On Friday, October 24, US stocks reached new record highs as investor sentiment was positive because inflation data showed prices rising a little slower than expected. This offered some hope that the Federal Reserve can continue to cut interest rates, which would support the economy and justify higher stock prices.The consumer price index (CPI) report for September, which was released after a delay caused by the US government shutdown, went up by 0.3% on the month to bring the annual inflation rate to 3%, a ...

Group 1: Company Overview - PPG Industries, Inc. is a leading supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials, serving various industries including construction, consumer goods, industrial manufacturing, transportation, and aftermarket services [2] - The company has transitioned to operate almost entirely as a coatings-focused business, moving away from traditional glass and chemical operations, resulting in a streamlined coatings portfolio with stronger margins [4] Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - PPG Industries has invested billions in acquisitions to fuel its growth, maintaining a balanced capital allocation approach while being open to sizable acquisitions when opportunities arise [3] - The company has devoted a significant portion of its cash toward share repurchases, contributing meaningfully to its earnings-per-share growth over time [3] Group 3: Dividend Policy - PPG Industries has maintained its dividend policy over the years, increasing dividends for 54 consecutive years, making it one of the best dividend aristocrat stocks [5] - As of October 12, the company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.87 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.88% [5]

In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend growth stocks for long-term investors.Dividend stocks have long been popular am​ong invest​ors, though in recent ye⁠a‌rs, they’ve taken a⁠ back s‍eat to high-growth c⁠ompanies. Still, many​ long-term investors cont‌inue to see their valu⁠e, as con‌siste​nt dividend growth can pro‍vide lasting benefits⁠.Fir‍ms that regularly increasing payout‍s are often viewed as fi⁠n‌anciall‍y sound, with s⁠table⁠ or improvi‌ng competitive posi‍tions.‍ Histo ...

Core Insights - The Sherwin-Williams Company has completed the acquisition of BASF's Brazilian architectural paints business, Suvinil, which aligns with its long-term growth strategy [1][2] - Suvinil is a leading provider of architectural paints in Brazil, generating approximately $525 million in sales for the year ended December 31, 2024 [2] - The acquisition is expected to enhance Sherwin-Williams' presence in Latin America and provide industry-leading solutions for customers [2] Financial Impact - The purchase price reflects a low teens EBITDA multiple, with anticipated post-transaction synergies net of one-time costs [3] - Sherwin-Williams expects a low single-digit percentage increase in consolidated sales for the fourth quarter of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 [3] - The company aims to maintain a net-debt to EBITDA ratio within the targeted range of 2.0 to 2.5 times by the end of 2025 [3] Company Overview - Sherwin-Williams, founded in 1866, is a global leader in the manufacture and sale of paint, coatings, and related products [4] - The company operates over 5,400 stores and branches, with products sold through various retail channels [4] - Sherwin-Williams' Performance Coatings Group provides engineered solutions for multiple markets in over 120 countries [4]

Core Insights - RPM International Inc. reported strong financial results for Q1 of fiscal year 2026, with notable growth in earnings and revenue, positioning itself well in the specialty chemicals industry [1][2][3] Financial Performance - The company announced earnings per share (EPS) of $1.88, slightly above the estimated $1.87, marking a positive earnings surprise of +0.53% and an increase from $1.84 in the same quarter last year [2][6] - RPM's revenue for the quarter reached approximately $2.11 billion, surpassing the estimated $1.93 billion by 3.43%, and showing significant growth from $1.97 billion reported in the same quarter the previous year [3][6] Financial Metrics - RPM's price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is around 21.96, indicating investor confidence in its earnings potential [4] - The price-to-sales ratio is 2.07, suggesting that investors are willing to pay $2.07 for every dollar of RPM's sales [4] - The enterprise value to sales ratio is approximately 2.43, highlighting the company's total valuation compared to its sales [4] Financial Health - The current ratio of 2.16 indicates a strong ability to cover short-term liabilities [5][6] - The debt-to-equity ratio of 1.03 shows a moderate level of leverage, with slightly more debt than equity [5][6] - The enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio of 23.31 provides insight into the company's valuation relative to its cash flow [5]

Group 1 - The Chemours Company (NYSE:CC) is considered chronically undervalued, despite concerns regarding "forever chemicals" which are believed to be behind the company [1] - Chemours delivers specialty chemicals across various industries, including refrigerants, pigments, resins, coatings, and advanced materials for applications in electronics, packaging, energy, transportation, and medical fields [1] - Mizuho analyst John Roberts raised Chemours' price target to $19 from $16 while maintaining an Outperform rating, citing favorable settlement progress regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and stronger market valuations [1]

Company Overview - Nordson Corporation, based in Westlake, Ohio, specializes in manufacturing and marketing products and systems for dispensing, applying, and controlling adhesives, coatings, polymers, and other fluids globally [1] - The company has a market capitalization of $12.7 billion and operates through three segments: Industrial Precision Solutions, Medical and Fluid Solutions, and Advanced Technology Solutions [1][2] Stock Performance - Nordson's stock reached a 52-week high of $266.86 on November 25, 2024, and is currently trading 15.6% below that peak [3] - Over the past three months, the stock has gained 7.5%, aligning with the Industrial Select Sector SPDR Fund's (XLI) 7.5% increase during the same period [3] - In the longer term, the stock has gained 7.7% in 2025 but has declined 11.8% over the past 52 weeks, underperforming XLI's 16.1% increase in 2025 and 14.9% gains over the past year [4] Financial Performance - Following the release of Q3 results on August 20, Nordson's stock prices increased by 3% [5] - The company reported solid organic growth, particularly in its advanced technology solutions segment, with a 15% organic sales growth year-over-year [5] - Total sales for the quarter were $741.5 million, reflecting a 12.1% year-over-year increase and surpassing market expectations by 2.8% [5] - Adjusted EPS grew by 13.3% year-over-year to $2.73, exceeding consensus estimates by 3.8% [5] Competitive Position - Compared to its peer Ingersoll Rand Inc., Nordson has outperformed, as Ingersoll Rand experienced a 9.6% decline in 2025 and a 15.5% drop over the past 52 weeks [6] - Among 11 analysts covering Nordson stock, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $256.44, indicating a 13.8% upside potential [6]

Company Overview - Dow Inc. is based in Midland, Michigan, and provides materials science solutions across various segments including Packaging & Specialty Plastics, Industrial Intermediates & Infrastructure, and Performance Materials & Coatings, with a diverse product line that includes polymers, polyurethanes, construction chemicals, coatings, adhesives, and elastomers [1] Market Position - Dow has a market capitalization of approximately $17 billion, categorizing it as a large-cap company, and its global manufacturing footprint enhances its competitive positioning and market reach [2] Stock Performance - Dow's stock has faced significant challenges, trading about 56.6% below its September 2024 high of $55.67, with a nearly 17.9% decline over the past three months, while the Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) gained 2.5% during the same period [3][4] - Over the past 52 weeks, Dow's stock has retreated by 52.9%, and year-to-date, it has plunged by 39.9%, contrasting with a minor pullback in XLB, which gained 7.6% in 2025 [4] Financial Results - On July 24, Dow reported its second-quarter fiscal 2025 results, which fell short of expectations, leading to a 17.5% intra-day dip in shares. The top line decreased by 7.4% year-over-year to $10.10 billion, below Wall Street's estimate of $10.25 billion [5] - The company recorded net losses of $801 million, compared to a profit of $458 million in the same quarter of the previous year, with an adjusted loss per share of $0.42, significantly worse than the anticipated loss of $0.12 per share [6] Dividend Changes - Dow announced a 50% cut in its quarterly dividend, reducing distributions from $0.70 to $0.35 per share, which decreased the dividend yield from 9.22% to approximately 5% [7]