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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Kroger (KR) is starting to get the attention of value and dividend growth investors alike after its year-to-date stock price decline of 22%. Kroger’s stock now trades for less than 15x forward earnings guidance and offers double-digit annual total return potential if management’s growth guidance is to be trusted. Even better, most of [...]
As Warren Buffett continues adding to his stake in oil refiner Phillips 66 (PSX), many investors are wondering if Valero (VLO), another refiner, is an equally attractive dividend stock. Valero offers a high yield of 4.4%, trades at less than 10x trailing earnings, and has more than doubled the S&P 500’s return over the [...]
The record level of new car sales registered in the U.S. in 2015 certainly has many in the automotive industry celebrating. General Motors (GM) is even one of Warren Buffett’s top dividend stocks. However, industry groups are predicting the auto production seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) to decline over the next few years. [...]
Cummins (CMI) reported a double-digit sales decline during the second quarter of 2016 and expects full-year revenue to slump about 10%. Lower truck production in North America and dismal global demand for off-highway vehicles and power generation equipment are weighing on the company. As the company’s key end markets continue reeling, investors are [...]
Coca-Cola (KO) is one of Warren Buffet’s dividend stocks that has paid a consistent dividend since 1920 and increased its payout for the past 54 years. More recently Coke has grown its dividend at a 9% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the last 10 years. Its extraordinary track record and stable business model put [...]
Williams Companies (WMB) had paid higher dividends each year since 2004, grown its dividend by 38% per year over the last five years, and earned most of its income from regulated assets generating "safe" fee-based revenue from long-term contracts. The company had even been in business for more than 100 years, more than proving itself as [...]