Key Takeaways Consumer confidence fell to 93 in June amid job worries and tariff uncertainty. ATO, NI, FTS, INGR and MO are low-beta stocks with improving earnings estimates. All five picks carry a favorable Zacks Rank and offer attractive dividend yields.Americans are on shaky ground as they are not confident about the nation’s economy. The Conference Board said earlier this week that consumer confidence unexpectedly fell in June after rebounding in the prior month.Job market worries, uncertainty over th ...

Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola demonstrates resilience in turbulent markets, showcasing its defensive attributes and strong brand power, making it a compelling investment option for stability-focused investors [2][18][19] Market Performance - Coca-Cola's stock surged approximately 19.7% in the three months leading to late April 2025, with a year-to-date gain of about 18.8%, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of around 10% [3][4] - The company's low beta of 0.45 indicates lower volatility compared to the market average, enhancing its appeal during market downturns [4] Dividend Information - Coca-Cola has a dividend yield of 2.83% and has increased its annual dividend for 63 consecutive years, solidifying its status as a Dividend King [6][7] - The latest quarterly dividend was raised by approximately 5.2%, resulting in an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, up from $1.94 in 2024 [7][9] - The dividend payout ratio is reported at 82.6%, but a more sustainable ratio based on comparable EPS is 70.8% [8] Financial Performance - In FY2024, Coca-Cola's organic revenues increased by 12%, driven by an 11% improvement in price/mix, indicating strong pricing power [10] - The Comparable Operating Margin expanded to 30.0% in FY2024 from 29.1% the previous year, despite increased input costs [11] - Comparable EPS increased by 7% to $2.88 in FY2024, even after a significant currency headwind [13] Cash Flow and Operational Efficiency - Reported cash flow from operations decreased by 41% to $6.8 billion in FY2024, impacted by a $6.0 billion deposit related to tax litigation [14] - Excluding this item, Free Cash Flow reached $10.8 billion, an 11% increase year over year, highlighting strong cash-generating capabilities [14] Strategic Initiatives - Coca-Cola is expanding its product portfolio in response to evolving consumer preferences, including categories like water, sports drinks, and low/no-sugar options [15] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a strong consensus Buy rating for Coca-Cola, with a 12-month price target of $75.06, suggesting a potential upside of 4.31% [16] - The company's management projects solid growth in organic revenue and comparable EPS for the fiscal year, despite anticipated currency headwinds [17]

作者丨Quad 7 Capital 编译 | 华尔街大事件 由于近期市场波动，必须在"爆冷投资"(BAD BEAT Investing) 中保持灵活，指导进出市场对冲 （例如市场看跌期权、反向ETF）以及转向防御性股票，这个策略帮助我们轻松跑赢过去两个 月。 Verizon ( NYSE: VZ )完全符合 "爆冷投资"的标准。如今，电信业已成为"必需品"。但由于他们 购买设备，尤其是手机、光纤电缆等等，因此并非完全没有关税风险。这些成本很可能会转嫁给 消费者。因此，虽然并非完全没有关税风险，但该行业肯定不会受到影响。 第一季度的业绩 超 出预期，股价波动不大。尽管如此，鉴于其防御性和高收益，该股值得买入。 首先，营收超出预期。假期过后，第一季度通常表现疲软。这往往是最复杂、最难以预测的季度 之一。但考虑到营收比预期高出2.2亿美元，盈利能力再次强劲。营收达到335亿美元，同比增长 1.5%。 预计第一季度的营收为332亿至335亿美元，因此Verizon在这方面的业绩肯定高于我们的预期。 新增客户情况如何？预计本季度Fios用户净增超过4万。预计后付费净亏损和无线后付费电话总 新增用户将同比增长个位数。预计 ...