Founded in 1898, Whirlpool (WHR) is the world's largest appliance manufacturer with over $20 billion in annual sales. The company makes and sells laundry appliances, refrigerators and freezers, cooking appliances, dishwashers, mixers, and other small domestic appliances. These products are sold under its Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit, and Hotpoint brands.

Vodafone's (VOD) dividend has scored at the absolute bottom rung (41) of our "Borderline Safe" Dividend Safety Score category throughout all of 2018. Companies on this part of our scale often find themselves in a murky area, and Vodafone is no exception. In fact, a number of analysts have been speculating about a potential dividend cut at Vodafone. With the stock's dividend yield sitting near 10%, the market seems to be pricing in that possibility as well. Let's take a closer look at the key issues clouding Vodafone's dividend safety to better understand the firm's risk profile. From what I can tell, investors' have three primary concerns: 1) Intensifying competition in certain European countries 2) Increased skepticism about Vodafone's planned [...]

AltaGas (ATGFF) owns energy infrastructure assets across North America. The firm started in the midstream business and expanded into the power and utilities sectors over time. While these are all capital-intensive businesses, they have mostly been steady cash flow generators as well. As a result, AltaGas enjoys an investment grade credit rating and has rewarded income investors with a generous, moderately growing dividend in recent years. In January 2017, AltaGas announced a $9 billion deal to acquire WGL Holdings, a U.S. regulated natural gas utility. AltaGas took on substantial debt to finance this deal, which closed this past summer. Unfortunately, a lot has changed in the midstream space since the deal was first announced. As a capital-intensive business, AltaGas historically [...]

Last week Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) reported another disappointing set of earnings results. The main headline for income investors was unfortunately a 50% dividend cut, which helped send the stock down 9% on the news. Having looked at AB InBev about a month ago, the company seemed to deserve its "Borderline Safe" Dividend Safety Score of 50. A dividend cut appeared possible, but not necessarily probable. Here were our concluding remarks...

Founded in 2011, Physicians Realty (DOC) is a new entrant in the healthcare real estate space that sports a high 5% dividend yield. Attractive at first glance but without much of a track record, just how safe is this REIT's dividend? The good news is that Physicians Realty appears to have a stable source of rent income to pay its generous dividend. Physicians Realty's occupancy rate is a healthy 97%. The company acquires medical office buildings (MBOs) that are located on medical campuses or otherwise affiliated with a hospital. This is prime real estate for medical practices, suggesting the company won't have difficulty finding tenants in the future. Furthermore, due to less government regulation and better reimbursement from insurers, practices [...]

Owens & Minor (OMI) has never cut its dividend since it began paying one in 1977. The company breezed through the financial crisis, growing revenue by 20% while raising its dividend 35% between 2007 and 2009. For much of the past two decades, shareholders have been rewarded with annual dividend increases north of 10%. But things have changed. Owen & Minor's last dividend increase came in at under 1%. Earnings fell 21% in 2017, and the company's stock has lost 62% from its peak in 2016. What's happening to Owens & Minor, and how safe is the company's dividend?

On October 1, GE announced it was firing CEO John Flannery after just 14 months in the top office. That's compared to 20- and 16-year tenures for Jack Welch and Jeffrey Immelt, respectively. The surprise news sent shares up 13% at one point because the new CEO, Lawrence Culp, had a great track record as CEO of industrial rival Danaher (DHR). In fact, from 2000 to 2014 Danaher's shares rose 500% under his watch. (GE's share price declined more than 50% during the same time period.) However, every major management change comes with its own risks, including potential changes in corporate strategy which is why this news likely heightens the risk of yet another dividend cut at this beleaguered industrial [...]

Over the past few years the midstream industry, especially master limited partners (MLPs), has experienced a bear market that has disrupted its standard business model. As a result, various companies and MLPs have had to adapt, including by simplifying their business models via mergers and eliminations of incentive distribution rights. Enbridge (ENB) recently announced a $10.5 billion buyout of its MLPs, Enbridge Energy Partners (EEP), Enbridge Energy Management (EEQ), Enbridge Income Fund Holdings (EBGUF), and Spectra Energy Partners (SEP). Let's take a look at why management believes this move is necessary and what it means for investors in both Enbridge itself and its MLPs. Why Enbridge is Buying Out Its MLPs Enbridge set up its MLPs (and acquired Spectra Midstream [...]

The continued slump in Anheuser-Busch InBev's (BUD) stock price has caused some income investors to worry about the safety of the company's dividend. Fortunately, based on the facts we know today, a dividend cut seems unlikely. AB InBev primarily produces and distributes beer and other alcoholic beverages. The company generates over $50 billion in revenue each year, derives more than 70% of its volume in emerging markets, has approximately 27% share of the global market, and enjoys excellent profitability with an operating margin north of 30%. So what's weighing on this non-cyclical, global brewing giant that some investors worry could potentially jeopardize its payout? Debt.