The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) is included among the 10 Cash-Rich Stocks to Buy Now. Keefe Bruyette Updates Goldman Sachs (GS) Outlook Following Conference Discussions Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay On December 17, Keefe Bruyette raised its price target on The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) to $971 from $870 and kept a Market Perform rating on the shares. The firm updated its estimates after recent conference discussions and meetings with management. Separately, The Wall Street Jou ...

Economic Growth Outlook - The U.S. economy is expected to experience accelerated growth in 2026, with a forecasted real GDP growth rate of 2.6%, surpassing the Bloomberg consensus of 2% [3][6] - The growth in 2025 was impacted by higher-than-expected tariffs, which increased the average effective tariff rate by 11 percentage points, contributing to a 0.6 percentage point reduction in GDP in the latter half of 2025 [2][6] Factors Driving Growth - Three main factors are anticipated to drive faster economic growth in 2026: reduced tariff drag, tax cuts from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and more favorable financial conditions due to interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve [6][7] - Consumers are projected to receive an additional $100 billion in tax refunds in the first half of 2026, equating to approximately 0.4% of annual disposable income [7] Labor Market Insights - Despite the optimistic growth outlook, the labor market is not expected to see significant improvement, with the unemployment rate projected to stabilize around 4.5% in 2026 [8][10] - The unemployment rate rose from 4.1% in June to 4.6% in November, indicating a cooling labor market amid economic uncertainties [9] Inflation Trends - Inflation is expected to decline, with core PCE inflation projected to fall to just above 2% by the end of 2026, primarily due to diminishing tariff pass-through effects [12][13] - The current core PCE inflation rate is noted at 2.8%, largely influenced by tariff pass-through, which is expected to rise slightly from 0.5 percentage points to 0.8 percentage points by mid-2026 [12][13]

Schiff pointed out that Morgan Stanley is leading the rethink. Instead of 60% stocks and 40% bonds, Morgan Stanley chief investment officer Mike Wilson now favors 60% stocks, 20% fixed income and 20% gold.That’s a serious concern because bonds remain a core holding in many Americans’ portfolios, especially retirement accounts. For retirees and near-retirees counting on those holdings to preserve purchasing power, inflation can quietly erode wealth — even when markets appear calm. If inflation spikes again, ...

Well, inflation, tariffs, and jobs are a big part of the debate around the economic forecast for 2026. It's like they were all last year. Senior economics reporter Steve Leeman joins us now with a potential bright spot for the new year.And and there were a lot of bright spots in last year versus what the expectations were, Steve. >> Yeah, that's right, Joe. But one of the downsides of tariff was that companies would be forced to lay off workers if they couldn't pass along their added cost.But Morgan Stanley ...

Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) is included among the 15 Dividend Stocks with Low Payout Ratios and Strong Upside. Keefe Bruyette Sees a Supportive 2026 Backdrop for Houlihan Lokey (HLI) Image by Alexsander-777 from Pixabay On December 17, Keefe Bruyette lowered its price target on Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI) to $228 from $230 and kept an Outperform rating. In a research note, the firm said it still expects a constructive economic backdrop in 2026. Results from fiscal Q2 2026 supported that view. R ...

In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks with low payout ratios and strong upside.The payout ratio is one of the simplest ways to assess whether a dividend can sustain itself over time. It shows how much of a company’s earnings are being paid out to shareholders. When the ratio runs high, most of the profits are already spoken for. That leaves less room to invest back into the business.A report by Hartford Funds looked at long-term payout trends within the Russell 1000 Index. ...

Core Insights - Investing in stocks is a preferred method for wealth building, providing both income and growth potential. Dividend stocks are essential for passive income investors, but selecting the right ones can be challenging due to the vast options available [1][2]. Company Summaries Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is a leading global beverage company with a diverse product portfolio, including soft drinks, teas, coffee, and juices. The company has successfully increased product prices while achieving higher revenue and sales [3][4]. - Coca-Cola is an asset-light business model focusing on syrup concentrate production, which allows for higher profit margins and lower operating costs, resulting in significant cash flow and shareholder rewards [4]. - The company has a strong dividend history, being a dividend aristocrat with 63 consecutive years of dividend increases, a yield of 2.90%, and an annual dividend of $2.04. The payout ratio stands at 67.85% [5]. - In Q3, Coca-Cola reported revenue of $12.5 billion, a 5% year-over-year increase, with organic revenue growth of 6%. Operating income surged by 59%, and EPS rose by 30% to $0.86. The company is expected to perform well in 2026 due to its global presence and steady dividend growth [6]. 3M Company - 3M (NYSE:MMM) is a global conglomerate with a diverse range of products in healthcare, industrial, safety, and consumer sectors. The company has recently seen a positive turnaround, with management raising full-year guidance [7][8]. - In Q3, 3M reported revenue of $6.50 billion, up 3.5%, and generated $1.3 billion in adjusted free cash flow. The safety and industrial segment grew by 5.4%, and EPS was reported at $1.55. The company is on a recovery path [8][9]. - The management anticipates full-year EPS between $7.95 and $8.05, with organic revenue expected to improve by over 2%. In Q3, 3M allocated $900 million for buybacks and dividends [9][10]. - The stock is currently priced at $161.76, reflecting a 24.72% increase in 2025, with a dividend yield of 1.81% and an annual dividend of $2.92. The payout ratio is 36.54% [10][11]. Morgan Stanley - Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) is one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., known for its investment banking and wealth management services. It has a dividend yield of 2.31% and a history of 28 years of dividend payments [12][13]. - The company has seen a 38% stock price increase in 2025, currently trading at $172.96. It has a healthy investment banking pipeline and is positioned to benefit from increased M&A and IPO activities [12][13]. - In Q3, Morgan Stanley reported an 18% revenue increase to $18.22 billion, with profits soaring by 45% to $4.61 billion. The investment banking segment experienced a 44% growth, while equities trading revenue rose by 35% [14][15].

Nothing in the Dow is getting hit all that hard. Walt Disney is down 1%, McDonald's is off 0.9%, and Boeing has declined 0.8%, not exactly declines that send us running for cover. But since the Dow is a price- weighted index, the fact that all three of the stocks in the benchmark that have prices above $400—Goldman Sachs, Caterpillar, and Microsoft—are all down on the day doesn't help. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is taking the brunt of the selling today, despite some good news—perhaps—globally. The Dow ...

Key Takeaways Stocks like CIEN, EVER, PJT and CMC were screened for strong liquidity and asset efficiency.The screen narrowed 7,700 stocks to eight, with these four meeting strict efficiency and growth criteria.Each stock also boasts higher asset utilization than its industry average and solid growth attributes.Liquidity measures a company’s capability to meet short-term debt obligations. Stocks with high liquidity levels have always been in demand, owing to their potential to provide maximum returns. Inves ...

New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - December 26, 2025) - Leading international securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces an investigation into Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) and Point Bonita Capital for potential violations of the federal securities laws after SEC probe is revealed.If you invested in Jefferies or Point Bonita, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases/jefferies-financial-group-inc-class-action.Why are Jefferie ...