December 1, 2016

5 Very Safe Dividend Stocks to Buy Now and Hold Forever


With the markets warming up to the reality of a Donald Trump presidency and administration, some people have become nervous about dividend-paying stocks as they see higher interest rates and inflation ahead. While the bond proxy sectors like real estate investment trusts and utilities may hold less appeal as they are very slow growers, other sectors like consumer staples and telecoms still make sense since they can continue to grow market share.

We screened the Merrill Lynch research database for stocks with the firms best volatility rating, and solid growing dividends that were rated Buy. We found five that growth and income investors could buy now, and put in their portfolios forever.

What investors will want to not ignore is that some of these are still well off of highs. The post-election rally has been targeting many infrastructure and higher interest rate winners, so some of these may be overlooked.



Source: WallSt. 24/7

November 26, 2016

Bank Of America Corp (BAC): A Dividend Growth Stock That Benefits From Rising Interest Rates

Few investors will ever forget the terror of the financial crisis of 2008-2009, when the global financial system was on the verge of complete collapse and many people were convinced we were headed for another depression.

Shareholders of U.S. megabanks such as Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) were especially brutalized, when one of America’s largest banks came within a stone’s throw of complete insolvency and saw its shares fall over 90% from their all-time high.

Understandably, large banks have been incredibly out of favor since then, despite what has been one of the more impressive turnarounds in corporate America. In fact, Bank of America’s efforts allowed it to raise its dividend by 50% earlier this year, and more payout growth could be ahead. Warren Buffett owns a number of banks in his dividend portfolio as well.

Let’s take a look at just how far Bank of America has come since the dark days of the Great Recession and if its shares might represent a solid, if still high-risk, long-term opportunity for dividend growth investors.




November 25, 2016

Walt Disney Co’s Decline Is A Buying Opportunity (DIS)

A recent slide presents a new opportunity to jump into DIS stock


Walt Disney Co (DIS) stock is down 19% from its 52-week high. This may scare investors away from the stock. But investors should look at Disney’s drop as a good buying opportunity.

At one point a few years back, Disney was one of the market’s most beloved growth stocks. It had raced so high that it became overvalued, and unappealing.

Thanks to its share price decline however, Disney stock’s valuation and dividend yield have come back to its historical average since 2000.

The company is currently ranked as a ‘Buy’ and Top 10 dividend stock using The 8 Rules of Dividend Investing.

It appears the market is concerned about Disney’s cable television business, and in particular ESPN. On the other hand, the overall company continues to grow at a high rate, thanks to exceptional growth in its other businesses.

This growth means the company is still generating strong returns for shareholders. As a result, this could be a good time to buy Disney stock.



Source: InvestorPlace

November 24, 2016

Dividend Growth Stocks For A Successful Retirement Plan

The basic steps for getting to and living in retirement look something like this:

 --Save money.

--Invest that money wisely.

--When you have enough money, retire.

--Live comfortably by drawing down on what you have saved and invested over the years.

The conventional wisdom used to be that you could safely draw down about 4% of your portfolio in retirement without worrying about running out of money over a period of 30 years.

That wisdom is no longer conventional. It has fallen out of favor, in large part due to low-interest rates. When short-term treasury bills were yielding more than 4%, guaranteed, it was a lot easier to pull off. Now, at more like 1%, not so much.

Live The Dream


The dream scenario for a retiree is a guaranteed source of passive income, like a salary that you don't have to work for. Something that, through thick and thin, will always kick out monthly or quarterly checks for you. That way, you don't have to worry about low-interest rates or stock market fluctuations.

Now, "guaranteed" is a tough hurdle, and isn't a word you can often use when you're talking about the stock market. In fact, about the only thing that's guaranteed is that stocks will go up and down, and you won't be able to predict when, especially in the short term.

But with some stocks, you can get reasonably close to guaranteed about one other thing: Dividends. There are a lot of blue-chip names out there that have paid dividends--and annually increased their dividends--for many years, and even decades. Past performance is no guarantee of future results, as you may have heard, but dividends from some stocks might be as close to a sure thing as you can expect out of the markets.


Source: TalkMarkets

November 23, 2016

Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) Dividend Stock Analysis

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX) operates as a roaster, marketer, and retailer of specialty coffee worldwide. The company initiated its dividend in 2010 and has been growing distributions rapidly since then. While the company has only managed to increase dividends for four years in a row, I believe that it has the potential to reach dividend achiever status, and has the growth story to become as successful for its dividend growth investors.

The most recent dividend increase was in November 2016, when the Board of Directors approved a 25% increase in the quarterly dividend to 25 cents/share. The company’s competitors include McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD), Nestle SA (ADR) (OTCMKTS:NSRGY) and Dunkin Brands Group Inc (NASDAQ:DNKN).

Since the company initiated a dividend payment in 2010, the stock has returned 315%. Future investment returns will be dependent on growth in earnings and dividend yields obtained by shareholders, as well as the initial valuation (1) locked in at the time of investment.




November 21, 2016

5 Reasons To Be A Dividend Growth Investor

As a dividend growth investor knows, it’s not exactly a secret that the U.S. stock market has been one of the greatest long-term wealth generators in history.

In fact, between 1871 and 2015 the S&P 500 has recorded a compound annual growth rate, or CAGR, of 9.1%, increasing a staggering 285,436.41 times in value.

However, as with most things in life, actually reaping the potential rewards is much harder said than done.

For example, according to BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK), the world’s largest asset manager with $5 trillion in assets under management, the average retail investor has woefully underperformed the market over the past few decades. As seen below, the average investor generated an annualized return of 2.11% over the last 20 years compared to annualized returns of 8.19% and 5.34% from stocks and bonds, respectively.

Despite the market putting up very solid growth over that time, most investors ended up treading water, after accounting for inflation.

But there is great news for those who seek to harness the incredible power of the stock market to build long-term wealth and achieve financial independence over time.

Learn five ways that being a dividend growth investor can help you reach your financial goals and make you a better long-term investor. By keeping a steady hand and staying disciplined, investing in dividend growth stocks can provide a stable, growing income stream that can fund your needs, desires, and retirement over time.




November 20, 2016

4 Top Dividend Stocks to Buy Now

European Economy Improving Fast:


Between the Brexit and issues like refugees flooding in from war-torn Middle East countries, Europe has had its share of troubles over the past year. The good news for the region is many of the member nations economies are improving, and the recent strengthening of the U.S. dollar at least gives them a window to export goods and services at very reasonable prices.

We have noticed the improvement here at 24/7 Wall Street, and we also noticed that some of the top European companies are offering outstanding dividends to investors, many of which are higher than their U.S. counterparts. We screened the Merrill Lynch research database to find stocks that were rated Buy and also paid solid dividends. We found four that look very tempting now.



Source: WallSt. 24/7

November 16, 2016

3 Stocks to Buy With Dividends Yielding More Than 3%

Top dividend stocks with good yields and track records of success can be a powerful force in your portfolio.



Dividend stocks are great for generating portfolio income, and high-yielding dividend stocks are appealing to investors. But you also have to make sure you buy the highest quality dividend stocks you can find. Fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice yield in your search for the best dividend stocks. Below, you'll find out how Altria Group (NYSE:MO), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) have above-average yields, but have extremely impressive histories of growing their dividend payouts year in and year out.



Source: Motley Fool

November 15, 2016

These 3 Dividend Stocks Are the Place To Be Today

The dividend run is not over, and these stocks are positioned to pay



I’m the lucky dad of teenage boys. Financial markets remind me of teenage boys: brilliant, rewarding, inspiring at times and other times frustrating, erratic, and just plain stupid. I’ve found the key to dealing with both is consistency, clear objectives, and conviction.

And although many market observers may describe the language of the Federal Reserve as vague and obtuse, I’m starting to think that Dr. Yellen and Company share my “the market as teenage boy” philosophy. They want rates to return to some form of normalcy, but the economic conditions must warrant the action first.

They waited and waited before finally taking action in December 2015, raising the base federal funds rate a quarter of a percent. This signaled a desire to return to more realistic interest rates while reiterating that it will be an exceedingly long process to get back to their target rates.

And the market, like a teenager, pouted as the S&P 500 pulled back 11% from December 2015 to February 2016.


Source: InvestorPlace

November 12, 2016

Top Dividend Stocks: 3 Technology Names For 2017

Technology companies are usually not the ones which make it onto the list of top dividend stocks. In fact, investors who have more of an appetite for risk pick technology companies to capture the upside potential they offer as they develop the latest gadgets and technologies for the Internet economy.

Another reason why technology companies aren’t famous for paying top dividends is that they operate in a highly competitive industry where they have to deploy a lot of cash to invest in innovations to stay in the game.

But if you’re an income investor and looking for sustained growth in your income portfolio, you need to diversify your holdings in a way that it captures all segments of the economy. Today’s startups will reach their mature business cycle in the next few years, and that may be the time when those companies start returning cash to their shareholders in the form of dividends.

I’ve shortlisted the following technology companies with a solid track record of growing dividends each quarter and rewarding their investors who believed in their business models and their ability to ward off the competitive pressures.



Source:  IncomeInvestors

November 6, 2016

Is AbbVie's Dividend Worth the Risk?

An attractively high dividend rate may have AbbVie on income investors' radar, but there are a few things investors should know about this company before they dive in and buy the stock for its dividend payout.


AbbVie Inc. (NYSE:ABBV) investors are being rewarded with an industry-leading dividend yield of 4.5%. However, patent threats to its best-selling medicine, Humira, make investing in this dividend-paying healthcare giant a bit of a gamble. Can AbbVie thwart its patent risk, or will the company take a big hit?



What's at stake

AbbVie's Humira is the world's best-selling medicine. It's an autoimmune disease drug that costs tens of thousands of dollars per year and that's used to treat patients with a range of diseases, including the blockbuster rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis indications.

In 2015, widespread global use resulted in Humira sales in excess of $14 billion, and in Q3, Humira's sales were running at an annualized $16 billion pace. Overall, Humira is solely responsible for 63% of AbbVie's total revenue, and that's potentially bad news, given that a key Humira patent expires in December.



5 High-Yield Dividend Stocks With Worrisome Payout Ratios

Dividends are an investor’s best friend. Not only do the payouts provide many investors with some much-needed income, but they also keep the management teams of companies focused on efficiency and profitability. Although some dividends have a lot of upside potential, not all dividends are so blessed or even guaranteed to last at all, and one of the first signs of potential trouble is a worrisome payout ratio.

In this article, we’ll examine five companies with somewhat high payout ratios that investors should look at with caution in terms of their sustainability. Those companies are Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), Telefonica S.A. (ADR) (NYSE:TEF), Royal Dutch Shell plc (ADR)(NYSE:RDS.A), Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS), and Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ:STX).




General Electric: Be Careful What You Wish For









  • General Electric’s Oil and Gas division and Baker Hughes recently announced plans to join forces.

  • Some have suggested that this is a slam dunk win-win for all parties. I am not so sure.

  • General Electric may have bitten off more than the company can chew. This may cause margins to take a hit. The prospects for a dividend increase near term have diminished.

  • Nevertheless, there may be a silver lining for prospective and current shareholders. In the following article I provide my two cents for dividend growth investors to take or leave.



Source: SA

Why Starbucks Is Set To Become One Of The Very Best Income Stocks

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) may not appear to be of interest to income investors at first glance. That's partly because it currently yields only 1.6% and also because it is often viewed as a consumer discretionary stock. With fears surrounding a potential restaurant recession building in recent months, many investors may therefore believe that Starbucks' sales, profitability and dividend payments could suffer.

However, in my view Starbucks is a consumer staple rather than a consumer discretionary stock. This means that its earnings and dividends may not be negatively affected by a slowdown in consumer spending. Further, Starbucks has the potential to grow its profitability abroad in markets such as China over the medium term. Alongside the introduction of new products and a high dividend coverage ratio, I believe this means that Starbucks will become one of the very best income stocks around over the medium term.


Source: SA

Nike Inc (NKE): A Quality Dividend Growth Stock

Should NKE be in your long-term dividend plans?


Since its founding in sleepy Beaverton, Oregon, in 1964, Nike Inc (NKE) has grown into the world’s most dominant sports apparel supplier, and 18th most valuable brand in the world. Along the way they have made countless long-term dividend investors very rich.


In fact, from 2006 through 2015, Nike has returned 20.9% per year (including dividends) compared to the S&P 500’s 7.4% annual return.

However, over the past year, concerns over slowing sales, increasing competition from the likes of adidas AG (ADR) (ADDYY) and Under Armour Inc (UA), and falling margins have sent shares nose diving over 20%.

Learn if the king of sports apparel could be unseated from its throne and if this recent sell off makes now a reasonable time to buy what could prove to be one of the best blue chip dividend growth stocks of the next decade.

Source: InvestorPlace


September 21, 2016

JPMorgan Upgraded Monsanto Co. (MON)


Monsanto Co. (NYSE:MON) was upgraded by equities researchers at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday.

A number of other research analysts have also weighed in on MON. TheStreet raised Monsanto to a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, May 26th. Deutsche Bank AG reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $100.00 target price on shares of Monsanto in a report on Wednesday, June 1st. Vetr lowered Monsanto from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $117.33 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, May 30th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “sell” rating on shares of Monsanto in a report on Sunday, May 29th. Finally, S&P Equity Research reaffirmed a “positive” rating on shares of Monsanto in a report on Thursday, September 15th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, fifteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $111.12.




JPMorgan Downgraded Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)


Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) was downgraded by research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. to a “neutral” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday.

Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Deutsche Bank AG reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Co. in a research report on Sunday, June 26th. Barclays PLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Co. in a research report on Saturday, July 9th. Nomura reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Wells Fargo & Co. in a research report on Saturday, July 9th. Morgan Stanley raised Wells Fargo & Co. from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $56.00 to $53.00 in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Zacks Investment Research downgraded Wells Fargo & Co. from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and nineteen have given a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $52.26.



September 20, 2016

Jefferies Downgraded American Electric Power Co. (AEP)


American Electric Power Co. (NYSE:AEP) was downgraded by stock analysts at Jefferies Group from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued on Tuesday. They currently have a $67.00 price objective on the stock, down from their prior price objective of $77.00. Jefferies Group’s target price indicates a potential upside of 2.42% from the stock’s current price. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.



September 19, 2016

Morgan Stanley Upgraded General Motors Co. (GM)


General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM) was upgraded by equities researchers at Morgan Stanley from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a report released on Monday. The firm presently has a $37.00 price target on the auto manufacturer’s stock, up from their previous price target of $29.00. Morgan Stanley’s target price points to a potential upside of 19.47% from the stock’s current price.



Wells Fargo Upgraded Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT)


Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE:LMT) was upgraded by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Co. from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports on LMT. Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Lockheed Martin Corp. from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $220.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 1st.



Baird Upgraded Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC)


Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) was upgraded by equities researchers at Robert W. Baird from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday. The brokerage currently has a $50.00 price objective on the financial services provider’s stock. Robert W. Baird’s price objective points to a potential upside of 10.06% from the stock’s previous close.


Stifel Nicolaus Downgraded Viacom Inc. (VIAB)


Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ:VIAB) was downgraded by equities researchers at Stifel Nicolaus from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report released on Monday. They presently have a $38.00 price target on the stock, down from their prior price target of $49.00. Stifel Nicolaus’ target price would suggest a potential upside of 2.70% from the company’s current price. The analysts noted that the move was a valuation call.




August 3, 2016

Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW) CEO John G. Morikis Sells $9,067,958.75 in Stock


Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE:SHW) CEO John G. Morikis sold 30,353 shares of Sherwin-Williams stock in a transaction on Monday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $298.75, for a total transaction of $9,067,958.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 119,804 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,791,445. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Sherwin-Williams stock. Janus Capital Management boosted its position in Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE:SHW) by 48.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 778,376 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 255,380 shares during the period. Janus Capital Management owned 0.81% of Sherwin-Williams worth $173,407,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.




3M Co. (MMM) Insider James L. Bauman Sells $1,617,555.72 in Stock


3M Co. (NYSE:MMM) insider James L. Bauman sold 9,066 shares of 3M stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.42, for a total value of $1,617,555.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,834 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,933,002.28. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink.

Several equities analysts have issued reports on MMM shares. Jefferies Group lifted their target price on 3M from $190.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 19th. Credit Suisse Group AG restated a “buy” rating on shares of 3M in a research note on Sunday, July 10th. Citigroup Inc. reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $191.00 price target (up from $168.00) on shares of 3M in a report on Tuesday, April 19th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded 3M from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 2nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of 3M in a research note on Monday, June 27th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $163.32.




Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (SWK) Insider James J. Cannon Sells $701,206.40 in Stock


Stanley Black & Decker Inc. (NYSE:SWK) insider James J. Cannon sold 5,776 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.40, for a total value of $701,206.40. Following the sale, the insider now owns 39,756 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,826,378.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 20th. Investors of record on Friday, September 2nd will be issued a $0.58 dividend. This is a positive change from Stanley Black & Decker’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.91%.




Whirlpool Corp. (WHR) EVP Sells $566,322.15 in Stock


Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE:WHR) EVP James W. Peters sold 2,929 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $193.35, for a total transaction of $566,322.15. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 13,308 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,573,101.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE:WHR) traded down 1.43% during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $189.38. 647,165 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged. The company has a market cap of $14.29 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.78. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $176.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $167.24. Whirlpool Corp. has a 12-month low of $123.60 and a 12-month high of $194.10.




ConocoPhillips (COP) Director Buys $258,180.00 in Stock


ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) Director Arjun N. Murti acquired 6,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 1st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $39.72 per share, with a total value of $258,180.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 19,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $754,680. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Shares of ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) traded up 0.45% during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $39.79. The stock had a trading volume of 7,145,515 shares. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $42.51 and a 200 day moving average of $41.09. ConocoPhillips has a one year low of $31.05 and a one year high of $57.24. The stock’s market cap is $49.28 billion.




Aflac Inc. (AFL) Director Barbara K. Rimer Sells $261,851.00 in Stock


Aflac Inc. (NYSE:AFL) Director Barbara K. Rimer sold 3,650 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, August 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $71.74, for a total transaction of $261,851.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 15,910 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,141,383.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website.

AFL has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Macquarie upgraded shares of Aflac from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, April 14th. Sandler O’Neill cut shares of Aflac from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 23rd. Citigroup Inc. restated a “buy” rating on shares of Aflac in a report on Sunday, May 22nd. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Aflac from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $71.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, April 5th. Finally, Vetrupgraded shares of Aflac from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $70.50 price target for the company in a report on Monday, June 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $69.25.




August 1, 2016

Celgene Corp. (CELG) insider Robert J. Hugin Sells $11,000,000.00 in Stock


Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) insider Robert J. Hugin sold 100,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $110.00, for a total transaction of $11,000,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 1,022,201 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $112,442,110. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

Shares of Celgene Corp. (NASDAQ:CELG) traded up 2.23% during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $114.69. 6,628,225 shares of the stock were exchanged. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $102.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $103.04. The company has a market cap of $89.65 billion and a P/E ratio of 48.47. Celgene Corp. has a 52-week low of $92.98 and a 52-week high of $133.59.




The Travelers Cos. (TRV) COO Brian W. Maclean Sells $4,499,542.95 in Stock


The Travelers Cos. (NYSE:TRV) COO Brian W. Maclean sold 38,507 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.85, for a total value of $4,499,542.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 145,001 shares in the company, valued at approximately $16,943,366.85. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link.

Shares of The Travelers Cos. (NYSE:TRV) traded up 0.51% during trading on Monday, hitting $116.81. The stock had a trading volume of 1,509,090 shares. The Travelers Cos. has a 1-year low of $95.21 and a 1-year high of $119.30. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $115.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $112.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $33.67 billion and a P/E ratio of 11.24.




General Dynamics Corp. (GD) VP Gregory S. Gallopoulos Sells $5,716,620.00 in Stock


General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:GD) VP Gregory S. Gallopoulos sold 39,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, July 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $146.58, for a total value of $5,716,620.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 153,848 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,551,039.84. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.

General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE:GD) traded up 1.50% during midday trading on Monday, hitting $149.09. The stock had a trading volume of 2,237,844 shares. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $140.80 and a 200 day moving average of $137.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $45.39 billion and a P/E ratio of 15.86. General Dynamics Corp. has a 52-week low of $121.61 and a 52-week high of $153.76.




Kansas City Southern (KSU) CFO Michael W. Upchurch Sells $510,831.06 in Stock


Kansas City Southern (NYSE:KSU) CFO Michael W. Upchurch sold 5,367 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.18, for a total transaction of $510,831.06. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 16,808 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,599,785.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on KSU shares. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Kansas City Southern from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $109.00 target price for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 26th. Credit Agricole SA started coverage on shares of Kansas City Southern in a research note on Thursday, May 19th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup Inc. reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $108.00 price objective on shares of Kansas City Southern in a research note on Saturday, June 18th. BMO Capital Markets reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $94.00 price objective on shares of Kansas City Southern in a research note on Thursday, July 7th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Kansas City Southern from $109.00 to $114.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $98.32.




3M Co. (MMM) Insider Paul A. Keel Sells $567,280.20 in Stock


3M Co. (NYSE:MMM) insider Paul A. Keel sold 3,180 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $178.39, for a total transaction of $567,280.20. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 9,961 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,776,942.79. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

Shares of 3M Co. (NYSE:MMM) traded down 0.04% during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $178.29. 1,598,351 shares of the company were exchanged. 3M Co. has a 52 week low of $134.00 and a 52 week high of $182.27. The company has a 50 day moving average of $174.97 and a 200 day moving average of $164.58. The company has a market capitalization of $107.76 billion and a P/E ratio of 22.76.




Pentair plc. (PNR) Chairman Randall J. Hogan Sells $6,546,048.00 in Stock


Pentair plc. Ordinary Share (NYSE:PNR) Chairman Randall J. Hogan sold 102,282 shares of Pentair plc. Ordinary Share stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.00, for a total transaction of $6,546,048.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 104,904 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,713,856. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Shares of Pentair plc. Ordinary Share (NYSE:PNR) traded down 2.40% during trading on Monday, hitting $62.29. 1,716,644 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged. Pentair plc. Ordinary Share has a 1-year low of $41.57 and a 1-year high of $64.31. The stock’s market cap is $11.27 billion. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $61.01 and its 200-day moving average price is $54.93.



Citigroup Downgrades Leggett & Platt Inc. (LEG)


Leggett & Platt Inc. (NYSE:LEG) was downgraded by Citigroup Inc. to a “market perform” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

A number of hedge funds and institutional investors recently made changes to their positions in the stock. ING Groep NV bought a new position in shares of Leggett & Platt during the second quarter worth about $244,000. First Midwest Bank Trust Division boosted its position in shares of Leggett & Platt by 50.6% in the second quarter. First Midwest Bank Trust Division now owns 18,498 shares of the company’s stock worth $945,000 after buying an additional 6,215 shares during the last quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Leggett & Platt by 6.6% in the second quarter. GW&K Investment Management LLC now owns 524,855 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,825,000 after buying an additional 32,346 shares during the last quarter. Speece Thorson Capital Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Leggett & Platt by 1.4% in the second quarter. Speece Thorson Capital Group Inc. now owns 278,985 shares of the company’s stock worth $14,259,000 after buying an additional 3,748 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. boosted its position in shares of Leggett & Platt by 175.8% in the second quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 45,807 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,341,000 after buying an additional 29,196 shares during the last quarter.




OTR Global Upgraded Coach Inc. (COH)


Coach Inc. (NYSE:COH) was upgraded by analysts at OTR Global to a “positive” rating in a report issued on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several other research analysts also recently commented on the company. Jefferies Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Coach in a research note on Sunday, May 22nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Coach in a research note on Tuesday, April 26th. William Blair upgraded Coach from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 7th. Wolfe Research lifted their target price on Coach from $41.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, April 22nd. Finally, Vetr upgraded Coach from a “strong sell” rating to a “sell” rating and set a $35.15 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, April 11th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twenty have issued a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Coach presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $41.16.




BMO Capital Markets Upgraded Harley-Davidson Inc. (HOG)


Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE:HOG) was upgraded by stock analysts at BMO Capital Markets from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday. The firm presently has a $66.00 price target on the stock, up from their prior price target of $54.00. BMO Capital Markets’ target price points to a potential upside of 27.24% from the stock’s previous close.

In related news, SVP Michelle Kumbier sold 26,667 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.25, for a total transaction of $1,233,348.75. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,011 shares in the company, valued at approximately $555,508.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.




Royal Bank Of Canada Downgraded Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDS)


Royal Dutch Shell PLC (NYSE:RDS.A) was downgraded by research analysts at Royal Bank Of Canada from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating in a report issued on Monday.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on RDS.A. Citigroup Inc. cut shares of Royal Dutch Shell PLC from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 5th. Vetr cut shares of Royal Dutch Shell PLC from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $54.66 price target for the company. in a research report on Monday, April 11th. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Royal Dutch Shell PLC from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 15th. Jefferies Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Royal Dutch Shell PLC in a research report on Sunday, July 10th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Royal Dutch Shell PLC from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $63.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 12th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $61.52.


Source: WKRB News

ADP: One Of The Best Dividend Aristocrats For Long-Term Investors


With more than four consecutive decades of dividend increases, Automatic Data Processing (ADP) is one of my favorite dividend aristocrats. The company’s excellent dividend growth track record is the result of its reliable business model.

ADP benefits from providing mission-critical services, generating a high percentage of recurring revenues, maintaining a strong client retention rate, running asset-light operations, and throwing off loads of free cash flow each year. Although ADP’s stock has nearly doubled the market’s performance over the last decade, the company has plenty of room for continued growth.

Not surprisingly, ADP scores extremely well for Dividend Safety and Dividend Growth and is the type of business I like to own in our Top 20 Dividend Stocks portfolio. Let’s take a closer look at the business.


Continue to read at TalkMarkets


9 Dividend Stocks to Buy With Both Fists

Uncertainty and low rates will keep these dividend stocks squarely in investors' crosshairs for months to come.


Interest rates are likely to remain low, what with the global economy still on shaky ground, and the Federal Reserve essentially pushing back any thoughts of a rate hike thanks to the fallout from the Brexit vote.

And once again, dividend stocks look very, very appealing.

Of course, not every stock with a yield is a no-brainer buy. Many stocks have been driven higher in the past few weeks, shrinking yields in now overbought companies. Several other dividend stocks have sky-high but unsustainable yields that might not even exist in a few years.

However, the following group of dividend stocks offers a proper blend of positive traits: good yields, yes, but also sustainable businesses and some near- or long-term tailwinds. In a couple of cases, recent underperformance has plumped up yields while also presenting a rebound opportunity.

In no particular order, here’s a look at nine dividend stocks you can feel comfortable buying with your eyes closed.


Continue to Read more at Kiplinger

July 31, 2016

Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) President Derek K. Aberle and EVP Matthew S. Grob Sells 3,255,853.35 in Stock


Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) President Derek K. Aberle sold 22,653 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.95, for a total transaction of $1,403,353.35. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 69,234 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,289,046.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.




Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) EVP Matthew S. Grob sold 30,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $61.75, for a total transaction of $1,852,500.00. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website.

Shares of Qualcomm Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) traded down 0.13% during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $62.43. 8,188,828 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged. Qualcomm Inc. has a 1-year low of $42.24 and a 1-year high of $64.95. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $54.84 and a 200-day moving average of $51.56. The company has a market capitalization of $92.00 billion and a PE ratio of 18.28.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 20th. The wireless technology company reported $1.16 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $0.97 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $5.60 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.57 billion. The firm’s revenue was up 2.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.99 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that Qualcomm Inc. will post $4.24 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.





Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) VP Sells $5,143,661.46 in Stock


Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) VP Dominic J. Caruso sold 41,146 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, July 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.01, for a total transaction of $5,143,661.46. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 157,819 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $19,728,953.19. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

Other institutional investors have modified their holdings of the company. Wedbush Securities Inc. increased its position in shares of Johnson & Johnson by 5.6% in the fourth quarter. Wedbush Securities Inc. now owns 45,571 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,681,000 after buying an additional 2,405 shares in the last quarter. IFC Holdings Incorporated FL increased its position in Johnson & Johnson by 12.6% in the fourth quarter. IFC Holdings Incorporated FL now owns 24,098 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,466,000 after buying an additional 2,694 shares in the last quarter. Paragon Capital Management LLC increased its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Paragon Capital Management LLC now owns 104,589 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,743,000 after buying an additional 1,743 shares in the last quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC increased its position in Johnson & Johnson by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. Confluence Investment Management LLC now owns 737,593 shares of the company’s stock worth $75,766,000 after buying an additional 40,642 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JFS Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in Johnson & Johnson by 1.0% in the fourth quarter. JFS Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 31,533 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,239,000 after buying an additional 297 shares in the last quarter.