This morning Total (TOT) announced its response to the $30 per barrel oil environment we are living in. The company plans to maintain its 35-plus year streak of uninterrupted dividends. Management took actions to slash its capital spending by nearly 20%, suspend its share repurchases, and double down on its cost-cutting programs. Source: Total Investor Presentation Together, these efforts are expected to result in cash savings of $5 billion. Total will still need to borrow around $4 billion to fill the $9 billion shortfall created by the fall in oil prices from its budgeted level of $60 per barrel.

Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.B) announced a series of initiatives this morning to improve its cash flow generation. While management did not comment specifically on the dividend, its lack of inclusion in the firm's new capital preservation measures suggests Shell intends to maintain its payout for now.

Dear customer or prospective member, Matt (my business partner) and I want to provide you with an update on how Simply Safe Dividends is responding to the impact of the coronavirus and the turmoil it has caused in financial markets.  The past several weeks have been a trying time for the U.S. and the world. Our foremost wish is health and safety for you, your families, and the brave men and women serving on the frontlines.  As we all continue grappling with what the future may hold, I wanted to address some of the investing questions you might have. 

According to the Wall Street Journal, over 38,000 stores around the U.S. have temporarily closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak.  Deemed to sell essential products, Lowe's has not. In fact, two associates we spoke to (including one in Chicago where a shelter-in-place order had gone into effect) described their stores as "slammed" and "really busy". At this point, the greatest risk to Lowe's near-term outlook appears to be the prospect of a recession, which could result in less foot traffic and fewer sales. Lowe's revenue is sensitive to consumer spending. But a recession — perhaps especially one where people are more likely to want to stay home and work around the house — seems unlikely to threaten the dividend.