Dividend Stocks

Shares of Merck (NYSE:MRK) stock remain 12% below where they started the year, while the value of other drug companies have soared. Source: Atmosphere1 / Shutterstock.com While Merck is one of the most respected drug makers out there, it was seen to be behind the curve when it comes to the novel coronavirus. It is

The world has been paralyzed by fear of Covid-19 since March, as case numbers continue to climb. The decimation on Wall Street once the quarantine started was also extremely harsh, but by contrast, brief; the pain in equities lasted but for a blink. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) stock fell 30% before bottoming out in March. And then,

Big dividends. And I mean really big dividends. Yields that are multiples of the average of the members of the S&P 500 Index. But big dividends are worthless if the companies behind them aren’t up to sustaining them, or if the dividend stocks aren’t working in the market. A dividend yield won’t be worth much

Many economic sectors have seen revenue and profits collapse over the course of 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Industries such as energy, restaurants and retailers are among the hardest-hit areas of the economy. But not all industries are struggling – alcohol stocks continue to generate strong profits and steady growth throughout the year. The

Real estate investment trusts, or REITs, manage, own, or operate income-producing real estate. These trusts typically own various residential and commercial properties, including hotels, apartments, warehouses, and others. The primary appeal of REITs is their track record of consistently paying large dividends that increase over time. REITs are often more liquid than traditional stocks as

It’s said that someone who represents himself in court has a fool for a client. What about a landlord who owns their tenants? That’s what we’re going to find out, as Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG), the largest operator of shopping malls, continues to buy bankrupt retailers. Over the last few years, the company behind SPG stock bought

Last month I wrote that BP (NYSE:BP) was at least 20% undervalued based on its free cash flow (FCF) and its new lower dividend. I still believe that BP stock is at least 22% too low based on its new situation. Source: FotograFFF / Shutterstock.com For example, on Oct. 27, the company reported its Q3

One of the first things a novice investor does is load up on dividend stocks. But I think it’s a wise strategy, even for experienced investors. We all should value safety and security, especially after the novel coronavirus pandemic sent the stock markets back by $5 trillion earlier this year. That’s why you see increased

Every major sector has felt the wrath of the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, some industries have completely buckled under pressure — in particular, oil and gas. Oil stocks are a major casualty of the current crisis, and it’s hard to find a name that is not currently flat or down on the year as of

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is a powerful telecom company that is a steady earner and good growth characteristics. But VZ stock is probably fairly valued at this point, despite its growth. Yet it pays a safe and growing dividend and an attractive dividend yield. Source: Northfoto / Shutterstock.com So far this year VZ stock dropped 4.67%

It’s dangerous to buy dividend stocks solely for their high yields. Even a cursory look at recent performance shows the risk. Widely-held names like IBM (NYSE:IBM), AT&T (NYSE:T), and Altria (NYSE:MO) for years have seemed attractive due to dividend yields that often cleared 5%. All three stocks have seen steady declines for years now. To

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) stock gained 12.7% in trading Monday. But that gain is not nearly enough to offset what has been a truly stunning decline. Source: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com Even with the rally, XOM stock has lost 47% of its value so far in 2020. The S&P 500 has gained more than 10%. Obviously,

If there were one word to describe 2020, “volatile” would be an appropriate description. The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on the U.S. economy. The broader economy remains in a highly uncertain position. With this backdrop, investors may want to position their portfolios to be less volatile moving forward by investing in low-beta stocks. Low-beta stocks

One of the fears of the Presidential election has been that the process would be prolonged and perhaps involve unrest. But as seen by the powerful bullish moves in the markets this week, it looks like this scenario will not play out. But this does not imply that things will be smooth either. This is

In a volatile economy, dividend stocks have always proven to be a safe play. These stable investments can offset losses and help you generate income over time. But picking the right dividend stock isn’t just about buying the ones that offer the highest yield. Very often, high dividend yield companies can make changes to the

It’s been a volatile year for investors in general. And nowhere has that been more true than in high yield dividend stocks. In March and April, there was a massive number of companies that slashed or entirely suspended their dividends. This year has been a period of devastation for income-focused investors, particularly in sectors like

Sportswriters like to talk about having personal Mount Rushmores. The four best basketball players ever, the best baseball players to suit up for the Pittsburgh Pirates, etc. Here in Georgia, I keep a personal Stone Mountain of bad business leaders, people who have destroyed value through bad decisions, such as Randall Stephenson of AT&T (NYSE:T)

Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA), the cable giant that also owns NBCUniversal, was feeling a lot like its viewers Election Day. Worried, but hopeful about the future. People who hold Comcast stock may feel the same way. Source: Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com Comcast shares are trading at $44, about 2% below where they started the year. They fell

Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE:XOM) has made it very clear that it is committed to paying its existing dividend. As a result, XOM stock now has a very high dividend yield of 10.67% that offers great value to shareholders. Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com On Oct. 28, Exxon declared a quarterly dividend of 87 cents payable

Stocks that deliver monthly income aren’t that common. Many energy master limited partnerships (MLPs) were monthly dividend payers, but those days are over. And even the best of them aren’t a very good pick right now. That makes finding the best monthly dividend stocks a challenge. But some stocks still do deliver monthly income that