Group 1 - Several businesses have experienced slowdowns over the past 2 to 3 years due to prolonged high interest rates [1] - The impact of tariff implementations has become more evident, particularly affecting businesses with operations in China [1] Group 2 - The article emphasizes the importance of due diligence for investors and encourages building investment portfolios of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [2]

Group 1: McDonald's Corporation - McDonald's continues to show strong performance with a notable increase in global comparable sales, which rose by 10.3% in the last quarter [1] - The company is focusing on digital innovation and menu enhancements to drive customer engagement and sales growth [1] - McDonald's expansion strategy includes opening new locations in international markets, contributing to overall revenue growth [1] Group 2: Walmart Inc - Walmart reported a 6.2% increase in total revenue, reaching $152.9 billion for the last quarter, driven by strong e-commerce sales [1] - The company is investing heavily in technology to improve supply chain efficiency and enhance customer experience [1] - Walmart's grocery segment remains a key growth driver, with a significant increase in online grocery orders [1] Group 3: AbbVie Inc - AbbVie experienced a revenue increase of 8.5%, totaling $14.5 billion, primarily due to strong sales of its immunology and oncology products [1] - The company is actively pursuing strategic acquisitions to diversify its product portfolio and enhance growth prospects [1] - AbbVie is focusing on research and development to bring new therapies to market, which is expected to drive future revenue growth [1]

Core Viewpoint - Employees are increasingly expected to manage their own retirement planning, with the Central Provident Fund (CPF) in Singapore being a primary source of retirement savings, but it should be supplemented with income-generating equities [1] Group 1: CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) - CICT is the first and largest real estate industrial trust (REIT) listed on the Singapore Exchange, owning a diverse portfolio of malls, offices, and integrated developments primarily in Singapore, with additional assets in Australia and Germany [3][4] - The REIT currently offers a yield of 4.7%, with an average lease term exceeding three years, ensuring a stable income stream [4] - CICT benefits from a strong sponsor, Capitaland Investment, which provides a pipeline of assets for future growth, although it is sensitive to interest rate changes that can affect borrowing costs and property values [5][6][7] Group 2: DBS Group Holdings - DBS is Singapore's largest bank and company by market capitalization, significantly influencing the Straits Times Index [8] - The bank has shown impressive growth, with net profit increasing by 142% from S$4.7 billion in 2020 to S$11.4 billion in 2024, and dividends per share rising by 181% from S$0.79 to S$2.22 [9] - Currently, DBS offers a yield of around 5% and has a strong track record of increasing dividends, alongside a S$3 billion share buyback program [9][10] Group 3: Singapore Exchange (SGX) - SGX has performed well financially over the past five years, with net profit increasing by nearly 46% from S$445 million in FY2021 to S$648 million in FY2025, despite previous perceptions of being primarily a dividend stock [13] - The exchange operates as a "toll gate" business, generating revenue from transaction fees, with only 2% of FY2025 revenue coming from listing fees [14] - SGX maintains a strong dividend yield of around 2.2% and has consistently increased dividends since FY2009, benefiting from its monopoly status in a major financial hub [14][16][17]

Group 1 - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend investing in quality blue-chip stocks, BDCs, and REITs for building a sustainable retirement income [1] - The author aims to assist lower and middle-class workers in creating investment portfolios focused on high-quality, dividend-paying companies [1] - The perspective provided is intended to help investors achieve financial independence through strategic investment choices [1] Group 2 - The author has a beneficial long position in the shares of MO, indicating a personal investment interest in the company [2] - The article expresses the author's own opinions and is not influenced by compensation from any company mentioned [2] - There is no business relationship between the author and any company whose stock is discussed, ensuring an unbiased viewpoint [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 [1][2]. Group 1: Investment Strategy - The company adopts a buy-and-hold investment strategy, focusing on 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 emphasis on educating investors to conduct their own due diligence before making investment decisions [1].