Core Insights - September was a challenging month for Dividend Aristocrats, with the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) experiencing a loss of 1.68% [1] Group 1: Performance Analysis - The ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) finished September with a loss of 1.68% [1] - In comparison, the SPDR S&P 500 ETF's performance was not detailed, but the context suggests a broader market trend affecting dividend stocks [1]

Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 is near all-time highs, but this should not deter long-term investment strategies. Building wealth takes time, and starting now is crucial. The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD) is presented as a viable investment option [1]. Group 1: Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF Overview - The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index, focusing on companies with a strong history of dividend increases [2]. - The index selects companies that have at least 10 consecutive years of annual dividend increases, excluding real estate investment trusts to focus on well-managed firms [3]. - A composite score for each company is created based on factors like cash flow to total debt, return on equity, dividend yield, and five-year dividend growth rate, aiming to identify financially strong companies with growing dividends [4]. Group 2: Index Composition and Management - The index includes the 100 highest-ranked companies based on market capitalization, ensuring that larger companies have a more significant impact on performance. The portfolio is updated annually to reflect the best stocks according to the index's criteria [5]. - The ETF offers a low expense ratio of 0.06%, making it an attractive option for investors seeking dividend income [5]. Group 3: Investment Strategy and Timing - Wealth accumulation is emphasized as a long-term endeavor requiring patience. Despite the current market conditions, the dividend-focused ETF has been underperforming, suggesting that now is an opportune time to invest [6]. - The Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF simplifies the investment process for dividend investors by providing a diversified portfolio of dividend stocks in a single purchase [7].

Core Insights - Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) is highlighted as a favored investment opportunity, particularly in the context of dividend investing, which is viewed as a pathway to financial freedom [1]. Company Overview - Nvidia has been a significant part of the investment journey since 2022, indicating a long-term commitment to the company [1]. - The company operates in sectors such as technology, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples, which are also reflected in the investment portfolio [1]. Investment Strategy - The focus on dividend investing is emphasized as a straightforward and accessible method for building long-term wealth [1]. - The approach includes financial modeling, commercial and financial due diligence, and negotiation of deal terms, showcasing a comprehensive understanding of business valuation [1].

Core Insights - Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) is highlighted as a favored investment opportunity, particularly in the context of dividend investing, which is viewed as a pathway to financial freedom [1]. Group 1: Company Overview - Nvidia is recognized for its strong business fundamentals and growth potential, making it a compelling choice for investors [1]. Group 2: Investment Strategy - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing as a straightforward method for building long-term wealth and achieving financial independence [1]. - The author shares insights from extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), financial modeling, and due diligence, which contribute to a comprehensive understanding of investment opportunities [1]. Group 3: Personal Investment Philosophy - The motivation behind sharing insights is to enhance collective knowledge and facilitate a shared journey towards financial freedom through informed investing [1].

Group 1 - The approach has received over 190 five-star reviews from members who are experiencing benefits [1] - The company invests significant resources, over $100,000 annually, into researching profitable investment opportunities [1] - There is a prevailing belief among investors that the greatest risk in the market is missing out on gains in the tech sector [1] Group 2 - Samuel Smith has extensive experience as a lead analyst and Vice President at dividend stock research firms [2] - The High Yield Investor group focuses on balancing safety, growth, yield, and value in investment strategies [2] - The services offered include real-money portfolios, trade alerts, educational content, and an active community for investors [2]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs for building a sustainable retirement income stream [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The company focuses on a buy-and-hold investment strategy, prioritizing quality over quantity in its portfolio [1]. - The goal is to help lower and middle-class workers build investment portfolios that consist of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [1]. Group 2: Personal Investment Philosophy - The company aims to achieve financial independence through dividend income within the next 5-7 years [1]. - There is a strong belief in the potential of dividend investing to provide a reliable income source for retirement [1].

Core Insights - Samuel Smith has extensive experience in dividend stock research and investment, having served as lead analyst and Vice President at notable firms [1] - He is a Professional Engineer and Project Management Professional with degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Master's 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 in investment strategies [1] Company Overview - High Yield Investor offers a range of investment services including real-money core, retirement, and international portfolios [1] - The service provides regular trade alerts, educational content, and an active chat room for investors to engage with one another [1]

Core Insights - Investing in high-quality stocks with generous dividend payouts is a solid strategy for building long-term wealth, contributing significantly to total returns over time [1][2] Verizon Communications - Verizon has increased its dividend by 1.25 cents to $0.69 per share, marking its 19th consecutive annual dividend increase, with a forward yield exceeding 7% [5][11] - The company has a market capitalization of $170 billion and a dividend payout ratio of 64.3%, indicating strong support for its dividend payments [7] - Verizon's free cash flow is projected to be between $19.5 billion and $20.5 billion in fiscal 2025, allowing for dividend payments of nearly $11.5 billion while also reducing debt and reinvesting in growth [7][8] - The company is advancing its 5G C-band network deployment, expecting to cover 80% to 90% of targeted regions by the end of 2025, enhancing mobile and broadband coverage [8] - Verizon's fixed wireless high-speed internet service has 5.1 million subscribers, with expectations to grow to 8 million to 9 million by 2028 [9] - The company is set to close a $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications by early 2026, which will expand its fiber optic footprint [10] - Verizon trades at 9.4 times expected forward earnings, below its 5-year historical average of 11, making it an attractive option for income investors [11] Pfizer - Pfizer has announced a $0.43 dividend per share for the fourth quarter, continuing its streak of 348 consecutive quarters of dividend payments [12] - The company has a market capitalization of $138 billion and a dividend yield of approximately 6.7%, supported by strong cash flows from established drugs [13][14] - Pfizer's dividend payout ratio was nearly 91.5% over the last four quarters, but is expected to decrease to 57% by the end of fiscal 2025, providing more flexibility for growth investments [15] - The company aims to improve its operating margin and achieve net savings of nearly $4.5 billion by the end of fiscal 2025 through a cost-alignment program [16] - Pfizer's acquisition strategy includes a $43 billion deal for Seagen, which is expected to contribute nearly $10 billion in annual revenue by 2030 [18] - The recent acquisition of Metsera for approximately $7.3 billion targets the weight loss treatment market, projected to be worth $150 billion by the early 2030s [19] - Pfizer trades at 13.2 times earnings, which is considered low for a pharmaceutical company with a diversified business and strong financial performance [20]

Group 1: Chevron - Chevron has a long history of increasing dividends, having raised them for 38 consecutive years [3] - The latest dividend hike on January 31 increased the quarterly payout by 5% to $1.71 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $6.84 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for Chevron is 4.37% [3] - As of June 30, Chevron's annual revenue was $187.74 billion, with Q2 2025 revenues reported at $44.82 billion, which was below the consensus estimate of $45.88 billion [4] - Chevron's EPS for Q2 2025 was $1.77, surpassing the consensus estimate of $1.70 [4] Group 2: Robert Half - Robert Half has consistently raised its dividends for the last 20 years [6] - The most recent dividend increase on February 12 raised the quarterly payout from $0.53 to $0.59 per share, equating to an annual figure of $2.36 per share [6] - The current dividend yield for Robert Half stands at 8.06% [6] - As of June 30, Robert Half's annual revenue was $5.57 billion, with Q3 2025 revenues reported at $1.35 billion, meeting Street estimates [7] Group 3: Horace Mann Educators - Horace Mann Educators provides various insurance products and financial services specifically designed for educators and their families [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, 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 [2] Group 2 - High Yield Investor offers various investment portfolios, including core, retirement, and international options, along with regular trade alerts and educational content [2] - The service features an active chat room for investors to engage and share insights [2]