Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:O) yields around 5.5% right now. For many income investors, that number alone looks attractive.But here’s the thing most beginners miss: yield doesn’t tell you if a dividend is safe. It tells you what you’d earn if the company keeps paying. The question is whether they can.A stock yielding 8% sounds better than one yielding 5%. Until the 8% yield gets cut in half. Then you’re stuck with a 4% yield and a stock price that dropped 30%.This happens more often than people think. A ...

Core Viewpoint - Genuine Parts Company (GPC) has a long history of paying dividends, but its financial performance in 2025 has raised concerns about its sustainability, particularly as it now pays out nearly all of its net income in dividends [2][3]. Financial Performance - GPC's earnings payout ratio is at 70.4%, with earnings of $5.81 per share and dividends of $4.09, indicating a concerning trend as net income fell by 31.3% year-over-year to $904 million while dividends continued to rise [3][8]. - The free cash flow (FCF) payout ratio is approximately 60%, which is considered adequate, but the remaining free cash flow after capital expenditures is only $129 million, a significant decrease from $396 million the previous year [4]. Balance Sheet Condition - Total debt has increased by 31% over two years to $6.4 billion, while cash reserves have decreased by 61% to $431 million, leading to a higher debt-to-equity ratio of 1.34x [5][6]. - Interest coverage remains strong at 8.2x, and net debt-to-EBITDA is manageable at 3.1x, but short-term debt has tripled in two years, indicating potential liquidity issues [6]. Dividend History and Growth - GPC has consistently raised its dividend since 1957, making it a Dividend King, but the latest increase of 3% to $1.03 is the slowest growth rate in recent history [7].

Quick Read JAAA holds $24B in assets and pays 5.3% yield monthly from AAA-rated CLO tranches backed by floating-rate corporate loans. December 2025 distribution fell 12.6% year-over-year as Fed rate cuts directly reduce the fund’s floating-rate income. The fund has paid 63 consecutive monthly distributions with zero historical defaults in AAA CLO tranches. Investors rethink ‘hands off’ investing and decide to start making real money The Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF (NYSEARCA:JAAA) has attracted o ...

The Janus Henderson AAA CLO ETF ( NYSEARCA:JAAA ) has attracted over $24 billion in assets from income-seeking investors drawn to its 5.3% yield and monthly distributions. ...

Core Viewpoint - Clorox's dividend yield appears attractive at just under 5%, but the stock has declined 37% over the past year, raising concerns about the sustainability of the dividend [1][9]. Dividend Metrics - The annual dividend is $4.92 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 4.99% [2]. - Clorox has increased its dividend for over 13 consecutive years, with the most recent increase being 1.6% in April 2025 [2]. - The 5-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for dividends is 2.5% [2]. Cash Flow Analysis - In fiscal 2025, Clorox paid $602 million in dividends against a free cash flow of $761 million, resulting in a free cash flow payout ratio of 79% [3][4]. - The payout ratio was concerning in fiscal 2024, where dividends exceeded free cash flow at 123% [3][4]. - Operating cash flow has shown volatility, with figures swinging from $1.5 billion in fiscal 2020 to $695 million in fiscal 2024, then recovering to $981 million in fiscal 2025 [4]. Debt and Equity Position - Clorox has a total debt of $2.88 billion and cash reserves of $167 million, leading to a net debt of $2.71 billion [5]. - The net debt-to-EBITDA ratio is 2.4x, which is considered manageable for a consumer staples company [5]. - Shareholder equity has decreased significantly from $908 million in fiscal 2020 to $321 million in fiscal 2025, indicating a trend of paying out more in dividends and buybacks than the company has earned [6]. Management Outlook - CEO Linda Rendle acknowledged near-term challenges but highlighted operational strength, noting a tenth consecutive quarter of gross margin expansion [7]. - CFO Luc Bellet mentioned expected tariff headwinds of about $100 million annually but views this as manageable through sourcing changes and targeted pricing [7]. - Management expressed confidence in the balance sheet and cash flow, suggesting the dividend is secure, although dividend growth has slowed to 1.6% in 2025 compared to historical rates of 5% to 7% [8]. Dividend Safety Assessment - Clorox has a moderate risk rating for dividend safety, with a fiscal 2025 payout ratio of 79% deemed technically sustainable [9]. - However, the previous year's payout ratio of 123% and recent cash flow volatility raise concerns about the dividend's sustainability [9][10].

Core Viewpoint - Primerica demonstrates strong financial health with a sustainable dividend payout supported by conservative earnings and cash flow metrics [2][3][6]. Financial Metrics - Primerica pays an annual dividend of $4.16 per share, yielding 1.65% [2]. - The earnings payout ratio stands at 19.1%, indicating a very healthy dividend coverage [4][6]. - Operating cash flow coverage for Q3 2025 is 6.0 times, showcasing outstanding cash flow management [4][6]. Cash Flow and Capital Expenditures - In Q3 2025, Primerica generated $202.9 million in operating cash flow while spending only $12.3 million on capital expenditures, resulting in $190.6 million in free cash flow [3]. - Quarterly dividend payments amounted to $33.8 million, further emphasizing strong cash flow coverage [3]. Balance Sheet Strength - As of Q3 2025, Primerica holds $645 million in cash with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, indicating a solid balance sheet [5]. - The insurance subsidiary maintains a risk-based capital ratio of 515%, significantly above the regulatory minimum of 200% [5]. Recent Performance - Q3 2025 revenue increased by 8.1% year-over-year to $839.8 million, while earnings surged by 31.4% to $206.8 million [6][8]. - Management returned $163 million to shareholders in Q3 through $129 million in buybacks and $34 million in dividends [6]. Capital Efficiency - Primerica's return on equity is 34.0%, and the operating margin is 34.2%, reflecting efficient capital deployment [7]. - The profit margin stands at 21.6%, indicating effective conversion of revenue to cash [7].

Core Insights - Emerson Electric has maintained a dividend payment for 68 consecutive years, with a current yield of 1.54% and recent earnings volatility prompting a deeper analysis of its dividend sustainability [1][9] Dividend Overview - The annual dividend is $2.11 per share, with a recent increase of 5.2% in November 2025, marking the company's status as a Dividend Aristocrat for over 25 years [2][9] - The dividend yield stands at 1.54%, reflecting a conservative approach to payout increases with a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.1% [2][10] Payout Ratios and Cash Flow - The earnings payout ratio for fiscal year 2025 is 35.2%, indicating a healthy level of earnings retained for growth [3][4] - The free cash flow (FCF) payout ratio is 44.7%, with $1.19 billion paid in dividends against $2.67 billion in FCF, leaving $1.48 billion for other uses such as debt reduction and share buybacks [3][4] - Operating cash flow coverage is strong at 2.60 times the dividend, providing a substantial cushion even after accounting for capital expenditures [3][4] Historical Performance and Anomalies - Fiscal year 2023 saw a significant drop in operating cash flow to $637 million and FCF to $274 million, with the dividend exceeding FCF by more than four times due to a strategic spinoff [6][8] - The company managed to maintain its $1.2 billion dividend commitment during this transition year, demonstrating management's resolve [8][9] Future Outlook - Cash flow has normalized in fiscal years 2024 and 2025, with both years generating over $2.6 billion in FCF and healthy coverage ratios between 2.2x and 2.4x [8][9] - The overall assessment indicates that the dividend appears secure, supported by a free cash flow payout ratio of 44.7% and a resilient balance sheet [9]

Core Viewpoint - Kraft Heinz is undergoing a business breakup, raising concerns about the sustainability of its dividend and overall business performance [1][6][10] Dividend Analysis - Kraft Heinz offers a dividend yield of approximately 6.4%, significantly higher than the S&P 500 average of 1.2%, providing recurring income for investors [1] - The stock has declined over 20% in the past year, and total returns, including dividends, are negative at -16% [2] - The company's earnings per share for the most recent quarter were $0.52, exceeding the quarterly dividend of $0.40, resulting in a payout ratio of around 77%, which is considered manageable [4] - Free cash flow for Kraft Heinz over the trailing 12 months was $3.6 billion, well above the $1.9 billion paid in dividends, indicating that the dividend appears safe for now [5] Business Breakup and Future Outlook - Kraft Heinz is splitting into two entities, focusing on sauces and spreads, and core food brands, with completion expected by mid-2026 [6][7] - The company reported revenue of $25.8 billion last year, a decline of 3% from the previous year, highlighting struggles in generating growth [7] - Despite the breakup, the company intends to maintain its current dividend level, but future growth initiatives may pressure dividend payments if results do not improve [8] - Over the past five years, Kraft Heinz's stock has declined by about 23%, with total returns remaining negative at -3% even with dividends [10]

Group 1 - The article discusses Ford Motor Company's recent dividend declaration and raises concerns about the safety of its dividend [1] - The previous coverage of Ford's stock was on June 3, indicating ongoing monitoring of the company's financial health [1] Group 2 - The investment strategy mentioned aims to help members outperform the S&P 500 and mitigate risks during market volatility [2] - The service offers a trial to assess its effectiveness in providing actionable investment insights [2]

Core Viewpoint - Hershey faces significant challenges including tariffs, recession, and increased competition, which may impact its financial performance and dividend safety [1] Group 1: Challenges Facing Hershey - Tariffs are creating additional costs for the company, affecting profit margins [1] - The potential for a recession poses a risk to consumer spending on non-essential items like candy [1] - Increased competition in the candy market is putting pressure on Hershey's market share and pricing strategies [1] Group 2: Dividend Safety - The discussion revolves around whether Hershey's dividend remains secure amidst these challenges [1]