Qualcomm (QCOM) has metrics that make many dividend investors salivate. The company offers a 3.4% yield, has increased its dividend every year since 2003, and has recorded annual dividend growth in excess of 20% over the last five years. Furthermore, Qualcomm’s stock is down roughly 25% from its 2014 highs and trades around 16.5x [...]
If there is one thing I have learned about investing in stocks, it is to expect the unexpected. Life is filled with uncertainty and surprises, and companies in our investment portfolios are no different. I steer clear of most investment opportunities because they are outside of my (limited) circle of competence. For [...]
Meredith Corporation (MDP) has never exactly been a household name, but many of its brands are. The company is an old school magazine business that has been a chameleon over the years, constantly evolving and growing into a $1.6 billion multimedia powerhouse with a lineup of television stations, magazines, websites, and online apps. [...]
Protecting the money you’ve worked so hard to save is one of the most important priorities, particularly if you are nearing, or have already begun, your retirement. Considering the myriad of available investment options, it’s easy to become confused and overwhelmed. Two of the most common choices for maximizing retirement savings are dividend [...]
Apple (AAPL) is a blue chip stock that recently reinstated the dividend. Since becoming a dividend payer again in 2012 (it was suspended from 1996-2011), they have increased the quarterly dividend by 50% from 38 cents per share to 57 cents. With a relatively low payout ratio, high returns on invested capital, and an extremely valuable [...]
Disney (DIS) is one of the most iconic companies in the world and has rewarded shareholders with 11.7% annual dividend growth over the last 20 years. However, that hasn’t stopped the stock from slumping more than 20% since hitting an all-time high in late 2015. Today, Disney’s stock trades for about 15.3x forward [...]
C.H. Robinson (CHRW) has raised its dividend for 18 consecutive years and rewarded shareholders with double-digit annual dividend growth over the last decade. The company’s dividend scores strong marks for safety and growth, and its business model generates excellent free cash flow in practically every economic environment. With large and fragmented markets and numerous competitive [...]
Since their inception in 1960, Real Estate Investment Trusts, or REITs, have become an extremely popular option for income investors because of their reliable payouts and immense capital appreciation potential. However, REIT taxes are an important issue to understand. Conservative investors often favor REITs over traditional stocks because variables that typically have a [...]
Gilead Sciences (GILD), the dominant antiviral and hepatitis drug company, is starting to draw a lot of attention from value oriented investors due to its decline of 23% over the past year. Gilead’s stock now trades at a high-single digit price-to-earnings multiple which typically has many bargain hunters salivating, especially in a market where [...]
This week, I will be taking a look at the dividend safety of Southern Company (SO). If there are other companies you would like me to analyze for dividend safety, please leave a comment at the bottom of this article. My full thesis on Southern can be seen here, but I will be focusing [...]
Dividend safety serves as the foundation for conservative income investing and stress-free retirement living. Companies that are able to continue paying and growing their dividends help us meet our investment goals and build wealth over time. We created Dividend Safety Scores to help investors build safe dividend portfolios and avoid companies that are most [...]
Eli Lilly (LLY) is a blue chip stock that has paid a consistent dividend since the early 1970s. The company’s total dividends paid have increased from 4.55 cents per share in 1972 to a projected $2.04 per share in fiscal year 2016. However, the company’s dividend growth rate has materially slowed, and the [...]
Dividend investors come in all different shapes and sizes. Many of us are living off dividends in retirement, while others are investing for long-term income growth and capital appreciation. Regardless of our objectives, we are united by our desires to reduce risk and make responsible investment decisions. However, even the best of us [...]
In the midst of the second-longest bull market ever recorded, many conservative dividend investors are feeling increasingly anxious. The S&P 500's forward P/E ratio of 17.1 sits approximately 20% above its 10-year average. To make matters even more uncomfortable for income investors, lower-for-longer interest rates have made safe haven companies such as utilities and [...]
Merck is a blue-chip dividend stock that has paid a consistent dividend since 1970 and has grown its dividend at a 1.8% annual rate over the last 10 years. They have been able to continually pay a dividend during difficult times thanks to a recession-resistant business model, attractive operating margins, and reliable free cash flow [...]