Dividend Stocks

This year has been potentially one of the most challenging years for energy stocks. In a historic event, oil prices traded in negative territory. Gradually, the industry seems to be overcoming the headwinds. Brent oil currently trades at $42 and I believe that some upside is due as fall approaches. According to U.S. Energy Information

The energy sector has been buried — and rightfully so. That includes Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), which saw a peak-to-trough decline of 57% earlier this year. Worse though, the 2020 peak for Exxon Mobil stock was near $67.50, well below its all-time high up near $81 from 2014. Source: Shutterstock To put it simply, XOM stock

There are no two ways about it. The novel coronavirus has been brutal on the U.S. economy. Not since the Great Depression has the country faced the prospect of such a prolonged slowdown. In response, the Federal Reserve slashed interest rates and went on a bond-buying spree. That helped in propping up the financial markets

As we get ready to wrap up another earnings season, investors in Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) are wondering what may be next for the shares in the coming months. On July 31, the group reported dismal results for second quarter 2020, mainly reflecting the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on global oil demand. Yet Exxon Mobil stock

MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA), a real estate investment trust that invests in mortgage loans, looks very appealing now as an investment vehicle. As it has recently reinstated a quarterly dividend, MFA stock now has an attractive 7% dividend yield. Source: Shutterstock Moreover, the dividends, albeit much lower than before, are now fully covered, unlike before, by

Is there any reason to buy Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) today? The S&P 500 has made a full recovery. But Exxon Mobil stock remains far below from where it was before the novel coronavirus. Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com Sure, shares have recovered from their March pandemic-driven lows. Yet, with few catalysts on the horizon, it’s

With interest rates near zero, many investors are turning to dividend stocks for income. And for some investors, the higher the yield, the better. But it’s important to remember that in the equity market, just as in the bond market, higher yield usually means higher risk. The biggest risk is a dividend cut, which usually

I have a Mount Rushmore of failure for the last decade’s business leaders. It includes Virginia Rometty of IBM (NYSE:IBM), Brian Krzanich of Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Jeff Immelt of General Electric (NYSE:GE) and Randall Stephenson of AT&T (NYSE:T). And today we’re going to talk specifically about AT&T stock. Source: Roman Tiraspolsky / Shutterstock.com Their failures all

It’s no secret that interest rates are slumping. Many banks offer no return on savings accounts nowadays. Even certificates of deposits and government bonds often yield 1% or less in today’s environment. With that in mind, investors are looking to other types of assets to fill the income gap. Monthly dividend stocks are one appealing

These are rough days in the oil patch and Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM), the largest domestic oil company, proves as much. A member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Exxon Mobil stock is lower by 37.16% year-to-date, embodying the energy sector’s status as one of the worst-performing groups in the S&P 500 in 2020. Source: Harry

Many moving parts – including the novel coronavirus crisis, OPEC’s moves, the overall economy, demand for air travel, and the increased popularity of electric vehicles – will affect oil stocks, including Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) stock. I believe that Exxon Mobil stock will prove to be a good name for income investors over the medium term.

Kroger (NYSE:KR) stock was underperforming for years before the novel coronavirus hit. No more. It opens for trade on Aug. 7 at about $35 a share. That’s a 21% gain for 2020, against 2.3% for the S&P 500 index, and 11% for Walmart (NYSE:WMT), the country’s biggest grocer. Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com Kroger operates

Although some folks on Wall Street may deny it, I believe there’s overwhelming evidence of a disconnect between investment market valuations and the real economy. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t profit from the irrational enthusiasm. Better to go with the train than against it. However, at some point, the ride will likely end. When

Utility stocks have been relatively volatile in the recent past. However, most utility stocks have a low beta and have a stable cash flow visibility. Utility stocks should therefore be a part of the core portfolio as they reduce the portfolio risk. Mark D. Schild, assistant dean at the Stillman School of Business at Seton

After years of underperformance marked by a dividend cut, Kraft Heinz (NYSE:KHC) is on the move again. That makes Kraft Heinz stock a more interesting proposition. Source: Casimiro PT / Shutterstock.com The shares are up 8.3% so far in 2020, beating the S&P 500’s 2% gain. They have been rebounding after another down quarter, marked

There are three sides to a credit card transaction, the merchant, the customer, and the bank. It’s the latter where Capital One Financial (NYSE:COF) stock comes in. Source: Isabelle OHara/Shutterstock.com Companies that process transactions experience less volume during a recession. But they make out all right. Banks, however, have a problem. Everything you put on

The U.S. has been using natural gas for two centuries, making natural gas stocks a source of profits for a long time. Prices of energy commodities like natural gas are important for consumers and investors alike. Earlier in the year, natural gas prices in the U.S. dropped to 25-year lows. As a result, in early

Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) posted its first quarterly loss since 2008 and cut its quarterly dividend by over 80.4% from 51 cents to 10 cents per share. However, Wells Fargo stock will survive this just fine. I suspect Wells Fargo will restore the dividend after the novel coronavirus recession ends. Source: Martina Badini / Shutterstock.com Moreover,

Until the recent volatility, banks and energy stocks were among the darlings of Wall Street’s passive income-seeking investors. However, economic realities have made many of these companies reevaluate the sustainability of their high payout yields. As a result, boards of a wide range of businesses have either slashed or fully eliminated dividends. Today I’ll take a closer

In terms of stock returns, the last 12 months has been unimpressive for defense stocks. This has resulted in most names trading at attractive valuations. These companies have robust cash flows and a healthy dividend payout. I therefore believe that it’s a good time to consider exposure to some quality names in the industry. Geopolitical