Shares of Altria (MO) slumped 7% today, pushing them to their lowest price in over four years while extending their decline to more than 30% since early November 2018. As has been the case since Altria's stock peaked in mid-2017, regulatory fears continue weighing on investor sentiment. The latest development occurred on Friday, January 18, 2019. At a public hearing, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb stated that e-cigarettes could face an "existential threat" if youth use continues to rise. With markets closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, today was the first opportunity investors had to price in this news.

Broadcom (AVGO) investors have had plenty to worry about in recent months including: Broadcom's exposure to the trade war with China, which accounts for nearly 50% of the company's sales Apple's (AAPL) iPhone slowdown, since the smartphone maker generates 25% of Broadcom's revenue Broadcom's $18.9 billion acquisition of CA Technologies (CA), which will strain the balance sheet The broader selloff in the tech sector Thanks in part to these concerns, which have kept a lid on the chipmaker's stock price, AVGO's dividend yield now sits above 4%, near the highest level in its history. With such an unusually high yield for a tech company, some investors might be wondering about Broadcom's ability to sustain its dividend in the future. Let's [...]

Founded in 1970, Welltower (WELL) has grown to become one of America’s largest medical REITs. The company owns more than 1,600 properties across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., but 83% of its real estate investments (and rent) are from U.S. properties. The company's properties serve over 300,000 residents and are essentially involved in every aspect of patient care, from hospitals and long-term skilled nursing facilities to senior assisted living communities and medical office buildings. The REIT's outpatient properties see about 15 million patient visits per year.

Verizon (VZ) is the largest wireless service provider in the U.S. The firm was founded in 1983 as Bell Atlantic but became Verizon in 2000 after its $65 billion merger with telecom giant GTE. The company’s 4G LTE network is available to more than 98% of the country’s population (over 320 million people) in over 500 cities. Wireless operations, which include voice and data services and equipment sales, generate close to 70% of Verizon’s revenue and account for nearly 90% of the company’s EBITDA. Wireline operations account for 23% of the company’s revenue but only about 12% of Verizon's EBITDA. This segment includes traditional voice offerings, as well as pay-TV and internet services. The company has sold off many of [...]