Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of conservative dividend-paying stocks for older investors, highlighting Philip Morris International, PepsiCo, and Enterprise Products Partners as reliable options for generating steady long-term income [1][2]. Group 1: Philip Morris International - Philip Morris International (PMI) is one of the largest tobacco companies, spun off from Altria in 2008, focusing on international markets with higher smoking rates [3]. - Despite declining global smoking rates, PMI's stock has increased nearly 210% since its public debut, with a total return of 608% including reinvested dividends [4]. - PMI has offset declining traditional cigarette shipments by raising prices, cutting costs, and expanding its smoke-free product portfolio, which accounted for 41% of revenue and 42% of gross profit in the latest quarter [5]. - Analysts project PMI's earnings per share (EPS) to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% from 2024 to 2027, with a forward dividend yield of 3.7% [6]. Group 2: PepsiCo - PepsiCo is a leading beverage and packaged food company, recognized as a Dividend King with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases, currently offering a forward yield of 3.8% [7]. - The company has adapted to health trends by expanding its beverage portfolio with healthier options and updating its packaged food brands [8]. - Over the past decade, PepsiCo's stock has risen 55%, generating a total return of nearly 110%, with analysts expecting an EPS CAGR of nearly 8% from 2024 to 2027 [9]. Group 3: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners operates over 50,000 miles of pipeline, generating revenue by charging fees to upstream and downstream companies, insulating it from commodity price volatility [10][11]. - As a master limited partnership (MLP), it offers tax advantages and has consistently raised distributions for 28 years, currently providing a high forward yield of 7.2% [12]. - Analysts expect its earnings per unit (EPU) to grow at a steady CAGR of 4% from 2024 to 2027, with the stock appearing attractive at 11 times next year's EPU [13].

Core Viewpoint - APA Corporation is expected to report second-quarter earnings on August 6, with an estimated profit of 45 cents per share and revenues of $2.07 billion, reflecting a significant decline compared to the previous year [1][7]. Group 1: Previous Quarter Performance - In the last reported quarter, APA exceeded consensus estimates with adjusted earnings per share of $1.06, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 83 cents, and revenues of $2 billion, which beat the estimate by 37.3% [2]. - The company has had mixed results in the past four quarters, beating estimates in two and missing in the other two, resulting in an average surprise of 7.35% [3]. Group 2: Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings indicates a 61.54% decline year over year, while revenues are expected to decrease by 25.80% compared to the previous year [3]. - Revenues for the upcoming quarter are projected to drop from $2.54 billion in the year-ago quarter, with a 31.4% decline in revenues from core oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids segments [5]. Group 3: Cost Management - APA's total expenses are anticipated to reach $1.52 billion in the second quarter, down 18.5% from the previous year, with lease operating expenses expected to decrease from $489.6 million to $460 million [6]. - Costs associated with gathering, processing, and transmission are also projected to decline from $121 million to $105.1 million, and the cost of purchased oil and gas is expected to drop from $210 million to $156.9 million [6]. Group 4: Earnings Prediction Model - The Zacks model does not predict a definitive earnings beat for APA this season, with an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [7][8].

Capital Allocation and Returns - Enterprise returned $59 billion to equity investors since IPO via LP distributions and common unit buybacks[8] - Distributions were $0.545 per unit for 2Q 2025, a 3.8% increase over 2Q 2024[8] - Buybacks in 2Q 2025 totaled $110 million for 3.6 million common units[8] - For the trailing 12 months ended 2Q 2025, buybacks were $309 million for 10 million common units[8] - Adjusted CFFO Payout Ratio was 57% for the trailing 12 months ended 2Q 2025[8] Capital Expenditures and Liquidity - Growth Capital Expenditures are projected to be in the range of $40 billion to $45 billion in 2025 and $20 billion to $25 billion in 2026[8] - Sustaining Capital Expenditures are estimated to be approximately $525 million in 2025[8] - The Leverage Ratio was 31x for the trailing 12 months ended 2Q 2025, with a target ratio of 30x (+/- 025x)[8] - Liquidity stood at $51 billion as of June 30, 2025, comprising available credit capacity and unrestricted cash[8] Operational Performance and Growth - Natural Gas Processing Plant Inlet Volume reached a record 77 Bcf/d[20] - Equivalent Pipeline Transportation Volume reached a record 134 MMBPD[21] - Total Marine Terminal Volumes reached a record 21 MMBPD[22] Gross Operating Margin (GOM) Analysis (2Q 2025 vs 2Q 2024) - Total GOM increased from $2412 million in 2Q 2024 to $2477 million in 2Q 2025[39] - NGL Segment GOM decreased by $28 million[39] - Crude Oil Segment GOM decreased by $14 million[39] - Natural Gas Segment GOM increased by $124 million[39] - Petrochemicals & Refined Products Segment GOM decreased by $38 million[39]

Capital Allocation and Returns - Since IPO, the company has returned $58 billion of capital to equity investors via LP distributions and common unit buybacks[9] - Distributions for 1Q 2025 were $0.535/unit, a 3.9% increase over 1Q 2024[9] - Buybacks in 1Q 2025 totaled $60 million, representing 1.8 million common units[9] - For the trailing 12 months ended 1Q 2025, buybacks amounted to $239 million, representing 8 million common units[9] - The Adjusted CFFO Payout Ratio was 56% for the trailing 12 months ended 1Q 2025[9] Capital Expenditures and Liquidity - Growth Capital Expenditures are projected to range from $40 billion to $45 billion in 2025 and $20 billion to $25 billion in 2026[9] - Sustaining Capital Expenditures are estimated at approximately $525 million in 2025[9] - The Leverage Ratio was 31x for the trailing 12 months ended 1Q 2025, with a target ratio of 30x (+/– 025x)[9] - As of March 31, 2025, liquidity stood at $36 billion, comprising available credit capacity and unrestricted cash[9] Operational Performance and Growth Projects - Natural Gas Processing Plant Inlet Volume reached 77 Bcf/d in 1Q 2025, reflecting a 9% CAGR[20] - Equivalent Pipeline Transportation Volume reached 132 MMBPD in 1Q 2025, reflecting an 8% CAGR[21] - The company has $76 billion of major capital projects under construction, with $6 billion of these projects slated to come online in 2025[24, 27] Gross Operating Margin (GOM) Analysis - Total GOM for 1Q 2025 was $2431 million[41] - NGL Segment GOM for 1Q 2025 was $1418 million, an increase of $78 million compared to 1Q 2024[41, 44] - Crude Oil Segment GOM for 1Q 2025 was $374 million, a decrease of $37 million compared to 1Q 2024[41, 47]