Texas Instruments (TXN) is one of the oldest tech businesses in the world, having been founded in 1930. Over the course of nearly 90 years, the company has proven itself to not only be remarkably adaptive but also a leading pioneer in the semiconductor industry. In 1958, for example, Texas Instruments employee (and future Nobel Prize winner) Jack Kilby actually invented the first integrated circuit, which literally went on to transform the world. Texas Instruments is now the world's largest producer of analog and embedded chips with about 20% and 15% global market share, respectively. Analog chips are used in nearly all electronic equipment to convert physical data about the real world, such as sound, pressure, temperature, humidity, and light, [...]

American Tower (AMT) was founded in 1995 and converted to a REIT business structure in late 2011, minimizing its taxes on its real estate assets and kicking off its dividend program. The company owns a portfolio of approximately 171,000 towers that are located mostly in suburban and rural areas and leased out to wireless carriers under long-term contracts. American Tower’s infrastructure is used by carriers to provide wireless service to consumers and businesses, transmitting signals between towers and mobile devices. Most towers have the capacity for 4 to 5 tenants. American Tower operates similarly to a triple-net lease REIT in that its tenants pay for almost everything needed to transmit signals (communications equipment, cables, antennae, etc.) except the tower and [...]

Founded in 1911, International Business Machines (IBM) is one of the world's oldest tech companies. Today IBM is the largest IT provider for businesses around the world. It operates in five main business segments. Technology Services & Cloud Platforms (43% of revenue, 25% of operating income): provides cloud and project-based outsourcing services to help improve clients' IT infrastructure. This segment also offers technical support for integrated software solution products the company sells. Cognitive Solutions (23% of revenue, 48% of operating income): includes Watson, the cognitive computing (artificial intelligence) platform that uses natural language, processes big data, and learns from interactions with people and other computers. This segment offers data and analytics solutions, cloud data services, enterprise social software, talent management solutions, and [...]

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (MSFT) is most famous for its Windows operating system, which runs approximately 75% of the world’s computers. However, in recent decades the company has vastly diversified its operations to become a software and hardware powerhouse that operates three distinct business segments: Productivity and Business Processes (33% of sales, growing 20% a year): Office 365 commercial and consumer product suites, which include Office, Exchange, Outlook.com, Skype, OneDrive, and Dynamics cloud solutions for businesses and individuals. Intelligent Cloud Services (29% of sales, growing 15-20% a year):server and cloud-based solutions, including its fast-growing Azure business cloud platform.

Intel (INTC) was incorporated in 1968 and is the largest manufacturer of semiconductor chips in the world. Intel’s primary products are microprocessors and chipsets. A microprocessor acts as the brain of computers and many other electronic devices (e.g. servers, tablets, phones, wearable devices). It essentially controls and manages what a computer does by handling communications between the processor, memory, and other components. A chipset consists of numerous electronic components that help manage the flow of data within an electronic device (e.g. between the mouse, keyboard, monitor, and hard drive; help balances the performance of a system).

Qualcomm (QCOM) was founded in 1985 and is a leader in the development and commercialization of digital communication technologies called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access), including LTE (Long Term Evolution). The company owns significant intellectual property applicable to products that implement any version of CDMA and OFDMA, including over 46,000 patents. Any company in the mobile communications industry trying to develop, manufacture, or sell products using CDMA and/or LTE standards usually requires a patent license from Qualcomm. The company also develops other technologies used in handsets and tablets, including certain audio and video technologies, advanced WLAN functionality, and memory controllers. The main factor that drives the company’s performance is cell phone penetration, particularly [...]

Newell Brands (NWL) has had an "Unsafe" Dividend Safety Score for more than a year. Meanwhile, the company's stock price has fallen about 40% over the past year and is down 70% from its mid-2017 high. That's sent NWL's dividend yield soaring to its highest levels since the Financial Crisis when the company had to cut its dividend severely. Unfortunately, Newell shareholders could be in for another dividend cut if business conditions don't turn around soon. Let's take a look at why the company is struggling and should be avoided by conservative income investors.

Target (TGT) was founded in 1902, but the first discount Target store actually didn't open until 1962. Today, Target is one of America's largest retailers with annual sales of approximately $70 billion and more than 1,800 stores across the country. Target’s stores focus on convenient one-stop shopping and competitive discount prices, offering a broad range of product categories including personal care, beauty, electronics, apparel, food, furniture, appliances, baby care, movies, and much more. Approximately 33% of Target's revenue is generated from its own private label brands (which enjoy higher margins), and groceries account for about 20% of total sales.

Founded in 1903 in Dearborn, Michigan, Ford (F) is one of the largest automakers. In 2018 the company sold 6 million cars, SUVs, and trucks under the Ford and Lincoln brands in North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Last year Ford's worldwide market share was 6%. Ford is a very global company, but it remains most competitive in North America where its market share is by far the highest of any region it competes in. North America: 13.4% market share South America: 8.3% Europe: 7.2% Middle East & Africa: 3.0% Asia Pacific: 2.5% Unfortunately, Ford's international operations have struggled to produce profits and racked up a $2.2 billion pre-tax loss for the company in 2018. As a result, the company's [...]

CVS Health (CVS) is one of America’s most dominant healthcare players. The company operates the nation’s second-largest pharmacy chain with over 9,900 retail locations and is the biggest U.S. pharmacy based on total prescription revenue. CVS is also one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs), having acquired Caremark RX for $21 billion in 2006 to become the second biggest PBM. In 2018 CVS closed on another large deal to acquire health insurance giant Aetna for $78 billion, creating one of the world's largest vertically integrated health giants. The PBM business provides vital services to employers and insurance companies by determining which drugs are covered for patients and negotiating price discounts with drugmakers. By integrating Aetna's health insurance business, [...]