Core Insights - Companies with a strong history of dividend payments and increases are attractive to income-focused investors, with Tyson Foods, First Merchants, and Fidelity National Financial recently announcing dividend hikes [1] Tyson Foods - Tyson Foods has increased its dividends for 12 consecutive years, with the latest hike on Nov. 12 raising the quarterly payout from $0.49 to $0.50 per share, resulting in an annual figure of $2 per share [3] - The current dividend yield for Tyson Foods is 3.84% [3] - The company's annual revenue as of June 30 was $54.15 billion, and Q3 2025 revenues were reported at $13.88 billion with an EPS of $0.91, both exceeding market expectations [4] First Merchants - First Merchants has raised its dividends for 13 consecutive years, with the most recent increase on May 16 raising the quarterly payout from $0.35 to $0.36 per share, equating to an annual figure of $1.44 per share [5] - The current dividend yield for First Merchants is 3.98% [5] - The company's annual revenue as of June 30 was $637.74 million, with Q2 2025 revenues reported at $164.32 million, which was below the consensus estimate of $169.76 million, while EPS of $0.98 exceeded the consensus of $0.94 [6] Fidelity National Financial - Fidelity National Financial provides a range of insurance products in the U.S. [7]

Core Insights - Independent Bank Corporation reported a net income of $17.5 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, for Q3 2025, an increase from $13.8 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, in the same period last year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Net interest income for Q3 2025 was $45.4 million, up $3.5 million, or 8.4%, year-over-year, and $0.7 million, or 1.7%, from Q2 2025 [3]. - The net interest margin (NIM) was 3.54% in Q3 2025, compared to 3.37% in Q3 2024 and 3.58% in Q2 2025 [3][29]. - Non-interest income totaled $11.9 million in Q3 2025, an increase from $9.5 million in the prior year, primarily due to variances in mortgage banking revenues [4][29]. - Non-interest expenses were $34.1 million in Q3 2025, compared to $32.6 million in the same period last year [8][29]. Asset Quality - Non-performing loans increased to $20.4 million, or 0.48% of total portfolio loans, from $6.0 million, or 0.15%, in the previous year [9]. - The allowance for credit losses stood at 1.49% of total loans, with net charge-offs at historically low levels of four basis points through the first three quarters of 2025 [10][11]. Balance Sheet and Capital - Total assets were $5.49 billion at September 30, 2025, an increase of $155 million from December 31, 2024 [12]. - Total deposits reached $4.86 billion, up $205.1 million from the end of 2024, driven by increases in savings and interest-bearing checking accounts [12]. - Shareholders' equity was $490.7 million, or 8.93% of total assets, compared to $454.7 million, or 8.52%, at the end of 2024 [14]. Shareholder Returns - The company paid a dividend of $0.26 per share on August 15, 2025 [4]. - A share repurchase plan authorized the purchase of up to 1,100,000 shares, with 266,008 shares repurchased for $7.77 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2025 [16].