July 31, 2018

Better Buy: Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi


Which of these high-yield dividend stocks is the better investment today?



The beverage industry has long been fertile ground for dividend investors. Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) and Pepsi (NASDAQ:PEP) have delivered steadily rising cash payouts and solid total returns to investors for decades. And with each company's stock currently yielding about 3.5%, they remain popular options for income-focused investors.

But which of these dividend stalwarts is the better buy now? Let's find out.

Competitive positioning


Coca-Cola and Pepsi dominate the $200 billion global soft drink and bottled water manufacturing industry. Recently, Coca-Cola has been gaining soda market share, with Coke Zero Sugar and Diet Coke enjoying solid sales gains in the first quarter.

However, overall soda sales have declined steadily for much of the past decade -- a trend that's likely to continue for the foreseeable future. More and more people are turning away from high-sugar drinks, as well as those containing artificial sweeteners, which has dented sales of Coke and Pepsi and their diet versions.




Coca-Cola and Pepsi have diversified their beverage product lineups in response to these trends. They've invested heavily in tea, juice, and bottled water, which has helped offset declines in their core soda businesses.


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July 28, 2018

This is a Stock to Buy and Hold Forever


Must-have stocks are not always the flashiest. Instead, they provide essential services that never go out of fashion.

The stock we have today is definitely not flashy. But it’s a stock to buy and hold for the rest of your life.

After all, you’re not going to stop throwing out your trash any time soon. And neither is anybody else.

That trash is this company’s treasure.
We’re talking about the largest provider of waste management and residential recycling services in North America, with more than 21 million customers.

If you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance you’re a customer too, even if you don’t know it.

That’s exactly why this stock is worth your attention.

While the rest of the market is busy speculating on the next tech gadget or miracle drug, this company keeps delivering steady gains.




Those gains don’t just grow along with the trash we produce, but also on the company’s innovations – such as converting landfill gas into usable energy.

We might take these kinds of services for granted, but the world relies on them – no matter what else is happening…


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July 25, 2018

Intel: A Cheap Tech Stock for Value & Dividends


Technology stocks have a tendency to be associated with growth stocks. High-flying tech stocks like Amazon (AMZN) or Netflix (NFLX) typically have lofty valuations, inconsistent profitability, and rarely pay dividends. As a result, the high-growth tech industry usually has little to offer value and dividend investors.

But investors looking for reasonable valuations and dividend income do not have to avoid the tech industry altogether. There are a few high-quality tech stocks that have strong profits, modest valuations, and pay dividends to shareholders.

For example, Intel Corporation (INTC) is a classic value and income stock. It has a cheap valuation and a solid dividend yield of 2.4%. And, like many of its tech peers, the company has a long runway of growth ahead.




Business Overview

Intel is the world’s largest semiconductor company. It has a market capitalization of $240 billion. It is a chip manufacturer, with a heavy presence in personal computers. This has held Intel down in recent years, as the PC industry has stagnated as consumers shift toward mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Intel’s PC segment still represents nearly half of its total revenue, which has kept Intel from generating growth.




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July 24, 2018

This “Boring” Company Has Raised Its Dividend for 52 Consecutive Years


If You Want to Collect Rising Dividends, Read This



Most people have never heard of Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW), but the company offers one of the safest growing income streams.

Illinois Tool Works is a multi-industrial manufacturer. Headquartered in Glenview, Illinois, the company has been around for over a century.

Today, ITW operates through seven business segments: “Automotive OEM,” “Test & Measurement Electronics,” “Food Equipment,” “Polymers & Fluids, Welding,” “Construction Products,” and “Specialty Products.”

As a manufacturer of industrial products and equipment, Illinois Tool Works does not make headlines very often. What it does, though, is raise its dividends like clockwork.




Consider this: Illinois Tool Works has increased its payout to shareholders in each of the last 52 years. That makes ITW stock a “dividend king,” which is a title only awarded to companies with at least five decades of consecutive annual dividend hikes. To put it in perspective, there are thousands of companies trading on U.S. stock exchanges. Among them, only 25 are known as dividend kings.




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July 21, 2018

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: Week of July 16th, 2018



Disposals:


Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) EVP Sean E. Harper sold 1,525 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $195.71, for a total transaction of $298,457.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website.
Sean E. Harper also recently made the following trade(s):

-On Tuesday, June 12th, Sean E. Harper sold 1,525 shares of Amgen stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $184.27, for a total transaction of $281,011.75.
-On Monday, May 14th, Sean E. Harper sold 1,525 shares of Amgen stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.10, for a total transaction of $265,502.50.

Shares of Amgen opened at $194.88 on Tuesday, MarketBeat.com reports. Amgen, Inc. has a 52-week low of $163.31 and a 52-week high of $201.23. The company has a market capitalization of $129.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a current ratio of 3.88, a quick ratio of 3.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.14. Read more …

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) COO W Gilbert West sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $52.65, for a total transaction of $526,500.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 95,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,025,284.55. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Read more …

Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL) COO W Gilbert West sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.47, for a total value of $757,050.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 104,447 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,271,440.09. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link.
W Gilbert West also recently made the following trade(s):

On Wednesday, April 18th, W Gilbert West sold 17,250 shares of Delta Air Lines stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.00, for a total transaction of $948,750.00.

DAL stock traded down $0.10 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $50.67. 8,603,100 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,634,792. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The company has a market capitalization of $35.61 billion, a PE ratio of 10.28 and a beta of 1.12. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 1-year low of $44.59 and a 1-year high of $60.79. Read more ...


Accenture Plc (NYSE:ACN) insider Ellyn Shook sold 4,375 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $168.02, for a total value of $735,087.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 31,707 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,327,410.14. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Shares of ACN stock opened at $168.07 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $113.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.97. Accenture Plc has a one year low of $125.48 and a one year high of $168.95. Read more …




Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) CEO Ian C. Read sold 486,753 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, July 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.36, for a total value of $18,185,092.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,145,693 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,803,090.48. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Shares of NYSE:PFE opened at $37.65 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Pfizer Inc. has a 12-month low of $32.32 and a 12-month high of $39.43. The stock has a market capitalization of $223.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.93. Read more …

July 20, 2018

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of July 16, 2018



Upgrades:


United Parcel Service (NYSE:UPS) was upgraded by investment analysts at UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Monday, The Fly reports. UPS has been the subject of a number of other reports. ValuEngine cut United Parcel Service from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Monday, July 2nd. Stephens reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $126.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Monday, April 9th. Bank of America upgraded United Parcel Service from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, May 14th. Robert W. Baird reiterated a “hold” rating and issued a $120.00 target price on shares of United Parcel Service in a research note on Tuesday, April 10th. Finally, Loop Capital upped their target price on United Parcel Service to $139.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 30th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $124.33. Read more …

VF (NYSE:VFC) was upgraded by research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. Other research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $71.00 target price on shares of VF in a research note on Monday, May 7th. Canaccord Genuity set a $91.00 target price on VF and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 8th. Pivotal Research reaffirmed a “hold” rating and set a $82.00 target price on shares of VF in a research note on Monday, May 7th. UBS Group assumed coverage on VF in a research note on Thursday, June 21st. They set a “neutral” rating and a $89.00 target price for the company. Finally, Argus assumed coverage on VF in a research note on Monday, May 21st. They set a “buy” rating and a $101.00 target price for the company. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $83.78. Read more …

Brown-Forman Co. Class B (NYSE:BF.B) was upgraded by equities researchers at Cowen from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on the stock. Zacks Investment Research raised shares of Brown-Forman Co. Class B from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $62.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 8th. ValuEngine raised shares of Brown-Forman Co. Class B from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 2nd. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Brown-Forman Co. Class B from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, June 28th. Finally, Societe Generale cut shares of Brown-Forman Co. Class B from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $49.82. Read more …




Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL) was upgraded by equities researchers at UBS Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, www.benzinga.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $75.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $70.00. UBS Group’s price objective would suggest a potential upside of 15.72% from the company’s previous close. A number of other equities analysts have also recently commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Co cut Colgate-Palmolive to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Zacks Investment Research cut Colgate-Palmolive from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, July 2nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Colgate-Palmolive from $69.00 to $67.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 21st. Argus raised Colgate-Palmolive from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, May 25th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and issued a $72.00 price target on shares of Colgate-Palmolive in a research note on Thursday, May 24th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Colgate-Palmolive presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $75.00. Read more …

July 18, 2018

10 Dividend Stocks That Will Double Your Money


Is it possible to double your money – quickly – buying safe dividend stocks? You bet. Let me explain how…

“Basic” income investors are enamored with higher current yields. These are OK for payouts today, but they’re not going to get us 100%+ gains.

For triple-digit profits we must pay attention to the underrated dividend hike. These raises not only increase the yield on your initial investment, but they trigger stock price increases, too.

For example, if a stock pays a 3% current yield and then hikes its payout by 10%, it’s unlikely that its stock price will stagnate for long. Investors will see the new 3.3% yield and buy more shares. They’ll drive the price up, and the yield back down – eventually towards 3%.

This is why many Dividend Aristocrats don’t pay high current yields: Their prices just rise too fast. Just look at A.O. Smith (NYSE:AOS), which perpetually yields in the low 1% range. The low yield isn’t from a lack of dividend hikes – in fact, AOS keeps hiking its payout more aggressively over time. But investors just keep chasing the stock too high!


What a “problem” to have!

If you’re looking for a “dividend stock double” to bring you secure gains of 100% or better, consider these ten payers. Don’t be fooled by their modest current yields – these dividends will probably always look modest thanks to soaring share prices.



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July 17, 2018

The Top 11 Big Pharma Dividend Stocks Ranked By Total Return


Drug companies are often considered defensive in nature due to their stable earnings, through good economies and bad. People with illnesses or diseases will likely seek out treatments to improve their quality of life, regardless of the condition of the economy.

The high cost of life saving or improving medicines means that pharmaceutical companies often generate huge amounts of cash flow, which allows them to pay high dividend yields. Even in a recession, many of these companies are able to keep paying and raising dividends due to the large amount of cash on the balance sheet.

For all these reasons, pharmaceutical stocks are strong candidates for a dividend growth portfolio.This article examines 11 of the largest pharmaceutical stocks in detail. All 11 stocks pay dividends, and can be found on our list of 203 dividend-paying healthcare stocks.


The list is ranked by their total annual expected return over the next five years. Rankings are determined by expected annual return, based on the stock’s current yield, valuation changes, and earnings growth. All stocks can be found in the Sure Analysis Research Database.





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July 16, 2018

Sell Now: 3 Blue Chips with Slowing Dividend Growth


Bigger isn’t always better when it comes to dividends. Deutsche Bank recently pointed out “the first half of 2018 has seen the sharpest underperformance of dividend stocks since the financial crisis”, as measured by the Dividend Aristocrats.

Most readers are already familiar with this group of 53 names within the S&P 500 index, many paying out billions of dividends each quarter, with the most common trait being they’ve each boosted payouts a minimum of 25 consecutive years.

However, another item several of the Aristocrats share in common, is that the Law of Large Numbers is catching up to them. They may be paying out more to investors each year, but as my colleague Brett Owens has often pointed out, it’s how much the dividend is growing that is the best predictor for building wealth over time.


This is especially the case when interest rates are rising. An annual payout increase of a penny or two may produce a positive headline and keep you in the Aristocrat club another year, but these three names are barely treading water against other income investments and certainly not keeping up with the 7.2% average year-to-date dividend growth in the S&P 500.


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July 13, 2018

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of July 9, 2018



Upgrades:


Archer Daniels Midland (NYSE:ADM) was upgraded by stock analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from an “underweight” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report released on Monday, MarketBeat.com reports. The brokerage presently has a $48.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of $42.00. JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s price target indicates a potential upside of 0.13% from the stock’s current price. Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. ValuEngine lowered shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 2nd. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 8th. Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $43.30 to $50.00 in a report on Monday, March 12th. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Archer Daniels Midland from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 2nd. Finally, Monness Crespi & Hardt upgraded shares of Archer Daniels Midland from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, May 2nd. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. The company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $45.92. Read more …

Canadian National Railway (NYSE:CNI) (TSE:CNR) was upgraded by equities researchers at Deutsche Bank from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. CNI has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on Canadian National Railway in a report on Thursday, May 24th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $84.00 price target for the company. Zacks Investment Research raised Canadian National Railway from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 1st. Macquarie cut Canadian National Railway from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report on Thursday, May 17th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Cowen upped their price target on Canadian National Railway from $86.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, April 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank raised Canadian National Railway from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $81.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, May 24th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $84.98. Read more …

Raymond James upgraded shares of Canadian Pacific Railway (TSE:CP) (NYSE:CP) from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating in a report issued on Monday. They currently have C$275.00 price target on the stock, up from their previous price target of C$260.00. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. Desjardins lowered their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$254.00 to C$253.00 in a report on Monday, April 16th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$254.00 to C$265.00 in a report on Thursday, June 28th. National Bank Financial boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$250.00 to C$260.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Thursday, June 21st. CIBC boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$263.00 to C$270.00 in a report on Thursday, April 19th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Canadian Pacific Railway from C$256.00 to C$258.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, April 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Canadian Pacific Railway presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of C$259.25. Read more …



Cummins (NYSE:CMI) was upgraded by analysts at Stifel Nicolaus from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a $160.00 price objective on the stock, down from their previous price objective of $174.00. Stifel Nicolaus’ price objective points to a potential upside of 19.32% from the company’s previous close. CMI has been the subject of several other reports. Buckingham Research downgraded shares of Cummins from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $195.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, May 2nd. Bank of America downgraded shares of Cummins from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $154.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, May 3rd. They noted that the move was a valuation call. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Cummins from $176.00 to $164.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, April 10th. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Cummins in a research note on Friday, June 29th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $150.00 price target for the company. Finally, TheStreet raised shares of Cummins from a “c+” rating to a “b” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 1st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eighteen have issued a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Cummins currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $167.52. Read more …

8 Great Dividend Stocks Yielding 8% or More


High-yield dividend stocks typically play a vital role for investors planning for retirement. However, like many things in life, there is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to income plays.

Many of the highest-yielding dividend stocks are too good to be true. Their high yields simply reflect a higher risk profile and an unsustainable dividend that will be put on the chopping block in the future. For investors living off dividends in retirement, that’s a disaster just waiting to happen.

As a result, conservative income investors would do well to steer clear of most stocks with dividend yields well above 6%.

Today, we’ll review eight dividend stocks that sport a dividend yield of at least 8%. These companies maintained their payouts during the financial crisis, and they appear poised to continue delivering generous dividends over at least the short- to medium-term.


To be clear, these are still “reach” candidates. They need to be approached with caution. Only more aggressive income investors who are willing to tolerate higher risk should consider these stocks. But in moderation, they could do well as a smaller part of a will-diversified dividend portfolio.




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July 12, 2018

The 20 Stocks From Goldman Sachs’ Buy List That You Should Actually Consider


I don't like all of Goldman's "buy" stocks here, but these 20 should do quite well


Goldman Sachs rates a lot of stocks as “buy.”

But recently, the equity research team at Goldman compiled a list of stocks within the company’s coverage universe that have the most potential upside to their price targets. The list is long (about 40 stocks), and Goldman pegs all of them as having roughly 30% or more upside to their price target.

But combing through the list, I’m not a fan of all 40 stocks. Instead, I think about half of them are good buys here and now.


Which ones are they? Let’s take a deeper look.





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July 11, 2018

This Dividend Growth Stock Appears 18% Undervalued Right Now



Welcome back to the Valuation Zone, where we hunt for well-valued dividend growth stocks hiding in the forest of stocks that sell on one market or another.

This month’s stock is Starbucks (SBUX), the ubiquitous coffee seller. We last visited Starbucks almost a year ago, when it was our Dividend Growth Stock of the Month for September, 2017.
Since that article, lots has happened at Starbucks.

  1. • It increased its dividend 20% last November.
  2. • Its yield has hopped up from 1.8% to 3.0%.
  3. • It was the site of the now-infamous incident in a Philadelphia store where two black men had the police called on them as they were waiting for a friend to arrive for a meeting. Starbucks later closed down all its American stores for an afternoon of diversity training.
  4. • Its former CEO, Howard Shultz, stepped down from the board.
  5. • Its CFO, Scott Maw, unexpectedly announced his retirement to take effect in November.
  6. • First-quarter results and guidance were disappointing.





For these reasons and others, Starbuck’s price has fallen to a 3+ year low. You can buy it now for the same price as in mid-2015. However, since that point in 2015, Starbuck’s dividend has increased 4 times for a total increase of 125%.




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July 7, 2018

Week's Most Significant Insider Trades: July 2 - 6, 2018



Disposals:


Automatic Data Processing (NASDAQ:ADP) insider Michael A. Bonarti sold 2,372 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $132.66, for a total value of $314,669.52. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 41,023 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,442,111.18. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Shares of ADP traded down $1.21 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $133.65. The company had a trading volume of 249,531 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,437,110. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Automatic Data Processing has a 52 week low of $100.51 and a 52 week high of $141.52. The stock has a market cap of $59.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.16, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.90. Read more …

Costco Wholesale Co. (NASDAQ:COST) Director John W. Meisenbach sold 3,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $208.42, for a total value of $625,260.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 8,654 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,803,666.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. NASDAQ:COST traded down $0.94 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $207.05. The stock had a trading volume of 47,670 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,038,979. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.47. Costco Wholesale Co. has a 12-month low of $150.00 and a 12-month high of $212.46. The company has a market capitalization of $91.65 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.98, a P/E/G ratio of 2.77 and a beta of 0.95. Read more …

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) insider Janet Hayes sold 4,895 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, June 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $61.34, for a total value of $300,259.30. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 59,265 shares in the company, valued at $3,635,315.10. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Read more …
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) Director Anthony Greener sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.51, for a total transaction of $302,550.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 33,218 shares in the company, valued at $2,010,021.18. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link.
Williams-Sonoma traded up $0.49, hitting $61.48, during trading on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The stock had a trading volume of 801,921 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,880,358. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1-year low of $42.68 and a 1-year high of $65.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. The company has a market capitalization of $5.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.03, a PEG ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 0.79. Read more …





Nike Inc (NYSE:NKE) CAO Hilary K. Krane sold 40,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.51, for a total value of $3,060,400.00. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Shares of NKE stock traded down $0.07 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $76.48. 5,916,217 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,502,982. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 2.51. The stock has a market capitalization of $124.10 billion, a PE ratio of 31.66, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.67. Nike Inc has a 52 week low of $50.35 and a 52 week high of $81.00. Read more …
  



Acquisitions:


Nothing to mention:



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July 6, 2018

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of July 2, 2018



Upgrades:


Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) was upgraded by research analysts at Sanford C. Bernstein from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday. Separately, Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 27th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $64.00. Read more …


Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Co (NYSE:WFC) from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating in a research note released on Monday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have $62.00 price target on the financial services provider’s stock, up from their previous price target of $57.00. A number of other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Co to a buy rating in a report on Monday, April 30th. Macquarie upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Co from an underperform rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, April 30th. Susquehanna Bancshares set a $58.00 price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Co and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Monday, April 23rd. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Co from $71.00 to $66.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 16th. Finally, Buckingham Research decreased their price objective on shares of Wells Fargo & Co from $75.00 to $70.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 16th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Wells Fargo & Co currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $62.05. Read more …

Autoliv (NYSE:ALV) was upgraded by analysts at UBS Group from a “sell” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, 247wallst.com reports. The firm presently has a $107.00 price target on the auto parts company’s stock. UBS Group’s price target points to a potential upside of 6.70% from the stock’s previous close. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Autoliv to $154.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 8th. Longbow Research set a $168.00 price objective on shares of Autoliv and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, April 30th. ValuEngine cut shares of Autoliv from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 27th. Mizuho reiterated a “buy” rating and set a $160.00 price objective on shares of Autoliv in a research report on Tuesday, June 26th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Autoliv from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $153.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, April 30th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $139.71. Read more …



Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (NYSE:BIP) (TSE:BIP.UN) was upgraded by research analysts at Credit Suisse Group from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday. The brokerage presently has a $46.00 price target on the utilities provider’s stock, up from their previous price target of $44.00. Credit Suisse Group’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 12.88% from the stock’s current price. Other equities analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. TD Securities lowered their target price on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $47.00 to $46.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 3rd. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 3rd. Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from $46.75 to $46.50 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, June 5th. CIBC began coverage on shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners in a research note on Friday, March 16th. They set a “sector outperform” rating and a $47.00 target price for the company. Finally, ValuEngine downgraded shares of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $47.11. Read more …


The 7 Highest-Rated Dividend Aristocrats


The Dividend Aristocrats are an elite group of 53 stocks that have at least one thing in common: They have raised their annual payout in at least each of the past 25 years, if not longer.


But just because a company consistently raises its dividend doesn’t necessarily make it a compelling investing proposition.

Market experts advise a further layer of research before diving into these “elite” dividend stocks. You should always check that the company holds up to scrutiny – this means an encouraging business outlook and strong fundamentals. That way you’re “covered” twice: You have an attractive income proposition that should only get better over time, and chances are if you ever want to sell, you can do so at a profit.

We have used TipRanks’ market data to pinpoint the highest-rated Dividend Aristocrats right now. TipRanks scans the latest stock ratings from over 4,800 Wall Street analysts to be able to compile a list of stocks with the most Street support from analysts and top analysts.


The following are seven of the best dividend growth stocks on the market right now, in the eyes of the “pros.” This includes the average analyst price target, to give you an idea of how much upside potential Wall Street sees in these companies.




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July 5, 2018

5 Cheap, Fast-Growing Dividends With More Upside Ahead


If you buy a stock that eventually increases its dividend by 100% in the coming years, you’re going to double your money or better as that happens. Find a payout with 200%, 300% or even 500% upside? Then we have a secure way to total returns up to 500%.

(We’ll discuss five generous payers in a minute, with price upside up to 500%.)

Why does dividend growth matter so much more than earnings, sales or even cash flow growth? Well, we income investors buy a stock for one of three reasons:

  1. A meaningful current yield
  2. The potential for a higher yield-on-cost over time, and/or
  3. Price gains


When these factors combine, they can create 100% price upside with a safe dividend payers. Share prices tend to rise in tandem with runaway dividends, as investors pay more for the now-higher yield.


Got a dividend grower that’s cheap? Even better. It means that management can put its payout hikes on steroids by repurchasing its own bargain shares. (Look, there’s a reason it’s called “financial engineering” – it works!)

Let’s discuss five fast growing payouts on already-cheap stocks. If I were the chief financial officer (CFO) of one of these firms, I would be salivating at how fast I’ll be able to double these share prices. All have triple-digit upside potential, and all their CFOs need to do is to continue growing their dividends and repurchase cheap shares when appropriate.





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July 4, 2018

5 Bank Stocks That Pay Big Dividends to Shareholders


Buy these stocks for high, sustainable dividends



The banking sector — and bank stocks — saw an intriguing reversal in the 21st century.

For most of the latter 20th century, banks generally paid depositors a higher rate of interest than bank stocks paid in dividend yields. This trend reversed soon after the turn of the century and became more pronounced after the 2008 financial crisis. Beginning in the early 2000’s, interest-rate cuts gave bank stock investors dividend yields that exceeded the rates depositors earned in interest. Although interest rates have begun to gradually move higher in recent months, bank-deposit interest rates remain extremely low by any measure.


Fortunately, some banks pay the 5+% returns comparable to bank and CD rates in the 20th century. These 5 stocks show that earning substantial cash payouts from banks remains possible — if investors take a chance on bank stocks.




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