Core Viewpoint - A high payout ratio can indicate risk for dividends, but it does not always mean a dividend will be cut, as some high-yielding stocks may still maintain safe dividends despite high payout ratios [1][2]. Kenvue - Kenvue has a payout ratio exceeding 100% and a dividend yield of 5.5%, significantly higher than the S&P 500's average yield of 1.2% [3][4]. - The company recently increased its dividend by 1.2% to $0.2075 per share, totaling $0.83 per share annually, which is less than its earnings per share of $0.75 over the past four quarters [5]. - Kenvue's free cash flow was $1.6 billion, slightly above the cash dividends paid out, indicating potential sustainability concerns depending on external factors affecting its revenue [5][6]. Enbridge - Enbridge offers a higher yield of approximately 5.9% with a payout ratio of 130%, but evaluates its dividend based on distributable cash flow (DCF) rather than earnings [7][8]. - The DCF for the second quarter was 2.9 billion Canadian dollars, and management projects an annual DCF per share between CA$5.50 and CA$5.90, which exceeds the CA$3.77 per share paid in dividends [8][9]. - Enbridge has a history of increasing its dividend for 30 consecutive years, making it a stable option for long-term investors [9]. Realty Income - Realty Income has a dividend yield of 5.4% but a payout ratio exceeding 300%, which may raise concerns about the sustainability of its dividend [11][12]. - The company uses funds from operations (FFO) to assess dividend affordability, reporting an FFO per share of $1.06 in the second quarter, consistent with the previous year [12][13]. - Realty Income has a long history of regular dividend increases and offers monthly payments, appealing to investors seeking frequent income [13].

Core Insights - Dividends are a significant factor for investors when purchasing stocks, providing steady cash flow and compounding returns, but high dividend yields may indicate underlying risks [1] - Sustainable dividends require strong financial fundamentals, with no single metric guaranteeing stability [1] Free Cash Flow (FCF) - FCF represents the cash available after a company has maintained its operations and capital assets, crucial for paying dividends and settling obligations [3] - A company with strong FCF can comfortably fund dividends, reinvest in growth, and reduce debts without financial strain; for example, Sheng Siong generated positive FCF of S$78.9 million, or S$0.052 per share, for the first half of 2025, declaring an unchanged interim dividend of S$0.032 [4][5] Balance Sheet Strength - A strong balance sheet is essential for sustainable dividends, with the gearing ratio indicating a company's debt relative to its assets; a lower ratio suggests better resilience [6] - CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT) has a gearing ratio of approximately 38%, below the Monetary Authority of Singapore's ceiling of 50%, and announced a dividend of S$0.0562 per share for the first half of 2025, an increase from the previous year [7][8] Payout Ratio - The payout ratio measures the percentage of earnings paid out as dividends, with a range of 35% to 65% generally indicating sustainability; excessively high ratios, especially over 100%, signal potential risks [10][11] - Companies like DBS Group Holdings Ltd, Singapore Telecommunications Limited, and Keppel Ltd have payout ratios of 56.3%, 71.1%, and 66.5%, respectively, allowing them to reward shareholders while retaining capital for growth [11][12] Conclusion - Investing in companies with sustainable dividends can provide passive income, but it is essential to assess the underlying financial health through FCF, balance sheet strength, and payout ratios [13][15]

Key Points McDonald's has grown its dividend so prodigiously since 1976 that anyone investing $1,000 then would now be collecting nearly $500,000 in dividends per year. It just announced another 5% dividend increase, which marks 49 years of annual dividend increases. By this time next year, McDonald's will likely hit "Dividend King" status with 50 years of dividend hikes. 10 stocks we like better than McDonald's › In 1976, fast-food giant McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) issued a dividend of $0.025 per sha ...

Company Overview - TowneBank (TOWN) is a community bank headquartered in Portsmouth, experiencing a price change of -1.5% this year [3] - The bank currently pays a dividend of $0.27 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.22%, which is higher than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.36% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.48% [3] Dividend Performance - TowneBank's annualized dividend is $1.08, reflecting an 8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last five years, the bank has increased its dividend four times, achieving an average annual increase of 8.72% [4] - The current payout ratio is 41%, indicating that the bank pays out 41% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TowneBank's earnings in 2025 is $2.93 per share, with an expected increase of 34.40% from the previous year [5] - Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth and the payout ratio [4] Investment Considerations - TowneBank is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend performance and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [6] - Income investors should note that high-yielding stocks may face challenges during periods of rising interest rates [6]

Core Insights - Both Waste Management (WM) and McDonald's (MCD) are recognized for their reliable cash returns, attracting investor interest in 2025 [1][2] - The comparison focuses on which company's dividend presents a better long-term investment opportunity [3] Waste Management (WM) - WM is the largest waste services provider in North America, linking dividend growth to an increasing free cash flow outlook and high-return projects in recycling, renewable natural gas, and medical-waste operations [2] - In Q2 2025, WM's adjusted operating EBITDA is projected at approximately $7.55 billion, with full-year free cash flow guidance raised to between $2.8 billion and $2.9 billion, reflecting a $125 million increase from initial guidance [5] - The company reported a 12.1% year-over-year growth in adjusted operating EBITDA for its legacy waste business, with an EBITDA margin exceeding 31% [6] - WM increased its dividend payout by 10% for 2025 to $3.30 annually, resulting in a dividend yield of 1.5% and a conservative payout ratio of about 47%, allowing room for future increases and reinvestment [8] - CEO Jim Fish highlighted the company's strong performance across various sectors, including core collection, disposal, and healthcare integration [7] McDonald's (MCD) - McDonald's has a larger absolute dividend supported by a highly profitable business model, with global comparable sales rising 3.8% and earnings per share increasing by 12% in Q2 2025 [10][11] - The company raised its quarterly dividend by 6% to $1.77, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.3%, but has a higher payout ratio of about 60%, indicating less flexibility for future increases [11] - McDonald's leverages its franchised model and strong operating margins to convert a significant portion of revenue into earnings, supporting dividends and share repurchases [12] - The company has seen loyalty sales reach approximately $33 billion over the past 12 months, indicating strong demand drivers [12] - Management is focused on value offerings to maintain traffic among price-sensitive consumers, which remains a variable to monitor [13] Comparative Analysis - While McDonald's offers a higher immediate yield, WM's combination of rising free cash flow, conservative payout coverage, and investments in sustainability positions it for stronger long-term dividend growth [15] - Both companies trade at premium valuations, making their growth trajectories critical for investors [14]

Company Overview - Central Pacific Financial (CPF) is based in Honolulu and operates in the Finance sector, specifically through Central Pacific Bank [3] - The company's shares have experienced a price change of 8.43% this year [3] Dividend Information - CPF currently pays a dividend of $0.27 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.43%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 2.75% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.47% [3] - The annualized dividend of $1.08 represents a 3.8% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, CPF has increased its dividend three times, averaging an annual increase of 3.02% [4] - The current payout ratio for CPF is 42%, indicating that the company pays out 42% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CPF's earnings in 2025 is $2.85 per share, reflecting a year-over-year earnings growth rate of 21.79% [5] Investment Considerations - CPF is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend performance and solid earnings growth prospects [6] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stable investment outlook [6]

Core Viewpoint - Warren Buffett's recent stock purchases in Q2 2025 focus on dividend-paying stocks, highlighting a shift towards income-generating investments despite Berkshire Hathaway's historical lack of dividend payments [1][3]. Group 1: Buffett's Dividend Stocks - Buffett purchased 12 dividend stocks in Q2 2025, all of which pay dividends, with notable new additions including Allegion, D.R. Horton, Lamar Advertising, and Nucor [3][4]. - The stocks purchased have varying dividend yields, with Lamar Advertising offering the highest yield at 4.95%, followed by Chevron at 4.34% [3][6]. - Half of the stocks were new additions to Berkshire's portfolio, with UnitedHealth Group being the largest purchase, totaling over 5 million shares [3][4]. Group 2: Dividend Sustainability - The sustainability of dividends is a key consideration for income investors, with Lamar Advertising and Constellation Brands having high payout ratios of 137.5% and 104.5%, respectively, raising concerns about their ability to maintain current dividend levels [7]. - Other stocks purchased by Buffett have payout ratios below 100%, indicating a more sustainable dividend outlook [7]. Group 3: Historical Performance and Valuation - Chevron stands out as a Dividend Champion, having increased its dividend for 38 consecutive years, making it attractive for income investors [8]. - Valuation is also a concern, with Heico's forward price-to-earnings ratio at 59.5, which may deter some investors, while Pool Corp. and Lamar Advertising have forward earnings multiples of 29.9 and 29.5, respectively [9]. Group 4: Best Picks for Income Investors - UnitedHealth Group is highlighted as a strong pick due to its attractive dividend yield and low payout ratio of 36.8%, with expectations for growth in the coming year [10]. - Chevron is considered the best option for income investors, offering a solid dividend yield, a strong track record of increases, and reasonable valuation at 20 times forward earnings [11].

Company Overview - Investar (ISTR) is headquartered in Baton Rouge and operates in the Finance sector [3] - The stock has experienced a price change of 0.23% since the beginning of the year [3] Dividend Information - Investar currently pays a dividend of $0.11 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2% [3] - The dividend yield of the Banks - Southeast industry is 2.38%, while the S&P 500's yield is 1.49% [3] - The company's annualized dividend of $0.44 has increased by 7.3% from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, Investar has raised its dividend 4 times, averaging an annual increase of 11.29% [4] - The current payout ratio is 20%, indicating that the company pays out 20% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 earnings is $1.93 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 2.12% [5] - Earnings growth appears solid for Investar in the current fiscal year [5] Investment Considerations - Investar is viewed as a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile [6] - The stock holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a neutral outlook [6]

Company Overview - Zions Bancorporation (ZION) is headquartered in Salt Lake City and has experienced a price change of -2.01% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.43 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 3.24%, which is higher than the Banks - West industry's yield of 3.1% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.5% [3] Dividend Performance - Zions has an annualized dividend of $1.72, reflecting a 3.6% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, Zions has increased its dividend three times year-over-year, with an average annual increase of 5.20% [4] - The current payout ratio is 31%, indicating that the company pays out 31% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth and Future Outlook - For the fiscal year 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate predicts earnings of $5.78 per share, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 16.77% [5] - The future growth of dividends will depend on earnings growth and the payout ratio [4] Investment Considerations - Zions is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its attractive dividend and strong Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [6] - The company is positioned well as a dividend option, especially compared to high-growth businesses or tech startups that typically do not offer dividends [6]

Company Overview - Veritex Holdings (VBTX) is based in Dallas and operates in the Finance sector, with a year-to-date share price change of 13.51% [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $0.22 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.85%, which is higher than the Banks - Southeast industry's yield of 2.38% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.51% [3] Dividend Performance - The current annualized dividend of Veritex Holdings is $0.88, reflecting a 10% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the past five years, the company has increased its dividend two times on a year-over-year basis, with an average annual increase of 3.74% [4] - The current payout ratio is 39%, indicating that the company paid out 39% of its trailing 12-month earnings per share as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Veritex Holdings' earnings per share for 2025 is $2.23, representing a year-over-year growth rate of 2.76% [5] - The company is positioned as a strong dividend play, appealing to income investors seeking consistent cash flow [6] Investment Considerations - Veritex Holdings is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend performance and solid earnings growth prospects [6] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating a stable outlook [6]