Company Overview - Norwood Financial Corp. (NWFL) is headquartered in Honesdale and has experienced a price change of -7.26% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.31 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.91%, which is significantly higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.69% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.5% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Norwood Financial is $1.24, reflecting a 3.3% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 4.67% [4] - The current payout ratio is 57%, indicating that the company pays out 57% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projects earnings of $2.68 per share, with an expected increase of 38.86% from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - NWFL is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend yield and strong Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]

Company Overview - Mercantile Bank (MBWM) is headquartered in Grand Rapids and has experienced a price change of 0.09% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.37 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.32%, which is higher than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.19% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.53% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of Mercantile Bank is $1.48, reflecting a 4.2% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 6.33% [4] - The current payout ratio is 29%, indicating that the company pays out 29% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mercantile Bank's earnings in 2025 is $5.23 per share, with an expected increase of 6.09% from the previous year [5] - The company is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]

Core Insights - Terreno Realty Corporation (TRNO) has executed the sale of an industrial property in Santa Fe Springs, CA for approximately $11 million, emphasizing its strategy of divesting non-core assets to strengthen its portfolio for future growth [1][8] - The sold property, a 2.3-acre improved land parcel, was fully leased and had been acquired in 2018 for $6.4 million, yielding a 13.2% unleveraged internal rate of return [2][8] - The company has been actively optimizing its portfolio, as evidenced by a recent sale of a 2.1-acre industrial property in Tukwila, WA for $9.5 million, and a portfolio of six industrial properties in Doral, FL for approximately $23.7 million [2][3] Financial Performance - Terreno Realty declared a dividend of 52 cents per share for Q3 2025, reflecting a 6.1% increase from the previous dividend level, and has increased its dividend six times over the past five years, with a five-year annualized growth rate of 14.11% [4][8] - Despite the positive dividend growth, shares of Terreno Realty have decreased by 6.9% over the past month, contrasting with a 2.5% decline in the broader industry [5] Market Position - The company is currently ranked 2 (Buy) by Zacks, indicating a favorable outlook compared to other stocks in the REIT sector [5][6]

Core Insights - TELUS Corporation reported second-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of C$0.22, a decrease from C$0.25 in the same period last year [1] - Total operating revenues increased by 2% year over year to C$5,082 million, driven by strong revenue growth across all segments [1] - The company achieved total customer growth of 198,000 in the second quarter, with 167,000 additions in mobile and connected devices, and 31,000 in fixed customers [2] Financial Performance - TELUS' operating revenues from contracts with customers were C$5,031 million, reflecting a 3% year-over-year increase [1] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.4163 per share, a 7% increase from the previous year's C$0.3891 [2] - Adjusted EBITDA increased modestly by 0.8% year over year to C$1,812 million [18] Segment Results - TTech revenues rose 1% year over year to C$3,848 million, with operating revenues from contracts with customers increasing to C$3,793 million [5] - Mobile network revenues decreased by 1% to C$1,723 million, attributed to a decline in mobile phone ARPU [6] - Fixed data service revenues increased by 3% to C$1,193 million, supported by an expanding subscriber base [9] Strategic Developments - TELUS signed a definitive agreement with La Caisse to sell a 49.9% stake in Terrion for approximately $1.26 billion, valuing the operator at over $2.5 billion [3] - The proceeds from the deal will be used to accelerate debt reduction efforts, aiming for a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 3.0 by 2027 [3] Cash Flow and Guidance - Cash generated from operating activities was C$1,166 million, down from C$1,388 million in the previous year, while free cash flow increased by 11% to C$535 million [19] - TELUS reaffirmed its 2025 financial targets, expecting 2-4% growth in TTech operating revenues and 3-5% growth in adjusted EBITDA [20]

Group 1: Company Overview - Sun Communities is a leading player in mobile home parks and RV resorts, expected to benefit from the growing older population, providing a lower-cost living option [3] - Agree Realty focuses on single-tenant net-lease retail properties, with a portfolio of approximately 2,400 properties, indicating significant room for growth through acquisitions [5] Group 2: Dividend Comparison - Agree Realty offers a higher dividend yield of 4.2% compared to Sun Communities' yield of just under 3.4%, making it more attractive for income-focused investors [6] - Sun Communities has increased its dividend annually for nine consecutive years, while Agree Realty has a longer history of dividend increases since 2012, despite a switch to monthly payments [7] - Over the past decade, Sun Communities' dividend has grown at an annualized rate of roughly 4%, while Agree's has grown at approximately 5%, indicating a stronger growth rate for Agree [8] Group 3: Future Growth Potential - The net-lease retail property niche presents a larger opportunity set compared to the mobile home park sector, as it is generally easier to build retail properties than to get new mobile home parks approved [9] - Agree Realty's growth strategy is primarily driven by acquisitions, positioning it for robust long-term growth compared to Sun Communities [10]

Company Overview - NiSource (NI) is a utilities stock headquartered in Merrillville, with a price change of 15.48% year-to-date [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.28 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.64%, which is lower than the Utility - Electric Power industry's yield of 3.24% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [3] Dividend Performance - NiSource's annualized dividend of $1.12 has increased by 5.7% from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has raised its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 6.29% [4] - The current payout ratio is 60%, indicating that the company distributes 60% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NiSource's earnings in 2025 is projected at $1.88 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 7.43% [5] - The company is expected to experience earnings expansion in the current fiscal year [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [5] - NiSource is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 2025 were $1.48, up from $1.42 in Q2 2024, while year-to-date EPS was $2.53, compared to $2.37 in the same period of 2024 [5][11] - The company expects to achieve the top half of its initial EPS guidance range for 2025, now narrowed to $5.7 to $5.75 per share [6][17] - Total debt to capital ratio was 58%, within the target of less than 60% [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company invested $1.3 billion in capital projects year-to-date, reflecting strong execution by teams [6][20] - Operating and maintenance costs increased by $0.17 per share, primarily due to employee-related expenses and technology costs [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue increases were driven by authorized rate increases and organic customer growth, with a revenue increase of $0.50 per share year-over-year [9][11] - Weather had an unfavorable impact estimated at $0.06 per share due to wet conditions in 2025 [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for long-term earnings and dividend growth of 7% to 9%, supported by a capital growth plan focused on water and wastewater infrastructure [8][18] - The company is pursuing acquisitions to expand its customer base, with 87,000 customer connections under agreement totaling over $500 million [7][21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving consistent EPS growth within the 7% to 9% range through 2029 and beyond [18] - The company noted strong customer usage and regulatory execution as key drivers of performance in 2025 [17][53] Other Important Information - The company has several active rate cases in progress across multiple jurisdictions, including West Virginia and California, seeking significant revenue increases [12][15] - A decoupling bill related to water utilities has passed out of the California Senate and is awaiting action in the Assembly [16][44] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company managing stakeholder relationships in Pennsylvania ahead of the next rate case? - Management has been actively engaging with stakeholders and providing excellent customer service to maintain positive relationships [25][26] Question: Is the company considering forward equity issuance for 2026 needs? - The company is evaluating all options but plans to issue equity in 2026 [27][28] Question: What is the earnings potential of the Nexus acquisition compared to municipal M&A? - The Nexus acquisition is seen as a strategic opportunity to expand the customer base in existing states, with no expected negative impact on profitability [31][32][35] Question: What is the landscape for fair market value deals in Pennsylvania? - The company anticipates more fair market value deals and is actively managing a pipeline of acquisitions [37][41] Question: Can you elaborate on the decoupling bill in California? - The bill aims to facilitate full decoupling for California water utilities, pending further legislative approval [43][46]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 2025 were $1.48, up from $1.42 in Q2 2024, while year-to-date EPS was $2.53, an increase from $2.37 in the same period of 2024 [5][11] - The company expects to achieve the top half of its initial EPS guidance range for 2025, now narrowed to $5.7 to $5.75 per share [6][16] - Total debt to capital ratio was 58%, within the target of less than 60% [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Consolidated revenues increased by $0.50 per share due to authorized rate increases and organic customer growth [9] - Operating and maintenance (O&M) costs rose by $0.17 per share, primarily due to employee-related expenses and technology costs [10] - Capital investments totaled $1.3 billion year-to-date, with a goal of approximately $3.3 billion for 2025 [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported unfavorable weather impacts estimated at $0.06 per share year-over-year, with wet weather in 2025 affecting revenues [10][11] - The company has 87,000 customer connections under agreement, totaling over $500 million across its business development platform [6][20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims for long-term earnings and dividend growth of 7% to 9%, driven by 8% to 9% rate base growth [7][17] - The acquisition of NEXUS Water Group systems is expected to add nearly 47,000 customer connections and approximately $200 million to the rate base [6][20] - The company is pursuing regulatory execution and infrastructure investments to enhance shareholder returns [7][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving consistent EPS growth within the 7% to 9% range through 2029 and beyond [17] - The company anticipates continued revenue increases year-over-year in several states through Q3 2025 [16] - Management highlighted the importance of stakeholder relationships in Pennsylvania ahead of the next rate case application [25][26] Other Important Information - The company has filed general rate cases in multiple jurisdictions, including West Virginia, Kentucky, and California, seeking additional annual revenue [12][14][15] - A decoupling bill related to water utilities has passed out of the California Senate and is awaiting action in the Assembly [15][46] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the company managing stakeholder relationships in Pennsylvania? - The company has been actively engaging with stakeholders and providing excellent customer service to maintain positive relationships ahead of the next rate case application [25][26] Question: Is the company considering forward issuance for equity needs in 2026? - The company is evaluating all options for equity issuance but plans to issue equity in 2026 [28] Question: What is the earnings power of the Nexus acquisition compared to municipal M&A? - The Nexus acquisition is seen as a strategic opportunity to expand the customer base in existing service areas, with no expected negative impact on profitability [32][36] Question: What is the landscape for fair market value deals in Pennsylvania? - The company expects more fair market value deals to emerge, indicating ongoing consolidation needs in the region [42] Question: What are the goals of the decoupling bill in California? - The bill aims to close gaps in the regulatory framework for decoupling, with hopes for it to pass through the legislature [46][47] Question: What drove the strength in 2025 guidance? - Strong customer usage and consistent regulatory execution were the primary drivers for the improved guidance [53][54]

DUBLIN, IRELAND, July 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STERIS plc (NYSE: STE) (“STERIS” or the “Company”) announced today that the Company will distribute a quarterly interim dividend of $0.63 per share. This represents a $0.06 increase in the dividend and the Company’s 20th consecutive year of dividend growth. The dividend is payable on September 26, 2025, to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 4, 2025. Additional information about the U.S. tax treatment of dividends, including requir ...

Company Overview - Univest (UVSP) is headquartered in Souderton and operates as a finance stock with a year-to-date price change of -0.14% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.22 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.99%, which is higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.67% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $0.88 represents a 4.8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Univest has increased its dividend two times on a year-over-year basis, averaging an annual increase of 1.61% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 32%, indicating that it pays out 32% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Univest's earnings per share for 2025 is $2.76, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 10.40% [5] - The company is positioned as an attractive dividend play, supported by solid earnings growth prospects [6] Investment Appeal - Univest is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend yield and strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]