While major indexes and many growth stocks started 2026 sluggishly, investors have been finding their way back to value and dividend stocks. One beneficiary has been Altria (NYSE: MO), which is up more than 12% year to date as of March 26. It's obviously a plus that Altria's stock is up, but its main selling point to investors is its consistently attractive dividend. It's routinely one of the highest you'll find in the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC). Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team jus ...

Verizon Communications has quietly been rebuilding its investment case. New CEO Dan Schulman took the reins in October 2025 and wasted no time making big moves. He slashed$9 billion in combined operating and capital expenses, closed the $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications, and authorized a $25 billion share buyback program. That's a lot of change in a short time. But for dividend investors, the Dow 30 stock still offers a compelling yield in 2026. A dividend stock built on 20 years of hike ...

Company Overview - ONE Gas (OGS) is headquartered in Tulsa and operates in the Utilities sector, with a stock price change of 9.97% since the beginning of the year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.68 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.2%, which is higher than the Utility - Gas Distribution industry's yield of 2.96% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.51% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of ONE Gas is $2.72, reflecting a 1.5% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past 5 years, ONE Gas has increased its dividend 5 times, achieving an average annual increase of 4.53% [4] - The company's current payout ratio is 60%, indicating that it pays out 60% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth and Investment Appeal - ONE Gas is expected to see earnings growth this fiscal year, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 at $4.73 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 5.58% [5] - The company is considered an attractive dividend investment option, supported by a strong Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [6]

CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) is included among the Dividend Stock Portfolio for Income: 15 Stocks to Invest In. Truist Cuts CubeSmart (CUBE) Target, Updates REIT Outlook after Q4 On March 26, Truist Financial trimmed its price recommendation on CubeSmart (NYSE:CUBE) to $41 from $42. It kept a Buy rating on the shares. The update came alongside a broader reset of REIT models after Q4. The firm adjusted its assumptions around revenue growth and expenses, based on what it’s seeing now. On the earnings call, CFO ...

Core Viewpoint - Energy Transfer LP is highlighted as a strong dividend stock with a yield around 7%, providing steady income while enhancing operations, potentially making it the best dividend stock of the year [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Energy Transfer has a current market capitalization of $66 billion and a stock price of $19.44, with a year-to-date increase of over 16% [2]. - The company pays an annual dividend of $1.34 per share, with a dividend yield of 6.92%, which has been steadily increasing over the past few years [2]. - The stock's forward P/E ratio is 11.5, and the PEG ratio is 0.64, indicating it is trading below Wall Street's average target price and is considered a solid investment at a fair price [3]. Group 2: Growth Prospects - Energy Transfer plans to invest over $5 billion in projects to enhance its natural gas network, which could support returns in the mid-teens [4]. - The company anticipates a long-term distribution growth rate of 3% to 5% annually, indicating a positive outlook for future cash flows [2][4]. Group 3: Market Conditions - Current geopolitical conditions are favorable for Energy Transfer, particularly with a shift in policy from the Trump administration towards natural gas, which may benefit the company's operations [4]. - Analysts generally rate Energy Transfer as a "buy," reflecting confidence in its business model and market position [3]. Group 4: Long-term Investment Potential - For long-term investors seeking high-yield income, Energy Transfer is positioned as a compelling cash-flow opportunity, potentially becoming the best option by 2026 [5].

Group 1 - The stock of AT&T has recently shown a technical turnaround, indicated by a Golden Cross, suggesting a potential change in trend after a steady increase rather than a speculative spike [1] - The technical indicators, including the RSI and MACD, are showing positive momentum, indicating a constructive outlook rather than an overheated market [2] - AT&T has refocused on its core telecom business, particularly in wireless and fiber, which provides clearer cash flow visibility and reduces strategic noise [3] Group 2 - The company's previous appeal was primarily based on its dividend, with investors seeking income rather than growth; however, the current setup indicates a shift towards total return potential [4][5] - In a market dominated by high-growth tech, there is an increasing interest in steady compounders like AT&T, which are beginning to show technical strength and cleaner execution [6] - The stock has appreciated over 17% year-to-date, with a 5% increase in the past month, indicating improving price action alongside a stable dividend [7]

Core Viewpoint - Amid geopolitical uncertainty, investors are advised to consider dividend-paying consumer stocks, which tend to be more stable compared to high-growth AI stocks [1] Group 1: Investment Opportunity in Clorox - Clorox (CLX) is highlighted as a smart investment choice, with a current price allowing for the purchase of approximately 48 shares with a $5,000 investment [3] - Clorox has a long history of annual dividend increases, currently paying $4.96 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of about 4.7%, which exceeds the 10-year Treasury yield of around 4.4% [3][8] - The company has a market capitalization of $13 billion and a gross margin of 44.04%, with the stock trading at 17 times earnings, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors [7][8] Group 2: Recent Performance and Challenges - Clorox experienced a surge in product demand during the pandemic, but the stock has declined over 55% from its peak due to a cyberattack in 2023 and challenges in implementing a new CRM system [5] - The company's sales for the first six months of fiscal 2026 were $3.1 billion, reflecting a 10% decline, but analysts expect the decline rate to improve to 8% for fiscal 2026 and a rebound of 5% in fiscal 2027 [7][8] - Clorox generated $778 million in free cash flow, which comfortably covered its $602 million in dividend costs, indicating the likelihood of continued dividend increases [8] Group 3: Future Growth Potential - As Clorox addresses its CRM system issues, sales growth is anticipated to recover, potentially leading to a cycle of higher dividends and an increasing stock price [10] - The current low valuation and depressed stock price position Clorox as a viable investment for generating cash returns comparable to fixed-income investments [9]

Core Viewpoint - Domino's Pizza has experienced a significant stock price drop despite strong underlying business performance, presenting a potential investment opportunity for dividend-seeking investors [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - The company's fourth-quarter revenue increased by 6.4% year over year to $1.53 billion, driven by a 3.7% rise in U.S. same-store sales, indicating effective promotions and a revamped loyalty program [5]. - Earnings per share for the fourth quarter reached $5.35, a 9.4% increase from $4.89 in the same quarter last year [5]. - Free cash flow surged by 31.2% year over year to approximately $672 million for fiscal 2025 [6]. Shareholder Returns - Domino's approved a 15% increase in its quarterly dividend, raising it to $1.99 per share, and repurchased about $355 million in shares during fiscal 2025 [7]. - The company has nearly $460 million in authorized share repurchases remaining, allowing for opportunistic buybacks while shares are undervalued [8]. Growth Outlook - Domino's aims for annual global retail sales growth of 7% or more from 2026 to 2028, with current stock trading at 21 times earnings, making it an attractive investment [10]. - The dividend yield stands at 2.1%, supported by a conservative payout ratio of 39% in fiscal 2025 [11].

Dividend Stock Yielding 7% Eyes A Breakout | Investor's Business Daily IPO TRENDS: SpaceX Is Just One Unicorn To Watch The energy company and dividend stock Diversified Energy (DEC) is attempting to break outthis week, taking yet another run at 20-month highs. That supports Diversified's 7% dividend yield, the highest among its peers, according to Truist. Dividend Stock: Diversified Energy On Wednesday, shares rose more than 2%. So far this week, the stock is up more than 5% after having jumped nearly 11% t ...

Core Insights - American Express shares have recently declined to around $300 from a 52-week high of over $387, raising questions about market pessimism versus stock valuation [1] - The company's strong business momentum and aggressive capital return strategy suggest this may be a good buying opportunity [1][3] Financial Performance - American Express expects earnings per share for 2026 to be between $17.30 and $17.90, indicating over 14% year-over-year growth [4] - In 2025, the company generated $72.2 billion in total revenue, a 10% year-over-year increase, and returned $7.6 billion to shareholders [5] - The quarterly dividend was increased by 16% to $0.95 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.3% [6] Strategic Focus - The company targets high-spending consumers, which drives reliable growth [7] - A major refresh of the Platinum Card included a fee increase from $695 to $895, accompanied by new lifestyle and travel perks to retain affluent customers [8][9] - Net card fees reached $10 billion in 2025, an 18% year-over-year increase, demonstrating effective engagement strategies [10] Valuation and Market Position - American Express shares are currently trading at about 17 times the $17.60 midpoint of management's 2026 earnings guidance, indicating a reasonable valuation [12] - The company's double-digit earnings growth, recent dividend hike, and active buyback program support the justification of its current valuation [13]