Master limited partnerships risks are increasingly in focus by dividend investors as energy prices remain depressed. The sector has attracted income investors thanks to its relatively high dividend yields, historically stable cash flows, and perceived protection from swings in commodity prices. However, with many energy master limited partnerships down over 30% in 2015, it’s time [...]
Blue chip dividend stocks can be some of the most appealing investment opportunities for income and capital appreciation. If you have ever wondered what blue chip dividend stocks are, why they are attractive, where you can find them, and what the best ones are, you have come to the right place. What are Blue [...]
You probably use several products every day that are touched by IFF. The company has a presence in thousands of consumer products, yet it has largely flown under the radar operating in the chemicals industry. We like boring, durable businesses that can predictably pay us more income every year, and IFF certainly checks these boxes. [...]
All too often, yield-starved investors give in to the temptation of high yield dividend stocks. Dividend yields greater than 5% look like an easy way to grab more current income on the surface, but dividend income is just part of the total return equation. If a stock with a 6% dividend yield sees its [...]
IBM trades at a forward earnings multiple of 9x and has a dividend yield approaching 4%. The stock is either really cheap, or the market is sniffing out more trouble ahead with management’s current strategy. We aren’t ready to jump in just yet and keep the stock out of our Top 20 Dividend Stocks portfolio [...]
Investors have long been frustrated with GE. The share price is lower than it was 10 years ago. The company has generally overpromised and under delivered for years, leading many to question whether or not CEO Jeff Immelt is still the right man for the job. And who can forgive and forget the 2009 dividend [...]
They have surged in popularity over the past decade, but what is a master limited partnership (MLP)? The rise of MLPs has been driven by low interest rates and the massive build-out of new energy infrastructure in the United States to help deliver oil and gas from new shale plays. MLPs offer relatively high dividend yields, [...]
LLTC is a high quality dividend growth stock that will likely become a dividend aristocrat by 2019. Despite being a technology company, its business model has proven to be extremely durable and throws off substantial free cash flow. We believe these favorable characteristics will persist and continue to reward shareholders for years to come. [...]
Utility stocks pay some of the safest dividends around and typically sport much higher dividend yields than the market, reflecting their low growth prospects and making them a favorite source of income for retirees living off dividends. Many dividend investors wonder if utility stocks are in a bubble today after benefiting from extremely low interest rates for [...]
With the price of oil dropping more than 20% during the third quarter, CVX and XOM were both battered and more investors wondered if their dividends were safe. While each stock has recovered over 20% from its low reached in late August, the risk profiles of these oil giants are different. XOM remains one of [...]
JNJ reported Q3 earnings last month. Currency headwinds hurt reported sales growth by about 8%, and the expected run off of hepatitis C products added additional pressure. Excluding these two items, JNJ’s revenue would have grown by 5.6%, in line with last quarter’s adjusted growth and not bad for a company with over $70 billion [...]
XOM’s Q3 results saw revenue drop by more than 35% and earnings fall nearly 50% compared to 3Q14, driven by weak upstream results (upstream earnings fell 79%). However, strength in XOM’s downstream businesses resulted in earnings actually rising 1% compared to last quarter. While headline figures remain ugly, we are optimistic that XOM’s fundamentals are [...]
Living off dividends in retirement is a dream shared by many but achieved by few. In today’s environment marked by rising life expectancies, extremely low bond yields, and a 7-year bull market, retirees face challenges on all fronts to build a consistent income stream that will last a lifetime. Before zeroing in on any particular strategy [...]
P&G’s earnings report was well received by the market last week. Currency-neutral earnings per share grew 12%, margins expanded nicely, and management’s expectations for improving organic sales growth trends were reaffirmed. After analyzing the report, we are happy to keep P&G in our Conservative Retirees dividend portfolio. However, many investors remain concerned about underlying volume trends [...]
From 2012 to 2014, CAT’s stock generated an annualized return of 2.8%, significantly trailing the market’s annualized return of 20%. Year-to-date, CAT is down 22% and lags the market by more than 20%. As the commodity super cycle fueled by China’s unsustainable infrastructure growth continues unwinding, it comes as no surprise to see CAT struggle over the [...]