The top 10 holdings of the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF include companies like AbbVie, Lockheed Martin, and Merck, which are known for their reliable cash flows and resilience during economic downturns [5][6] - The current dividend yield of the ETF is more than three times higher than the average yield of the S&P 500, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors [7]

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

Core Insights - Bassett Furniture Industries' Q3 results indicate a strong position in a recovering furniture industry, with anticipated benefits from potential interest rate cuts in 2025 [1][2] - The company reported a revenue growth of 5.9%, with a 7.3% increase when adjusted for divestiture, surpassing market expectations [2] - Adjusted earnings of $0.09 reflect a significant improvement from a loss of $0.52 in the previous year, with expectations for continued positive performance [3] Financial Performance - The furniture industry is experiencing sustained growth, with Bassett's retail segment leading with a 9.8% increase [2] - The company maintains a strong balance sheet, with a dividend yield of 5.14% and a payout ratio of 88.89% [7] - Cash flow is currently exceeding income, but this imbalance is expected to correct by late 2026, indicating a robust financial condition [8] Market Trends - Institutional investors are actively purchasing furniture stocks, with a 2-to-1 buying ratio, indicating strong market support [4] - Bassett Furniture, along with peers like Haverty and Ethan Allen, is benefiting from high institutional ownership levels, which is expected to support stock prices [5] - The overall sentiment in the housing market is crucial for the industry's growth, with expectations of recovery driving optimism [7]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the author's background and investment philosophy, emphasizing a focus on dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs, with a goal of achieving financial independence for lower and middle-class workers [2]. Group 1 - The author is a Navy veteran who enjoys dividend investing and plans to supplement retirement income through dividends in the next 5-7 years [2]. - The investment strategy is centered on a buy-and-hold approach, prioritizing quality over quantity in stock selection [2]. - The author aims to assist hard-working individuals in building investment portfolios comprised of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [2].