Core Viewpoint - High-yielding dividend stocks can provide significant income but come with risks; it is essential to select stocks with strong earnings to support their payouts [2] Group 1: Verizon Communications - Verizon offers a high yield of 6.3%, significantly above the S&P 500 average of 1.2% [4] - An investment of $12,000 in Verizon would yield approximately $756 annually in dividends [4] - The company projects modest growth, with wireless service revenue expected to rise between 2% and 2.8%, and adjusted earnings are also expected to rise in single digits, indicating sustainability of dividends with a payout ratio around 60% [5][6] - The stock price has increased by about 8% year-to-date and trades at 10 times its trailing earnings, making it a reliable option for dividend investors [6] Group 2: Bristol Myers Squibb - Bristol Myers Squibb has a dividend yield of 5.4%, with a $12,000 investment generating about $648 in annual dividends [7] - The current payout ratio is around 100%, but this can be influenced by non-recurring expenses; free cash flow over the past 12 months totaled $14.6 billion, well above the $5 billion paid in dividends [8] - Sales for the first half of the year were stable at $23.5 billion, down only 2% year-over-year, with a growth portfolio generating 18% sales growth in the most recent quarter [9] - The stock is trading at only 7 times its estimated future earnings, presenting a potentially attractive buying opportunity despite a nearly 20% decline this year [10] Group 3: Pembina Pipeline - Pembina Pipeline offers a yield of 5.8%, with a $12,000 investment resulting in approximately $696 in annual dividends [11] - The company reported free cash flow of 2.6 billion Canadian dollars over the past 12 months, exceeding the CA$1.8 billion paid in dividends [12] - Despite a 2% decline in stock price this year, Pembina has shown stability and trades at a modest 17 times its trailing earnings, making it an appealing option for dividend investors [13]