Core Viewpoint - The article discusses top dividend stock picks for the upcoming year, highlighting a diverse selection across different sectors, including a REIT, materials, energy, and healthcare stocks, aimed at providing stable income regardless of market conditions [1][3]. Group 1: Stock Selections - Amcor is highlighted for its recent merger with Barry, projecting 13% earnings growth next year and 11% the following year, and is considered a dividend aristocrat [4]. - Bristol Myers is noted for its strong cash flow and potential for earnings growth, although its growth is expected to materialize further out [2][4][16]. - Enbridge, a major pipeline company with 40,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines, is positioned to benefit from ongoing energy demand without being overly exposed to oil and gas price cycles [5]. - Vichy, primarily a REIT focused on casinos, maintained 100% occupancy during the pandemic and is currently trading nearly 10% below its recent high, offering a 6.4% yield [6][9]. Group 2: Market Context and Performance - The selected stocks generally yield around 6%, with Bristol Myers yielding approximately 4.5%, and all are trading at about 10 times earnings [2]. - The healthcare sector, particularly for Bristol Myers, is expected to see improved clarity and appreciation due to ongoing discussions around drug pricing [5]. - Vichy's stock performance has been impacted by perceptions of weakness in Las Vegas, despite its strong occupancy rates and long-term leases with high-quality tenants [7][11]. Group 3: Dividend Strategy and Economic Considerations - The discussion emphasizes the importance of dividend income, especially in a context of potentially higher interest rates, suggesting that dividends may still provide better income growth compared to treasury yields [18][19]. - The historical growth rate of dividend income is noted to be around 5.5%, aligning with the S&P's dividend growth, making dividend-paying stocks attractive for income-seeking investors [19]. - Companies like Amcor face challenges in assessing their debt portfolios and interest expenses in a rising rate environment, particularly with significant maturities approaching in 2027 [20][21].

Markets are flat early Tuesday in holiday-thinned trading before head of the release of new data on how the U.S. economy fared in the third quarter. Futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq are all essentially unchanged before the opening bell. Shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk jumped more than 7% overnight after U.S. regulators approved a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. Novo's Wegov ...

HSBC's senior research analyst Rajesh Kumar believes Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) "might have an edge†over rival Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) heading into 2026. His remarks arrive shortly after the Danish pharm... ...

Yesterday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novo Nordisk 's ( NYSE:NVO ) Wegovy weight-loss pill, the first of its kind. ...

Wall Street traded modestly higher Wednesday, with large-cap benchmarks attempting a fourth straight day of gains as investors looked ahead to a seasonally strong year-end stretch.By midday in New York, the S&P 500 was up 0.4% near 6,900, hovering within striking distance of last October's all-time highs at 6,920. The Nasdaq 100 also added 0.4%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 0.3%. Small caps lagged, with the Russell 2000 down about 0.6%.The session was shaped by the release of stronger-than ...

U.S. stocks traded higher midway through trading, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 100 points on Tuesday.The Dow traded up 0.22% to 48,469.41 while the NASDAQ rose 0.40% to 23,521.69. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining, 0.34% to 6,901.90.Check This Out: Meta Platforms To $815? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For TuesdayLeading and Lagging SectorsCommunication services shares rose by 0.5% on Tuesday.In trading on Tuesday, consumer staples stocks fell by 0.5%.Top HeadlineU.S. durable goods orders decl ...

On Friday, BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (NASDAQ:BMRN) agreed to acquire Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:FOLD) for a total equity value of about $4.8 billion."Immediately upon close, this transaction is expected to accelerate BioMarin's revenue growth and strengthen our financial outlook, delivering significant value to patients, employees, and stockholders. The transaction is expected to be accretive to Non-GAAP Diluted EPS in the first 12 months following close," said Alexander Hardy, President and Chief ...

Investors with a lot of money to spend have taken a bullish stance on Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN).And retail traders should know.We noticed this today when the positions showed up on publicly available options history that we track here at Benzinga.Whether these are institutions or just wealthy individuals, we don't know. But when something this big happens with REGN, it often means somebody knows something is about to happen.Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 13 options trades for Regene ...

Canadians face a longer-than-expected wait for cheaper versions of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic after two of the biggest generics makers were hit with additional requests from the health regulator https://t.co/3Et2j0wEIi ...

Key Takeaways High-yield dividend stocks offer predictable income and help cushion portfolios amid market volatility.Reinvesting dividends can enhance long-term wealth through compounding while retaining equity exposure.Strong cash flow, disciplined payouts and steady business models aid sustainable dividends across cycles.In 2025, the U.S. economy showed modest growth amid mixed signals. After a weak start to the year, real GDP rebounded sharply in the second quarter, expanding 3.8%, according to the U.S. ...