With significant upside potential, MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) secures a spot on our list of the 13 Best Diversified Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. Jefferies Upgrades MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’, Raises PT to $20 On September 19, 2025, Jefferies upgraded MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU) from ‘Hold’ to ‘Buy’, raising its price target from $18 to $20. The investment firm cited the company’s attractive valuation and growth potential. Even after factoring poten ...

Group 1: Dividend Stocks Overview - In volatile markets, investors often seek the relative safety of dividend stocks, which provide income even when stock prices fluctuate [1] - The compounding effect of rising dividends combined with rising stock prices increases total return for investors [2] Group 2: Chesapeake Utilities - Chesapeake Utilities Corp. (NYSE: CPK) has a dividend yield of 2.23% and an annual dividend of $2.74, with a 21-year track record of dividend increases [3][4] - The company raised its dividend by approximately 7% in early May, with a payout ratio of around 43% based on next year's estimates, indicating potential for future growth [4] - Natural gas prices are expected to rise due to increasing demand, particularly from data centers, which supports the growth outlook for Chesapeake Utilities [5] Group 3: RTX - RTX (NYSE: RTX) has a dividend yield of 2.01% and an annual dividend of $2.72, with a 5-year track record of dividend increases [6][10] - The company raised its dividend by nearly 8% and has a consensus Buy rating with a price target of $159.82, indicating a 17.9% upside potential [7][8] - RTX is positioned well in the defense sector, focusing on future technologies like drones, which may mitigate concerns over current geopolitical issues [7] Group 4: Paychex - Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX) has a dividend yield of 2.77% and an annual dividend of $4.32, with a 3-year track record of dividend increases [10][11] - The company raised its dividend by 10% in early May, with annualized three-year dividend growth at over 13% [11] - Despite a strong performance, the current stock price is near the top of its 52-week range, leading to concerns about potential growth opportunities [12][13]

Core Viewpoint - CenterPoint Energy (CNP) has experienced a bearish trend recently, losing 6.4% over the past week, but the formation of a hammer chart pattern suggests a potential trend reversal as buying interest may be increasing [1][2]. Technical Analysis - The hammer chart pattern indicates a possible bottoming out, with selling pressure likely subsiding, which supports a bullish outlook for the stock [2][5]. - A hammer pattern forms when there is a small candle body with a long lower wick, signaling that bears may be losing control and that a trend reversal could be imminent [4][5]. - Hammer candles can appear on various timeframes and are utilized by both short-term and long-term investors [5]. Fundamental Analysis - There has been a recent upward trend in earnings estimate revisions for CNP, which is a bullish indicator as it typically leads to price appreciation [7]. - The consensus EPS estimate for the current year has increased by 0.1% over the last 30 days, indicating strong agreement among analysts regarding the company's improved earnings potential [8]. - CNP holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks, suggesting it is likely to outperform the market [9].