Analyst's Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of MSFT, AMZN, MA either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Since September 2024 , I added to my Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT ) position a few times, which I described in my previous coverages. MSF ...

Group 1: Analyst Ratings and Market Sentiment - Wall Street analysts have "Buy" ratings on 388 stocks in the S&P 500, representing over 76% of the index, indicating a general optimism among analysts [1] - The prevalence of "Buy" ratings means that any upgrades are limited, as most stocks are already rated highly, while "Holds" and "Sells" present potential for improvement [2] - The article suggests that contrarian investors should consider stocks with lower ratings, as they may present better buying opportunities [2] Group 2: National Storage Affiliates Trust (NSA) - NSA is a self-storage REIT with 1,075 properties across 41 states and Puerto Rico, known for being recession-resistant [3][4] - Despite a historical competence in operations, NSA faces a bearish consensus with only one "Buy" rating against 10 "Holds" and four "Sells" [6] - NSA's dividend yield is over 6%, but its payout is tight at 97% of its 2025 FFO estimates, and the stock trades at approximately 15 times those estimates [6][7] Group 3: CNA Financial (CNA) - CNA is a major commercial property and casualty insurer in the U.S., with 90% ownership by conglomerate Loews [8] - The company pays a regular dividend of 46 cents per share, yielding 3.9%, along with a special dividend that has been consistent for the past decade [9][11] - CNA has a bearish consensus rating, but only one analyst covers it, indicating a lack of interest from analysts [12][13] Group 4: Cricut (CRCT) - Cricut is known for its crafting machines and software, and it has recently initiated a special dividend of 40 cents per share and a regular semiannual dividend of 10 cents [14][15] - Despite the dividend announcements, Cricut's revenues have declined by 7% in 2024, and profits are expected to decrease in the coming years [17][18] - The stock currently has three "Sell" calls and one "Hold," reflecting negative sentiment among analysts [18] Group 5: Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD) - GSBD is a business development company targeting firms with annual EBITDA between $5 million and $75 million, primarily dealing in debt [19][20] - The company has faced challenges, including a nearly 30% cut to its regular dividend due to high non-accruals and declining net investment income [22][23] - Despite these issues, GSBD offers a high yield of 16.5% based on promised dividends for 2025, trading at a 17% discount to NAV [24]

Group 1 - The article promotes iREIT on Alpha as a source for in-depth research on various income alternatives including REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, and ETFs [1] - It highlights the positive feedback from users, with 438 testimonials, most of which are rated 5 stars, indicating a strong user satisfaction [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide any specific investment recommendations or advice, emphasizing that past performance is not indicative of future results [2] - It clarifies that the views expressed may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole, and that the analysts involved may not be licensed or certified [2]

Group 1: Dominion Energy - Dominion Energy is undergoing a turnaround to improve its financial position after facing challenges due to a complicated business model [3][4] - The company has been selling assets and is now primarily a regulated electric utility, offering a dividend yield of 4.8%, which is above the average utility yield of 2.9% [4] - While the current dividend is considered safe, it is not expected to grow in the near term due to an elevated payout ratio, which needs to be reduced to below 70% for future growth [5][7][8] - Earnings are projected to grow between 5% and 7% annually, which may lead to improved dividend growth in the future [7] Group 2: Western Midstream Partners - Western Midstream Partners operates midstream assets and offers a high cash distribution yield of nearly 9.5% [9] - The company expects to generate $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion in free cash flow this year, sufficient to cover its distribution and capital expenditures [10] - With a leverage ratio below 3.0, Western Midstream has financial flexibility for acquisitions and growth projects, targeting organic investments with mid-teens returns [11] - The company recently increased its payout by 4% and anticipates future distribution growth at a low- to mid-single-digit rate [12] Group 3: Chevron - Chevron's stock has declined nearly 20% recently, resulting in an attractive dividend yield of 5% [13] - The company has a strong history of dividend stability, having increased its dividend for 38 consecutive years, including a 5% hike earlier this year [14] - Chevron expects to grow production at a compound annual rate of 6% through 2026 and could generate $9 billion in incremental free cash flow between 2024 and 2026 [15] - The potential acquisition of Hess and ongoing arbitration proceedings could further enhance cash flows, leading to larger dividends for shareholders [15]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the significant yet complex influence of politics on markets, highlighting it as one of the three pillars of the investment research framework [1] - The discussion includes various investment vehicles such as REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, and ETFs, indicating a focus on income alternatives [1] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial data or performance metrics related to companies or industries [2]

Group 1 - The company EPR Properties has transitioned its portfolio from theaters to experiential assets, which has led to a bullish outlook on its performance [1] - The analyst expresses a long-term investment strategy focused on quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs, aiming to supplement retirement income through dividends [2] - The article emphasizes the importance of individual due diligence in investment decisions, highlighting that the views expressed are personal opinions and not financial advice [3] Group 2 - The article does not provide specific financial metrics or performance data related to EPR Properties or the broader industry [4] - There is no mention of any recent news events or market trends affecting the company or industry in the provided content [4]

Core Insights - The article highlights the attractiveness of dividend-paying stocks within the Dow Jones Industrial Average, specifically focusing on Chevron, Johnson & Johnson, and Verizon as top choices for passive income in 2025 and beyond [2][13]. Chevron - Chevron currently offers a dividend yield of over 5%, significantly higher than the average yield of Dow components, which is below 2% [4]. - The company has a strong track record of increasing dividends for 38 consecutive years, demonstrating resilience through various commodity cycles [5]. - Chevron's breakeven level is around $30 per barrel, and it expects to boost free cash flow by $9 billion next year, assuming oil prices average $60 per barrel [6]. Johnson & Johnson - Johnson & Johnson's dividend yield is approximately 3.4%, with a recent increase of nearly 5%, extending its dividend growth streak to 63 years [7]. - The company holds an AAA bond rating and has a net debt of $13.5 billion against a market cap of $370 billion, indicating a strong financial position [8]. - In the previous year, Johnson & Johnson generated $20 billion in free cash flow, covering its $11.8 billion dividend outlay while investing over $17 billion in R&D [9]. Verizon - Verizon boasts the highest dividend yield in the Dow at 6.2%, supported by $36.9 billion in cash flow from operations [10]. - The company is acquiring Frontier Communications for $20 billion, which is expected to enhance its fiber network and yield annual cost savings of at least $500 million [11]. - Verizon has delivered its 18th consecutive annual dividend increase, maintaining the longest current payout-hiking streak in the U.S. telecom sector [12].

My name is Mike and I’m the author of The Dividend Guy Blog & The Dividend Monk along with the owner and portfolio manager here at Dividend Stocks Rock (DSR). I earned my bachelor degree in finance-marketing, own a CFP title along with an MBA in financial services. Besides being a passionate investor, I’m also happily married with three beautiful children. I started my online venture to educate people about investing and to be able to spend more time with my family. I started my career in the financial indu ...

Group 1 - STAG Industrial (NYSE: STAG) is an industrial REIT that offers monthly dividends, making it attractive to individual investors [1] - The author has previously expressed a bullish thesis on STAG Industrial and holds a personal investment in the company [1] - The focus of the author's investment strategy is on dividend investing, which is viewed as a straightforward path to financial freedom [2] Group 2 - The author has extensive experience in M&A and business valuation, having evaluated numerous businesses and participated in key transactions [2] - The sectors of focus for the author's investment and advisory work include technology, real estate, software, finance, and consumer staples [2] - The motivation for sharing insights on dividend investing is to help others navigate the process and build long-term wealth [2]

Group 1 - 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, holding degrees in Civil Engineering & Mathematics and a Master's 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]