Core Viewpoint - Long-term dividend growth is more valuable than high initial dividend yields for investors seeking sustainable returns over a decade or more [2][12] Company Overview - Nelnet is primarily known for its role in student loan financing but has diversified its operations significantly since the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, which restricted private companies from financing undergraduate student loans [4][5] - The company is transitioning away from its student loan portfolio while acquiring residual loans, expecting to generate $1 billion in cash flow from these loans, with $100 million anticipated in the latter half of 2025 and annually from 2026 to 2030 [5] Financial Performance - Nelnet Bank, a new lending operation, generated $14 million in net interest income, while the legacy undergraduate student loan portfolio generated $50 million in net interest income last quarter [6] - The educational software and payments processing division generated $486 million in revenue and $117 million in operating income in 2024, providing substantial cash flow for dividend payments [8] Asset Valuation - Nelnet holds a 22% stake in the private start-up Hudl, which could be worth hundreds of millions if it goes public, adding significant value to Nelnet's market cap of $4.7 billion [9] Dividend Growth Strategy - The company has a history of consistent dividend growth, with a 11% annual increase in dividend per share from 2014 to 2024, and plans to continue this trend alongside share repurchases [12]

Core Viewpoint - Enbridge is recognized as a strong dividend stock with a history of consistent dividend payments and annual increases, currently yielding 5.8% [1] Group 1: Dividend Stability - Enbridge has paid dividends for over 70 years and has increased its payout annually for the past three decades [1] - The company maintains a conservative payout ratio of 60% to 70% of its stable cash flow, allowing it to retain over CA$4 billion ($2.9 billion) in free cash flow annually for growth projects [4] - Enbridge's business model is characterized by stable cash flows, with approximately 98% of earnings coming from long-term, fee-based contracts [3][6] Group 2: Financial Health - The company has a strong investment-grade balance sheet, with a leverage ratio of 4.7 times, trending towards its target range of 4.5 to 5.0 times [5] - This low leverage provides an additional CA$5 billion ($3.6 billion) of annual investment capacity for expansion projects and acquisitions [5] Group 3: Growth Prospects - Enbridge has a significant pipeline of organic expansion projects, with CA$32 billion ($22.8 billion) in secured capital projects [7] - The company has secured growth capital projects with in-service dates extending through 2029, providing visibility into long-term growth prospects [8]

Company Overview - Investar (ISTR) is headquartered in Baton Rouge and operates as a holding company for Investar Bank, currently experiencing a price change of -1.91% this year [3] - The company is paying a dividend of $0.11 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.04%, which is lower than the Southeast banking industry's yield of 2.41% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] Dividend Performance - Investar's current annualized dividend of $0.44 represents a 7.3% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 11.29% [4] - The current payout ratio is 20%, indicating that the company pays out 20% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Investar's earnings in 2025 is $1.93 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 2.12% [5] - Future dividend growth is expected to depend on earnings growth and the payout ratio [4] Investment Considerations - Investar is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend performance, despite the general trend of high-yielding stocks struggling during periods of rising interest rates [6] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a neutral outlook [6]

Company Overview - National Bank Holdings (NBHC) is located in Greenwood Village and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -17.3% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.30 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.37%, which is higher than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.41% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.52% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of $1.20 represents a 7.1% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, NBHC has increased its dividend five times, achieving an average annual increase of 8.98% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 37%, indicating that it pays out 37% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Outlook - NBHC is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $3.30 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 2.48% [5] Investment Appeal - NBHC is considered an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, currently holding a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6]

Core Insights - Companies that consistently increase dividends tend to outperform the overall market, with dividend growers achieving an average annual return of 9.62% from January 1972 to December 2018, compared to 8.78% for dividend payers and a decline of 0.79% for those that cut dividends [2] Dividend Growth and Company Performance - A company's commitment to increasing dividends creates pressure to enhance profits and cash flow, as failing to do so may lead to dividend cuts, which can significantly impact stock prices [3] - Historical dividend growth is a strong indicator of future sustainability, with a lower payout ratio suggesting potential for future increases, while high dividend yields may indicate vulnerability during tough times [4] Methodology for Selecting Dividend Stocks - The selection process for identifying top dividend stocks involves screening for companies that have raised dividends for 20 consecutive years or more, focusing on those with strong balance sheets and sound financials, ranked by dividend yields as of October 16 [6] Company Highlights - **Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT)**: - Dividend yield of 0.89% as of October 16, with a history of 52 consecutive years of dividend increases. Recently partnered with OpenAI to enhance customer shopping experience through ChatGPT [9][11] - **Pentair plc (NYSE:PNR)**: - Dividend yield of 0.92% as of October 16, with 49 consecutive years of dividend increases. Price target raised by JPMorgan from $116 to $126, and by Citi to $133, reflecting analyst optimism [12][14] - **Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)**: - Dividend yield of 1.12% as of October 16, with 31 consecutive years of dividend increases. Price target raised by BofA Securities from $517 to $594, driven by strong demand in the small turbine market and data centers [15][18]

Core Insights - First Trust BuyWrite Income ETF (NASDAQ: FTHI) employs an option writing strategy against the S&P 500 to enhance income levels [1] - The ETF is part of a broader strategy that combines classic dividend growth stocks with Business Development Companies, REITs, and Closed End Funds to optimize investment income while achieving total returns comparable to traditional index funds [1] Group 1 - The ETF aims to amplify income through a diversified approach [1] - The investment strategy includes a mix of high-quality dividend stocks and other income-generating assets [1] - The total return from this hybrid system is designed to align with the performance of the S&P 500 [1]

Core Insights - The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) is recognized as one of the Top 15 Growth Stocks for Long-Term Investors [1] Company Overview - Clorox has a history of over a century, with its first product, liquid bleach, introduced in 1913, and has since become a global producer of consumer and professional products [2] - The company offers a diverse range of brands that cater to various markets, providing significant scale and a strong presence across multiple product categories [2] Marketing and Brand Investment - Clorox maintains its leadership position through substantial advertising efforts, planning to spend approximately 11% of its net sales on advertising and promotions in fiscal 2026 [3] - This investment underscores the company's commitment to supporting its brands and sustaining market strength [3] Product Demand and Market Resilience - A key advantage of Clorox's business model is the everyday nature of its products, which are used by millions of consumers regardless of economic conditions [4] - The company estimates that its products are found in about nine out of ten U.S. households [4] - Demand for cleaning supplies and food products remains steady even during economic downturns, allowing Clorox to maintain profitability through various cycles [5] Dividend Growth - Clorox has a strong track record of increasing its dividend, with a growth streak spanning 22 years [5] - The company currently offers a quarterly dividend of $1.24 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.13% as of October 12 [5]

Core Insights - Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS) is recognized as one of the Top 15 Growth Stocks for Long-Term Investors [1] Company Overview - Essex Property Trust is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that focuses on acquiring, developing, redeveloping, and managing apartment communities [2] - The company's portfolio is primarily located in major metropolitan areas in Northern and Southern California and the Seattle region, characterized by limited housing supply and strong rental demand [2] Market Dynamics - The focus on the West Coast is supported by favorable long-term rental dynamics, including strong economic output and healthy job growth, which sustain high housing demand [3] - High costs of single-family homes in these markets make renting a more attractive option for many residents, while limited land availability and lengthy construction processes constrain new housing supply, further bolstering the rental market [3] Financial Performance - Essex Property Trust benefits from a large scale and an experienced management team, which has a proven track record of enhancing shareholder value through disciplined operations and strategic investments [4] - The company has consistently raised its dividends for 31 consecutive years, currently paying a quarterly dividend of $2.57 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.02% as of October 12 [4]

Core Insights - Philip Morris International has returned $74 billion to shareholders over the last decade through dividends and buybacks, achieving a 30% year-to-date return in 2025, outperforming the broader market [2] - The company announced an 8.9% dividend increase in September 2025, raising the quarterly dividend to $1.47 per share, marking the 18th consecutive year of dividend increases since its public listing in 2008 [2] - In the first half of 2025, Philip Morris reported revenue and earnings that exceeded expectations, with smoke-free products now accounting for 42% of total net revenues [3] Financial Performance - Philip Morris has paused share repurchases in 2025 to focus on strategic investments and dividend growth, maintaining a disciplined approach with an industry-leading dividend yield of approximately 3.84% [4] - The company has achieved a revenue growth of 7.2% over the last twelve months and a 7.1% average over the last three years, with a free cash flow margin of almost 23.0% and an operating margin of 36.4% [12] Shareholder Returns - Philip Morris ranks as the 31st largest company in history for total capital returned to shareholders, reflecting management's confidence in financial stability and consistent cash flows [6] - The total capital returned to shareholders as a percentage of the current market cap appears inversely proportional to growth prospects for reinvestments, with companies like META and MSFT showing faster growth but returning a smaller portion of their market cap [8] Valuation Metrics - Philip Morris has a P/E multiple of 29.0, providing higher valuation, greater revenue growth, and improved margins compared to the S&P [12]

Company Overview - TowneBank (TOWN) is based in Portsmouth 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 $0.27 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.14%, which is higher than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.28% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.5% [3] Dividend Performance - TowneBank's annualized dividend of $1.08 has increased by 8% from the previous year [4] - Over the last five years, the company has raised its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 8.72% [4] - The current payout ratio is 41%, indicating that the company pays out 41% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts earnings of $3.00 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 37.61% [5] Investment Considerations - TowneBank is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and favorable earnings growth outlook [6] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a stable investment position [6]