Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an AFFO per share of $0.58 for Q1 2025, representing a 4.3% increase compared to $0.56 for Q1 2024 [23] - The net debt to annualized first quarter adjusted EBITDA is approximately 5.3 times, within the target leverage range of 5 to 5.5 [21] - The company raised its AFFO guidance for 2025 to between $2.47 billion and $2.50 billion, or between $2.33 and $2.36 per diluted common share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 3.8% [24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully addressed all 2025 maturities, with no debt maturing until September 2026 [20] - A bond offering was priced, issuing $400 million of three-year notes at a coupon of 4.75% and $900 million of ten-year notes at a coupon of 5.625% [20] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company continues to believe in the resilience of Las Vegas, citing strong demand drivers and significant events that attract visitors [17] - Las Vegas hosted major events, such as WWE's WrestleMania, which drew nearly 125,000 fans, indicating robust market activity [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes maintaining and growing cash income distributed to stockholders in the form of dividends, which is a key focus for REIT investors [8] - A new partnership with Red Rock Resorts was established for the development of a casino on tribal land, showcasing the company's strategy of building long-term investment partnerships [14][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the current macroeconomic volatility affects growth ambitions and M&A activity, but they remain focused on building relationships and investment pipelines [46] - The company is optimistic about the future of tribal gaming in California, viewing it as a growing opportunity for capital investment [78] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $3.2 billion in total liquidity, which includes cash and availability under its revolving credit facility [21] - The company maintains a low G&A ratio of 1.5% of total revenues, one of the lowest in the REIT sector [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the new deal with Red Rock Resorts? - Management expressed confidence in the partnership, highlighting Red Rock's extensive experience and the favorable location of the new casino project [30][32] Question: How does the collateral work for the casino on tribal land? - The borrower is the tribe, with Red Rock providing a completion guarantee, and the collateral is primarily the building itself [66][69] Question: What is the company's view on tribal sale leasebacks? - Management indicated that tribal sale leasebacks remain complex, and they are still in a learning phase regarding the nuances of such deals [36] Question: Are tariffs impacting construction budgets for partners? - Management acknowledged general conditions in construction but expressed confidence in their partners' ability to manage these challenges [40][42] Question: What is the current pipeline of opportunities amid macro volatility? - Management noted that while volatility affects growth ambitions, they continue to engage with operators to explore potential opportunities [46][48] Question: How is the risk management process structured? - The company has a rigorous risk management process in place, meeting quarterly to review tenant performance and loan investments [108]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an AFFO per share of $0.58 for Q1 2025, representing a 4.3% increase from $0.56 in Q1 2024 [20] - The net debt to annualized first quarter adjusted EBITDA is approximately 5.3 times, within the target leverage range of 5 to 5.5 [19] - The company raised its AFFO guidance for 2025 to between $2.47 billion and $2.50 billion, or between $2.33 and $2.36 per diluted common share, indicating a year-over-year growth of 3.8% [21][22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company successfully closed a $510 million delayed draw term loan facility for the development of the North Fork Mono Casino and Resort in partnership with Red Rock Resorts [12] - The casino is expected to feature 2,400 slot machines and 40 table games, indicating a significant investment in the gaming sector [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Las Vegas continues to show strong demand, with events like WWE's WrestleMania drawing nearly 125,000 fans, highlighting the city's appeal [15] - The company believes that Las Vegas may benefit from a domestic trade-down effect if Americans forgo international travel, as only 12% of Las Vegas visitation in 2024 was from international travelers [15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company emphasizes maintaining and growing cash income distributed to stockholders in the form of dividends, which is a key focus for REIT investors [5] - The partnership with Red Rock Resorts represents a strategic move into tribal land investments, showcasing the company's ability to identify high-quality opportunities in the gaming sector [13] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the resilience of property performance during periods of market volatility, focusing on strong relationships with tenants [16] - The management team highlighted the importance of dividends in total returns, especially in the current economic environment [10] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $3.2 billion in total liquidity, which includes $334 million in cash and $2.3 billion of availability under its revolving credit facility [19] - The company has a weighted average interest rate of 4.47% and a weighted average maturity of 6.7 years, reflecting proactive risk management [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details on the new property deal and its market draw? - Management highlighted the large catchment area for the North Fork project, emphasizing the operator's experience and the potential to attract new customers [26][30] Question: Has the view on tribal sale leasebacks changed? - Management acknowledged the complexities of tribal sale leasebacks but expressed confidence in the current deal due to the operator's experience [34][35] Question: Are tariffs impacting construction budgets or timelines? - Management noted that experienced development partners are managing tariff-related challenges effectively [38][39] Question: What is the current pipeline outlook amid macro volatility? - Management indicated that while volatility affects growth ambitions, they continue to engage with operators to explore opportunities [44][46] Question: Can you elaborate on the capital structure of the Red Rock deal? - The total facility for the project is $725 million, with a blended yield around 7%, reflecting a strong partnership with Red Rock [84][85] Question: Is there an appetite for more construction lending? - Management clarified that while there is no general strategy for construction lending, they are open to opportunities that align with their relationship-based approach [92][93]

And that reason is different (but related) for these two auto-making giants.Automakers operate in a capital-intensive industry with fierce competition. While Ford Motor Company (F -1.53%) and General Motors (GM -3.50%) have had their stocks beaten down over uncertainty about the potential effects of threatened and imposed tariffs both here and abroad, they are also spending billions to develop electric vehicles and are struggling in overseas markets like China.Despite the multiple headwinds, there are still ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses three ultra-high-yield dividend stocks that investors should consider, highlighting their strong performance and growth potential in the current market environment. Group 1: Ares Capital - Ares Capital has a forward yield of 9.3% and has maintained stable or growing payouts for 15 consecutive years [3][5] - The company has the highest regular dividend growth over the last 10 years among externally managed business development companies with a market cap over $700 million [3] - Ares Capital primarily provides capital to middle-market businesses, representing a $3 trillion opportunity, with an additional $2.4 trillion from companies with revenues over $1 billion [4] - The company is well-positioned to capture market share, being the largest publicly traded business development company with a strong balance sheet and deep industry relationships [5] - Concerns regarding the CEO transition are mitigated by the new CEO's extensive experience within the company and industry [6] Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners offers a forward yield of 6.9% and has increased its distribution for 26 consecutive years [7] - The company has demonstrated resilience in its cash flows during economic downturns, including the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic [8] - Global demand for liquid hydrocarbons is expected to grow, with the U.S. maintaining a competitive advantage due to low production costs, positively impacting Enterprise's growth prospects [9] Group 3: Verizon Communications - Verizon Communications has a forward dividend yield of 6.3% and has increased its payouts for 18 straight years [10] - Despite a declining stock market, Verizon's share price has risen due to limited exposure to tariffs and strong business performance [11][12] - The company is expanding its offerings through the acquisition of Frontier Communications, expected to close in Q1 2026, which will enhance its products and services for consumers and small businesses [13]

Company Overview - ConnectOne Bancorp (CNOB) is based in Englewood Cliffs and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of -0.74% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.18 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.17%, which is higher than the Banks - Northeast industry's yield of 2.87% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.64% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of $0.72 represents a 1.4% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, ConnectOne Bancorp has increased its dividend 4 times, achieving an average annual increase of 18.45% [4] - The current payout ratio is 38%, indicating that the company pays out 38% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projects earnings of $2.48 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 36.26% [5] Investment Considerations - Dividends are favored by investors as they enhance stock investing profits, reduce overall portfolio risk, and offer tax advantages [6] - While established firms are typically viewed as the best dividend options, high-growth businesses and tech start-ups rarely offer dividends [7] - CNOB is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]

Company Overview - Acadia Realty Trust (AKR) is a real estate investment trust headquartered in Rye, operating in the Finance sector [3] - The stock has experienced a price decline of 19.12% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - Acadia Realty Trust currently pays a dividend of $0.20 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.09% [3] - The industry average yield for REIT and Equity Trust - Retail is 4.41%, while the S&P 500 yield is 1.64% [3] - The annualized dividend of $0.80 represents an 8.1% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, the company has increased its dividend twice year-over-year, averaging a 6.36% annual increase [4] - The current payout ratio is 59%, indicating that 59% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share (EPS) is distributed as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts earnings of $1.36 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 6.25% [5] Investment Appeal - Acadia Realty Trust is viewed as an attractive dividend investment and a compelling opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]

Industry Overview - The oil and gas industry is crucial for the global economy, providing primary energy sources for various sectors including transportation and manufacturing [1] - Despite the shift towards renewable energy, oil and gas remain essential due to their high energy density and established infrastructure [1] Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) - Devon Energy is a leading independent oil and natural gas exploration and production company in the U.S., focusing on high-quality assets and strategic acquisitions to enhance production [2] - The company has been managing costs effectively by selling higher-cost assets and bringing lower-cost production assets online [2] - Devon's earnings estimates indicate a year-over-year decline of 5.81% for 2025, with a slight growth of 1.1% expected in 2026 [5] - Current dividend yield for Devon Energy is 3.07%, with 11 dividend increases in the past five years [20] - Devon Energy's debt to capital ratio is 36.35%, indicating a lower reliance on debt compared to its peers [14] - The company plans to invest between $3.8 billion and $4 billion in 2025, following a $3.64 billion investment in 2024 [18] Occidental Petroleum Corporation (OXY) - Occidental Petroleum operates across upstream exploration, midstream logistics, and chemical manufacturing, focusing on strong hydrocarbon volumes [3] - The company's earnings estimates suggest a significant year-over-year decline of 26.01% for 2025, with a recovery of 19.42% expected in 2026 [9] - Current dividend yield for Occidental Petroleum is 2.38%, with five dividend increases in the past five years [20] - Occidental's debt to capital ratio stands at 42.01%, indicating a higher reliance on debt compared to Devon [14] - The company plans to invest between $7.4 billion and $7.6 billion in 2025, following over $7 billion in investments to strengthen operations [19] Comparative Analysis - Devon Energy has a higher return on equity (ROE) of 22.52% compared to Occidental's 16.33%, both exceeding the sector average of 15.44% [11] - Devon Energy is trading at a lower EV/EBITDA ratio of 3.76X compared to Occidental's 5.09X, while the sector average is 4.38X [15] - In the past three months, Devon Energy shares declined by 11.1%, while Occidental's shares fell by 15.8% [22] - Devon Energy's strategic focus on multi-basin domestic assets provides a competitive edge, helping to mitigate geopolitical and regulatory risks faced by Occidental [24][25]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are becoming skeptical about the safety of dividends when yields exceed 5%, with Pfizer's current yield at approximately 7.5% raising concerns about potential cuts [1][2]. Dividend Analysis - Pfizer's current quarterly dividend is $0.43, totaling $1.72 annually, while its diluted EPS for 2024 is $1.41, indicating that the EPS is below the annual dividend rate [3]. - The payout ratio, which compares dividends to EPS, is a critical metric for assessing dividend sustainability, but it can be misleading due to non-cash items affecting earnings [4]. Free Cash Flow - Pfizer's free cash flow for the previous year was $9.8 billion, with cash dividend payments at $9.5 billion, suggesting that the dividend payout is sustainable as free cash exceeds dividend payments [5][6]. - The company’s free cash flow metric is essential as it excludes non-cash items, providing a clearer picture of cash generation [5]. Investment Potential - Pfizer's stock is trading at a low valuation of 8 times its estimated future earnings, presenting a potential bargain for income investors [7]. - The CEO has referred to the dividend as a "sacred cow," indicating a strong commitment to maintaining the dividend policy despite potential risks from tariffs [8]. Long-term Outlook - Despite a decline in stock price this year, Pfizer may be a suitable long-term investment in the healthcare sector, allowing investors to hold without frequent monitoring [9].

Company Overview - Hanmi Financial is headquartered in Los Angeles and has experienced a price change of -3.73% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.27 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.75%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 3.33% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.65% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Hanmi Financial is $1.08, reflecting an 8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend three times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 27.60% [4] - The company's payout ratio stands at 51%, indicating that it paid out 51% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth Expectations - For the fiscal year, Hanmi Financial anticipates solid earnings growth, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 projected at $2.55 per share, representing a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 24.39% [5] Investment Considerations - Hanmi Financial is viewed as a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend and strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]

Company Overview - Civista Bancshares (CIVB) is a bank holding company headquartered in Sandusky, with a price change of 0.1% so far this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.17 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.23%, which is lower than the Banks - Midwest industry's yield of 3.44% but significantly higher than the S&P 500's yield of 1.65% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of Civista Bancshares is $0.68, reflecting a 6.3% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, the company has increased its dividend 4 times on a year-over-year basis, achieving an average annual increase of 9.33% [4] - The current payout ratio is 30%, indicating that the company paid out 30% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - Civista Bancshares is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 at $2.35 per share, representing a 16.92% increase from the previous year [5] Investment Appeal - The company is viewed as an attractive dividend play and a compelling investment opportunity, holding a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [7]