The company is at risk of cutting its dividend.United Parcel Services (UPS -2.72%) has been getting a lot of attention as one of the three highest-yielding stocks in the S&P 500 (^GSPC -2.71%) along with chemical giant LyondellBasell Industries and consumer packaged food company Conagra Brands. But the yields of these companies have been going up because of falling stock prices.UPS' dividend yield is hovering around an all-time high of 7.6%, as the stock price is down 31.3% year to date and 47.7% in three y ...

Group 1 - The focus has shifted towards offshore drilling, supply industry, and shipping, including tankers, containers, and dry bulk [1] - The fuel cell industry is being monitored as it is still in its early stages of development [1] Group 2 - The individual has extensive experience in auditing with PricewaterhouseCoopers before transitioning to day trading nearly 20 years ago [2] - Successfully navigated significant market events such as the dotcom bubble, the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks, and the subprime crisis [2]

Core Viewpoint - Dow Inc. is facing significant challenges, with its stock price down approximately 50% since its spin-off in April 2019, and currently yielding 10.3%, the highest in the S&P 500 [1][17] Industry Overview - Dow operates in the commodity chemicals sector, producing a wide range of products used across various industries, including electronics, food packaging, textiles, and healthcare [4] - The company lacks pricing power due to the commoditized nature of its products, similar to the oil and gas industry, necessitating scale and operational efficiency to remain competitive [5] Economic Challenges - Recent economic conditions have led to low demand for Dow's products, driven by high borrowing costs and slowing growth in key markets, particularly Europe [6] - Increased competition from China, which is investing heavily in manufacturing, poses a threat to Dow's market share and pricing [7] Financial Performance - Dow's latest quarter showed a 3% decline in net sales despite a sixth consecutive quarter of year-over-year volume growth, indicating competitive pressures [9] - The company's operating margin has decreased significantly from pre-pandemic levels of around 8% to just 3.3% currently, with a profit margin of less than 1% [9][11] Cash Flow and Dividend Sustainability - Dow is currently free-cash-flow negative, relying on asset sales and debt to cover its dividend expenses [11][12] - The company has paused its Path2Zero project to save $1 billion, reducing enterprise spending from $3.5 billion to $2.5 billion [8] - A recent asset sale netted Dow $2.4 billion, covering dividend expenses for approximately five quarters [13][14] Future Outlook - Dow is projected to receive around $6 billion in additional cash or cost savings, which may help support its dividend in the short term [15] - The company has manageable debt levels, with only $500 million maturing in 2025, but continued low margins may necessitate a dividend cut [16] - Dow's long-term goal is for its dividend to represent 45% of operating income, which may require either margin improvements or a reduction in the dividend payout [19][20]

Group 1 - FMC Corporation is a global agricultural giant that provides innovative and sustainable crop protection solutions, with a history dating back to 1883 [1] - The company has evolved significantly over the years, entering various businesses beyond its initial focus on insecticide spraying [1] Group 2 - The analyst expresses a focus on undervalued and disliked companies or industries with strong fundamentals and good cash flows, particularly in sectors like Oil & Gas and consumer goods [1] - The analyst emphasizes a long-term value investing approach while also engaging in deal arbitrage opportunities [1]