Group 1: Dow Inc. - Dow Inc. has reduced its quarterly dividend payout by 50% to $0.35 per share, leading to a significant market reaction with shares losing about 31% of their value from July 23 to August 11 [3][5] - The stock now offers a yield of 6.7%, which is attractive given the current price drop [3] - Dow's operations are affected by rising interest rates and increased competition from China, which has ramped up its own supply of polyethylene and other chemicals [4][5] - The company is expected to save an additional $992 million annually due to the reduced dividend payout, which will help maintain financial stability [6] - Dow has also announced the shutdown of three facilities in Europe and a $1 billion reduction in capital expenditures for 2025 to further cut costs [7] Group 2: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group is the largest health benefits management company in America and has consistently increased its dividend payout, raising it by 342% over the past decade [8] - The stock is currently down about 50% this year, offering a yield of 3.5% [9] - The company expects to earn an adjusted $16 per share in 2025, significantly above the annualized dividend payment of $8.84 per share [10] - Although there are temporary challenges due to higher healthcare expenses from new Medicare Advantage patients, these costs are typically passed on to health plan sponsors and patients, ensuring long-term stability [11]