Automatic Data Processing (ADP) was founded in 1949 and is one of the largest providers of human capital management (HCM) solutions in the world. ADP offers a wide range of cloud-based software solutions and services, which companies use to pay, recruit, staff, manage, and retain employees.Over 40 million people around the globe depend on ADP [...]

Blackstone (BX) announced it will convert from a publicly traded partnership to a corporation on July 1, 2019. Investors cheered the move, sending shares of BX higher by 7.5%. Let's review Blackstone's rationale for the change and what it could mean for income investors. Blackstone decided to convert from a partnership to a corporation due to tax [...]

Qualcomm (QCOM) shareholders received good news yesterday: the chip maker and Apple agreed to drop all litigation, sending Qualcomm's stock surging more than 20%. In February 2019 we outlined the significant legal risks Qualcomm's core licensing business faced. I recommend skimming our note for more background on the situation, but essentially Qualcomm was accused by Apple and others of [...]

Chevron (CVX) shares fell 5% on Friday after management announced a $33 billion deal to buy Anadarko Petroleum (APC).  As a result of this cash-and-stock acquisition, Chevron's debt load will increase and its payout ratio will rise. Let's take a closer look at why the company wants to buy Anadarko and how the transaction affects Chevron's dividend [...]

Last week Walgreens (WBA) shares fell 13% and reached a five-year low after the pharmacy chain reported a big earnings miss and reduced its guidance. WBA's dividend yield also spiked above 3% to its highest level ever. Let's review why the market has turned so bearish on Walgreens to see if the company's dividend remains [...]

JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is one of the world's oldest banking institutions, tracing its roots back to 1799. Today it's the largest bank in the nation, with over 5,100 branches, 16,000 ATMs, and $2.6 trillion in assets. JPMorgan operates in over 100 markets, although about 80% of its revenues are generated in the U.S. The bank has [...]

Founded by Jerome Monroe Smucker in 1897, J. M. Smucker (SJM) has grown into a leading purveyor of various consumer food products and specialty pet foods that can be found in an estimated 92% of U.S. households. The company's main products are coffee, pet food, pet snacks, peanut butter, fruit spreads, shortening and oils, baking [...]

Wells Fargo (WFC) was founded in 1852 and is the fourth largest bank in the country as measured by assets. The bank ended 2018 with $1.3 trillion in total deposits, and its 90 different business lines collectively generated over $86 billion in revenue from a diversified mix of banking, insurance, investment, mortgage, and consumer and [...]

Founded in 1928, Genuine Parts Company (GPC) is one of the largest replacement part makers in the automotive, industrial, office equipment, and electronics industries. The company markets its products in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico through a large network including over 100 North American auto and industrial distribution centers and over 6,700 [...]

Founded in 1940, McDonald's (MCD) is the world's largest quick-serve restaurant chain, with about 37,000 locations in more than 100 countries. Approximately 93% of its locations are franchised, meaning the stores are owned and operated by independent business owners. The company's goal is to eventually have 95% of its stores franchised. Under a typical franchise [...]

Hormel Foods (HRL) was founded in 1891 and has proven to be one of the most resilient food providers in the world. The company’s brands include Skippy peanut butter, SPAM meat, Dinty Moore stew, Wholly Guacamole dips, Jennie-O turkey, and numerous Hormel-branded meat products. Perishable products (fresh meats, frozen items, refrigerated meals) account for 56% [...]

VEREIT (VER) offers a high dividend yield near 6.5%, making the REIT potentially attractive for many income investors. However, with VEREIT's dividend frozen since 2015 and its adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per share expected to decline for a fifth straight year in 2019, how safe is VEREIT's dividend? Let's take a closer look at [...]

Tanger Factory Outlet Centers' (SKT) dividend yield has soared from 4% in early 2017 to 7% today. Despite the REIT's track record of increasing its dividend each year since becoming a public company in May 1993, some income investors are worried about the payout's safety. Let's take a closer look at Tanger's recent struggles and assess [...]

BT Group (BT), the largest provider of broadband and mobile services in Britain, sports a 6% dividend yield. Given the generally stable nature of many telecom stocks, BT may appear to be an attractive holding for a retirement portfolio. However, with the company's turnaround efforts struggling, a new CEO taking the helm, and a need [...]

Public Storage (PSA) was founded in 1972 and is America’s largest self-storage REIT, owning over 2,400 storage rental properties in 38 states and seven European countries. The company also owns a 42% stake in PS Business Parks (PSB), which leases out commercial space to small and mid-size businesses, and 35% of Shurgard Europe, which owns [...]