Core Insights - The Western Union Company (WU) is positioned for growth due to declining expenses, strong performance in Consumer Services and Branded Digital businesses, and investments to enhance digital capabilities [1][10] - The company has a market capitalization of $2.9 billion and is currently rated Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating solid investment prospects [2] Financial Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for WU's current-year earnings is $1.73 per share, with two upward revisions in the past 60 days [3] - Revenue estimates for 2025 and 2026 are approximately $4.09 billion and $4.11 billion, respectively, supported by growth in high-demand remittance corridors like Latin America [5] - WU's shares have decreased by 12.5% over the past year, compared to an 8.4% decline in the industry [3] Valuation Metrics - WU's forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio is 5.24X, significantly lower than its five-year median of 7.54X and the industry average of 21.16X, indicating the stock is more affordable [4] - The company has a Value Score of A, suggesting it is undervalued relative to its peers [4] Operational Efficiency - WU has successfully reduced total expenses by 9% in 2022, with further reductions of 1.4% in 2023, 1.6% in 2024, and 5% in the first nine months of 2025 [6] - The adjusted operating margin is expected to be between 19% and 21% for 2025, benefiting from ongoing cost-reduction strategies [6][10] Shareholder Returns - WU offers an attractive dividend yield of 10.05%, significantly higher than the industry average of 0.68% [7] - In 2024, WU returned $496 million to shareholders, including $318 million in dividends and $177 million in share repurchases [7] - As of September 30, 2025, WU had $800.3 million authorized for further share repurchases [7] Strategic Growth Initiatives - The acquisition of International Money Express, Inc. (IMXI) for $500 million is expected to be a major growth driver, enhancing WU's presence in markets with large migrant populations and increasing digital adoption [5] - The transaction is anticipated to close by mid-2026, aligning with WU's expansion plans [5]

Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) shares closed slightly higher during Tuesday's session.On Tuesday, Baird analyst Colin Sebastian maintained Meta with an Outperform rating and lowered the price target from $820 to $815, according to Benzinga Pro.With the recent buzz around Meta, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. As of now, Meta offers an annual dividend yield of 0.32%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 52.5 cents per share ($2.10 a year).  So, how can inv ...

Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) , last week, posted stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter 2026 results and raised its full-year outlook.On Dec. 17, the company reported quarterly adjusted earnings per share of $2.85, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $2.70. Quarterly net revenue of $8.31 billion, up by 18.7% year-over-year (Y/Y). It outpaced the analyst consensus estimate of $8.09 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.The company projects fiscal 2026 net revenue of $32.400 billion (up from prior ...

Jabil Inc. (NYSE:JBL) , last week, posted stronger-than-expected fiscal first-quarter 2026 results and raised its full-year outlook.On Dec. 17, the company reported quarterly adjusted earnings per share of $2.85, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $2.70. Quarterly net revenue of $8.31 billion, up by 18.7% year-over-year (Y/Y). It outpaced the analyst consensus estimate of $8.09 billion, according to data from Benzinga Pro.The company projects fiscal 2026 net revenue of $32.400 billion (up from prior ...

How many ETFs can you name that yield over 5% that don't involve covered call strategies? ...

Sempra (NYSE:SRE) shares closed slightly lower during Friday's sessionThe company narrowed its FY2025 adjusted EPS forecast from $4.30-$4.70 to $4.70, compared with market estimates of $4.54, according to Benzinga Pro data.With the recent buzz around Sempra, some investors may be eyeing potential gains from the company's dividends too. As of now, Sempra offers an annual dividend yield of 2.97%, which is a quarterly dividend amount of 64.5 cents per share ($2.58 a year).  How can investors leverage its divid ...

Core Insights - The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) and Fidelity High Dividend ETF (FDVV) both target U.S. companies with above-average dividend yields but differ in their strategies and characteristics [1][2]. Cost and Size Comparison - FDVV has an expense ratio of 0.15% and assets under management (AUM) of $7.7 billion, while VYM has a lower expense ratio of 0.06% and AUM of $84.6 billion [3]. - As of December 18, 2025, FDVV's one-year return is 10.62% compared to VYM's 9.99%, and FDVV offers a higher dividend yield of 3.02% versus VYM's 2.42% [3]. Performance and Risk Analysis - Over the past five years, FDVV experienced a maximum drawdown of -20.17%, while VYM had a drawdown of -15.87% [4]. - An investment of $1,000 in FDVV would grow to $1,754 over five years, compared to $1,567 for VYM [4]. Portfolio Composition - VYM tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index with 566 holdings, primarily in financial services (21%), technology (18%), and healthcare (13%), featuring top stocks like Broadcom, JPMorgan Chase, and Exxon Mobil [5]. - FDVV has a more concentrated portfolio with 107 holdings, focusing heavily on technology (26%) and consumer defensive (12%) sectors, with major positions in Nvidia, Microsoft, and Apple [6]. Investment Implications - While FDVV offers a higher dividend yield, its higher expense ratio may offset some income benefits, making the net earnings from both funds relatively similar for most investors [7][8]. - The sector allocation indicates that VYM is more stable due to its focus on financial services, whereas FDVV's heavier tech exposure may lead to higher volatility and potential returns [9][10].

Core Insights - AngloGold Ashanti has experienced a remarkable 245% gain this year, with a 262% increase over the past five years, indicating a transformation from a slow-moving equity to a high-growth stock [1] Company Performance - The company operates mines in Africa, Australia, and the Americas, and has effectively managed costs, allowing it to benefit from rising gold prices while providing a quarterly dividend with a yield of 2.59%, outperforming the S&P 500 this year and over the past five years [2] - AngloGold Ashanti's gold production increased by 17% year over year in Q3, resulting in a record $920 million in free cash flow, which is up 141% year over year [5] Market Dynamics - Gold prices have surged by more than 60% this year, creating a favorable environment for gold mining stocks, although company-specific factors also influence individual stock performance [4] - The company is preparing to further increase gold production in 2026 through investments in its Mineral Reserve base and enhancing operational flexibility [6] Financial Health - AngloGold Ashanti closed the quarter with $4.54 billion in current assets and $1.76 billion in current liabilities, resulting in a healthy current ratio of 2.58, which supports potential dividend increases and additional mining projects [7]

The Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF tracks the S&P U.S. Dividend Growers Index, which comprises stocks that have raised their dividends for at least 10 consecutive years. It's a vast portfolio of 338 stocks, with an emphasis on large-cap firms that have a consistent history of dividend growth. Its sector exposure is tilted toward technology (27.8%), financial services (21.4%), and healthcare (16.7%), with major positions in Broadcom (NASDAQ:AVGO), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). The bro ...

Chevron Corp (CVX) could raise its dividend per share (DPS) next month, as it has done for the past 38 years. That implies the value of CVX stock could be 15% too cheap, based on its average yield. Shorting out-of-the-money puts also works here. CVX closed at $147.75 on Friday, Dec. 19. It's well off a recent peak of $157.72 on Oct. 31. But, if Chevron raises the DPS by 5% as expected in January, it could be worth $170.27, or over 15% higher than Friday's close. This article will show why and some ways to ...