Dividend Stocks

I’ll start with some good news. Independent exploration and production company Marathon Oil (NYSE:MRO) reinstated its dividend this month. The payout — suspended during the energy collapse earlier this year — will be payable Dec. 10 to MRO stock holders of record on Nov. 18. While the payout is modest at 3 cents per quarter,

It’s a difficult time to be an income investor. The S&P 500 index has rallied off of its 2020 lows and has returned to near-record highs, pushing the average dividend yield in the index below 2%. In addition, with interest rates near zero, fixed income yields are suppressed as well. The end result is that

Everyone loves a good dividend stock, right? Obviously we all like to see our holdings appreciate over time, but getting tossed a nice quarterly yield never hurts. More money in your pocket is always nice, whether you reinvest those returns or not. As a result, dividends get a lot of understandable attention from investors. But

Six months into the reign of a new CEO, IBM (NYSE:IBM) stock is unattractive to growth investors for the simple reason that the company hasn’t been growing. In that time, IBM stock has lost 6.7% while the broader S&P 500 index has gained 9.4%. Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com The tech giant’s revenue was nearly $80

When it comes to a socially-distanced 2020, investors haven’t embraced AT&T (NYSE:T). But is now a good time to reconnect with a doggish AT&T stock? Let’s look at some of what is happening off and on the price chart to reach a more balanced, risk-adjusted determination. Source: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock Out the gate this week for

MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) is a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) that has had a rough year. To date, MFA stock is down more than 62% as of Oct. 9, but it is likely to have a significant turnaround. Source: Shutterstock I suspect that the REIT has reached an inflection point in its finances and is

Middle-market senior and secured lending specialist Prospect Capital (NASDAQ:PSEC) isn’t a company that generates red-hot buzz on social media. You won’t find heated conversations about PSEC stock. But that should be just fine for more risk-averse investors. Source: Shutterstock The shares are also accessible to amateur and professional traders alike. That’s because PSEC stock trades

In 2020, many drug stocks have behaved like pot stocks did in 2018. Investors have paid huge premiums on sales for even the promise of a novel coronavirus treatment or vaccine. But if you’re looking for value, consider Pfizer (NYSE:PFE). You can still buy PFE stock at a reasonable price. Source: Manuel Esteban / Shutterstock.com

Never underestimate a good dividend. For that matter, never underestimate a quality company, brand and stock either. McDonald’s (NYSE:MCD) fits all of these criteria. That’s why it’s no surprise that McDonald’s stock is hitting new all-time highs. Source: ATIKAN PORNCHAIPRASIT / Shutterstock.com Even better, though, is that the thesis behind owning the stock doesn’t depend

BP Plc (NYSE:BP) has had a rough year. In 2020,  BP stock is down over 54%. Nevertheless, the stock is likely worth at least 20% more than its present price of $17.27, based on its historical dividend yield. Source: FotograFFF / Shutterstock.com Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, oil and gas prices have tumbled amid reduced

As the company’s name implies, New Residential Investment (NYSE:NRZ) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in residential mortgage-related assets. The company’s a solid performer in the U.S. residential real estate niche, and NRZ stock holders undoubtedly appreciate New Residential Investment as a generous dividend payer. Source: Shutterstock While New Residential Investment is

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) shares are down 52% in 2020. With Exxon Mobil stock now trading at just 21 times forward earnings with a 10.5% dividend, a new debate is raging. Is Exxon one of the highest-yielding blue chip stocks on the market? Or is its 10% yield the bait for the market’s biggest value trap?

Editor’s note: “6 Monthly Dividend Stocks to Buy” was previously published in April 2020. It has since been updated to include the most relevant information available. Most dividend stocks pay their shareholders quarterly, but a few dividend-yielding stocks offer monthly distributions. The group is small: less than 100, with many of the offerings being exchange-traded

As a tech reporter, I have a Mount Rushmore of the last decade’s biggest losers. These are leaders whose arrogance cost shareholders trillions in lost opportunity. One of them has to be Virginia Rometty of IBM (NYSE:IBM). By focusing on dividends and buybacks for IBM stock, Rometty missed the cloud. Source: Laborant / Shutterstock.com She

When the U.S. Federal Reserve cut the rate to zero, investors that depended on safe, fixed income instruments suffered. The sharply lower bond yields and lack of return from cash forced retirees to invest in the stock market. And because most sectors rose sharply in the last year, dividend-income investors must contend with falling yields

Midstream energy player Kinder Morgan (NYSE:KMI) has a massive presence among North American natural gas pipeline operators. Because of the company’s size, there’s a safety factor that weighs in favor of long-term KMI stock holders. Source: Shutterstock Income seekers might view KMI stock as a fairly safe way to generate yield because of the stock’s generous

What’s the big deal about dividend aristocrats? Well, income investors are in a difficult position, because of high stock prices and low interest rates, which have push fixed income returns to historic lows. The S&P 500 index is up less than 1% year-to-date and the average yield is less than 2%. Investors have to look

Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) is incredibly cheap. For example, based on earnings estimates, BMY stock trades at just 7.8 times next year’s earnings. Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com In addition, it has an attractive dividend yield of 3.11%, which is likely to increase soon. I estimate the stock is worth at least $84.47, or 46% more than

According to analysts, AT&T (NYSE:T) stock should more than cover its dividend when the company next reports earnings Oct. 26. Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com The consensus among analysts is for 77 cents per share of earnings. The dividend costs 51 cents. But in a world where the 30-year government bond yields 1.4%, AT&T stock is

Shares in United Healthcare (NYSE:UNH) were the “disaster du jour” on Sept. 21, following the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. At one point, UNH stock was down $17. Source: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com The stock’s fall assumed Ginsberg’s death will let the Trump administration have the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare,