Core Viewpoint - Marriott International is positioned as a strong dividend stock despite a modest yield of approximately 0.8%, supported by a robust business model that emphasizes steady growth and significant cash returns to shareholders through share repurchases [4][15]. Business Model and Financial Performance - Marriott operates on an "asset light" business model, primarily acting as a platform operator for hotels owned by other companies, which allows for strong cash flow without heavy capital investment in real estate [6][7]. - In Q3, Marriott's total revenue increased by 4% year-over-year to about $6.5 billion, with base management and franchise fees rising nearly 6% to approximately $1.2 billion, while net income surged by 25% year-over-year [8]. - The company returned a total of $3.1 billion to shareholders over the past three quarters, with expectations to return about $4 billion for the full year, reflecting a solid return for a company with a market capitalization of around $88 billion [9]. Growth Opportunities - Marriott's growth is expected to continue, driven by an increase in hotel openings, room additions, and enhanced customer loyalty engagement, with 17,900 net rooms added in Q3, marking a 4.7% year-over-year increase [10]. - The development pipeline reached a record of approximately 3,900 properties and over 596,000 rooms, which is anticipated to drive fee growth and customer acquisition [10]. - The Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program added 12 million members in Q3, bringing total membership to nearly 260 million, which supports pricing power and enhances brand value for hotel owners [12]. Market Position and Valuation - Marriott's stock trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 34 and a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 27, indicating that investors are willing to pay a premium for its growth story [15]. - The company’s dividend is underpinned by a fee-based model, a strong loyalty platform, and consistent room growth, which are expected to contribute to both share price appreciation and dividend growth over the long term [15].

BREAKING: Futures Fall, Defense Stocks Rebound Today's Spotlight MarketSurge New Year Sale Invest smarter in 2026 with our BEST deal—14 months of MarketSurge for $1,499 ($600 off). Listen to IBD's podcast for new investing tips and trade ideas every week. Subscribe today! Get Market Insights on IBD Live Join IBD Live to watch and discuss the market action in real time with top market analysts. More News Partner Center Investors looking for a dependable dividend stock with a long history of annual increases ...

iREIT+HOYA Capital is the premier income-focused investing service on Seeking Alpha. Our focus is on income-producing asset classes that offer the opportunity for sustainable portfolio income , diversification , and inflation hedging . Get started with a Free Two-Week Trial and take a look at our top ideas across our exclusive income-focused portfolios.It pays to go off the beaten path from highly priced growth stocks in favor of value. For one thing, the S&P 500 ( SPX ) currently has a high P/E ratio of 25 ...

Group 1 - The article promotes iREIT on Alpha as a platform providing in-depth research on various investment vehicles including REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, and ETFs, highlighting its positive testimonials [1] - Leo Nelissen is identified as an analyst focusing on economic developments related to supply chains, infrastructure, and commodities, contributing to actionable investment ideas with an emphasis on dividend growth opportunities [1] Group 2 - The article includes a disclosure regarding the analyst's long positions in several companies, indicating a personal investment interest in CNQ, CME, TPL, ODFL, RTX, HD, and UNP [2] - It is noted that the article expresses the author's opinions and does not involve compensation from the companies mentioned, emphasizing an independent analysis [2]

Cash is King – everyone is undoubtedly familiar with this saying. But did you know it rings true for corporations? Especially in today’s volatile economic climate, having a strong cash position is of paramount importance. In this piece, we spotlight five companies that boast strong cash balances: Sheng Siong Group Ltd (SGX: OV8), Wee Hur Holdings Ltd (SGX: E3B), Propnex Ltd (SGX: OYY), Raffles Medical Group Ltd (SGX: BSL), and Riverstone Holdings Ltd (SGX: AP4).What Defines a “Cash-Rich, Rock-Solid” Company ...

Core Insights - NNN REIT (NNN) provides an attractive yield with a nearly 6% dividend yield and has a history of over 35 years of steady dividend growth [3] Group 1: Company Overview - NNN REIT is recognized for its reliable dividend growth, appealing to investors seeking stable income [3] - The company has maintained a strong performance in the real estate investment trust sector, focusing on long-term wealth creation [2] Group 2: Investment Strategy - The Cash Builder Opportunities service emphasizes high-quality dividend growth investments and options writing to enhance income for investors [2][3] - The leader of Cash Builder Opportunities has 14 years of investing experience, focusing on closed-end funds and dividend growth stocks [3]

Join iREIT on Alpha today to get the most in-depth research that includes REITs, mREITs, Preferreds, BDCs, MLPs, ETFs, and other income alternatives. 438 testimonials and most are 5 stars. Nothing to lose with our FREE 2-week trial .As much as I like the holiday season, especially the days before Christmas and the time between Christmas and New Year's Eve, I'm quite happy we're going back to "normal," as it's getting annoying not knowing what dayLeo Nelissen is an analyst focusing on major economic developm ...

Core Viewpoint - American Express is demonstrating strong dividend growth alongside aggressive share buybacks, raising questions about its long-term investment value after a significant stock price increase [1][3]. Dividend Growth - The company has increased its dividend by 17% in March, reflecting robust business strength, with a current yield of 0.9% [5][6]. - American Express's annual dividend payments represent only 21% of the expected earnings per share for 2025, allowing for continued investment and potential future dividend increases [6][12]. Financial Performance - In the third quarter, American Express reported a revenue increase of 11% year-over-year to $18.4 billion and a net income rise of 16% to $2.9 billion, with earnings-per-share growth at 19% [7][8]. - The company has seen strong momentum, particularly in demand for its U.S. Platinum products, with account acquisitions doubling compared to pre-refresh levels [8]. Share Repurchases - In the first nine months of 2025, American Express returned $6.1 billion to shareholders, with $4.4 billion from share repurchases and $1.7 billion from dividends [9]. - The company has a history of aggressive share repurchases, returning $7.9 billion to shareholders in 2024, with $5.9 billion from buybacks [10]. Valuation and Market Position - The stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of about 25, up from 21 a year ago, reflecting its premium valuation in the financial sector [11]. - Despite the higher valuation, the company's strong earnings momentum and low payout ratio suggest that robust dividend growth is likely to continue [12].

Core Insights - RLI Corp. (RLI) shares have gained momentum, trading above the 50-day simple moving average (SMA), indicating a bullish trend [1][3][8] - The Zacks average price target for RLI is $69.25 per share, suggesting a potential upside of 7.3% from the last closing price [2] - RLI shares have underperformed over the past year, losing 21.6% compared to the industry's growth of 11% [4][20] Company Performance - RLI is a specialty property-casualty (P&C) underwriter focused on niche markets, with a strong local branch office network and a broad range of product offerings [4][13] - The company has a solid dividend track record, having paid dividends for 190 consecutive quarters and increased its regular dividend for 50 straight years, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 8.8% [16] - RLI's combined ratio remains exemplary, reflecting strong underwriting profitability, and management is focused on enhancing performance by exiting underperforming products [15][20] Financial Metrics - RLI's price-to-book multiple is 3.14, significantly higher than the industry average of 1.52 and the median of 1.37, indicating that the stock is overvalued compared to peers [10][12] - The trailing 12-month return on equity for RLI is 16.5%, well above the industry average of 8%, while return on invested capital is 2.1%, below the industry average of 6.2% [17] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 revenues indicates a 4.1% year-over-year increase, but earnings are expected to decrease by 10.4% year-over-year [18] Market Position - RLI's focus on product diversification and innovation supports solid business expansion, with sustained rate increases and an expanding distribution network [13] - Compared to peers W.R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) and Cincinnati Financial Corp. (CINF), which gained 20.9% and 14.9% respectively over the past year, RLI's performance has lagged [9][20] - Despite its high valuation, RLI is considered an attractive option for income-focused investors due to its impressive dividend history [16][21]

Core Insights - Philip Morris International (PM) is the largest tobacco company, benefiting from strong margins in both its declining cigarette business and its growing "smoke-free" segment [1] - The company's profitability has enabled consistent dividend increases, reflecting its robust financial health [1] Company Analysis - PM has a durable competitive advantage due to its established market position and strong balance sheet [1] - The focus on high-growth smoke-free products indicates a strategic shift towards innovation and sustainability within the tobacco industry [1]