Earnings Report - Medtronic plc is set to release its third-quarter earnings on February 17, with analysts expecting earnings of $1.34 per share, a decrease from $1.39 per share in the same period last year [1] - The consensus estimate for quarterly revenue is $8.9 billion, up from $8.29 billion reported last year [1] - Needham analyst Mike Matson upgraded Medtronic from Hold to Buy, setting a price target of $121 [1] Dividend Information - Medtronic currently offers an annual dividend yield of 2.82%, translating to a quarterly dividend of 71 cents per share, or $2.84 annually [2] - To generate $500 monthly or $6,000 annually from dividends, an investment of approximately $213,159 or around 2,113 shares is required [2] - For a more modest income of $100 per month or $1,200 annually, an investment of $42,672 or around 423 shares is needed [2] Dividend Yield Dynamics - Dividend yield can fluctuate based on changes in both the dividend payment and the stock price [3] - For instance, if a stock with a $2 annual dividend is priced at $50, the yield is 4%, but if the price rises to $60, the yield drops to 3.33% [4] - Conversely, if the stock price falls to $40, the yield increases to 5% [4] Impact of Dividend Changes - Changes in dividend payments directly affect the yield; an increase in dividends raises the yield if the stock price remains constant, while a decrease lowers it [5] - Medtronic's shares fell by 0.2% to close at $100.88 on Thursday [5]