November 29, 2021

National Retail Properties, Inc.: 4.5% Yielder Has Raised Dividends for 32 Consecutive Years

 

Consider NNN Stock for Income & Growth

 


If you’re looking for a stock that provides consistent dividend growth and share-price gains—and a company that’s taking advantage of the post-pandemic economic recovery—National Retail Properties, Inc. (NYSE:NNN) might be the perfect opportunity.

 

Admittedly, having the word “retail” in its name might scare off a lot of investors. After all, traditional brick-and-mortar stores are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Fortunately, National Retail Properties, Inc. didn’t get that memo.

 

National Retail Properties is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, invests in, and develops high-quality properties that it leases to retailers under long-term (15–20 years) triple net leases. (Source: “Investor Update: November 2021,” National Retail Properties, Inc., last accessed November 25, 2021.)

 

With a triple net lease, the tenant is responsible for all expenses, including property taxes, building insurance, maintenance, and utilities. In essence, National Retail Properties banks the base rent and has no obligation to spend money on the property.

 

Why would anyone sign up for a triple net lease? The landlord has a lower initial cost with a triple net property, which means it can offer lower rents. Don’t shed a tear for National Retail Properties, Inc., though. It builds rent increases into its contracts.

 

 

The company’s diverse portfolio comprises 3,195 properties leased to more than 370 tenants in more than 30 industries. National Retail Properties’ aggregate gross leasable area is approximately 33.1 million square feet (equal to about 573 football fields) in 48 states. The REIT’s properties are most concentrated in Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, and Texas.

 

Continue reading …

 

November 28, 2021

Dividend Increases Week 47, 2021



 

In this article, I will go through the weekly dividend increases and cuts in popular and well-known stocks. (Member of The Dividend Champions or Canadian All-Star list)

 

Recently, 5 companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period.

 

The table below summarises the dividend change announcements.  The table shows the current dividend, the new dividend and the percentage increase (%). Dividends are shown on an annual basis and in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Yield is the new dividend yield of the most recent price, and Years is the years of consecutive dividend increases.

 

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 22 2021


 

Upgrades:

 


Kimco Realty (NYSE:KIM) was upgraded by equities researchers at Evercore ISI to an "outperform" rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

KIM has been the topic of several other research reports. Capital One Financial raised Kimco Realty from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and set a $26.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 2nd. BTIG Research restated a "hold" rating on shares of Kimco Realty in a research note on Sunday, September 26th. Truist upped their price objective on Kimco Realty from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 30th. Truist Securities upped their target price on Kimco Realty from $23.00 to $25.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, August 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Kimco Realty from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $23.32.

KIM stock opened at $24.05 on Monday. Kimco Realty has a twelve month low of $14.03 and a twelve month high of $24.95. The stock has a market cap of $14.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.59, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.50. The business's 50-day moving average price is $22.55 and its 200-day moving average price is $21.71. Read more …

 


Royal Gold (NASDAQ:RGLD) (TSE:RGL) was upgraded by research analysts at Bank of America from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report issued on Monday, The Fly reports.

RGLD has been the topic of a number of other research reports. TD Securities lowered their price objective on Royal Gold from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 13th. Zacks Investment Research raised Royal Gold from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $106.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, October 26th. Raymond James set a $136.00 price objective on Royal Gold and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 4th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Royal Gold from $138.00 to $145.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Friday, August 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial lowered their price objective on Royal Gold from C$160.00 to C$155.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, September 10th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Royal Gold has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $136.03.

NASDAQ RGLD opened at $105.43 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 3.65, a current ratio of 3.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. Royal Gold has a 52-week low of $92.01 and a 52-week high of $129.69. The business's 50-day moving average price is $101.26 and its 200 day moving average price is $111.48. The firm has a market cap of $6.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.10, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.64. Read more …

 


AbbVie (NYSE:ABBV) was upgraded by investment analysts at Societe Generale from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report issued on Tuesday, PriceTargets.com reports.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on ABBV. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of AbbVie from $128.00 to $131.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 2nd. Argus increased their price target on AbbVie from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 5th. Truist Securities started coverage on AbbVie in a report on Tuesday, July 27th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $117.00 price objective for the company. Cowen upped their price objective on shares of AbbVie from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, August 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of AbbVie from $116.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, November 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $127.17.

ABBV stock traded up $3.23 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $118.88. The company's stock had a trading volume of 8,594,465 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,838,689. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.45, a quick ratio of 0.91 and a current ratio of 1.01. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $111.39 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $113.87. AbbVie has a 1 year low of $101.55 and a 1 year high of $121.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $210.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.30, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.83. Read more …

 

 


Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) was upgraded by research analysts at Bank of America to a “buy” rating in a research report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently weighed in on BBY. Wedbush raised Best Buy to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 25th. DA Davidson raised Best Buy to a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 25th. Zacks Investment Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Best Buy in a research report on Friday, September 10th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price target on Best Buy from $136.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 25th. Finally, Citigroup restated a “buy” rating on shares of Best Buy in a research report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $128.31. Read more …

 


Bank of Nova Scotia (NYSE:BNS) (TSE:BNS) was upgraded by equities researchers at Canaccord Genuity from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. National Bank Financial increased their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from $84.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. TD Securities reduced their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$90.00 to C$87.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. Veritas Investment Research reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia in a report on Friday, November 12th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$86.00 to C$89.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Bank of Nova Scotia presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $86.43. Read more …

 


Chevron (NYSE:CVX) was upgraded by stock analysts at Royal Bank of Canada from a "sector perform" rating to an "outperform" rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

A number of other research firms also recently issued reports on CVX. TheStreet upgraded shares of Chevron from a "c" rating to a "b-" rating in a research report on Friday, July 30th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of Chevron from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $100.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Tuesday, September 21st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Chevron from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, November 1st. DZ Bank downgraded shares of Chevron from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $110.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Wednesday, August 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Chevron from $149.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, November 19th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $120.65.

Chevron stock opened at $116.30 on Wednesday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $108.83 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.82. Chevron has a 52 week low of $83.53 and a 52 week high of $118.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $224.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.45, a P/E/G ratio of 2.42 and a beta of 1.30. Read more …

 

 

 

Downgrades:

 


AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) was downgraded by stock analysts at Bryan, Garnier & Co to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on AZN. SVB Leerink lifted their price target on AstraZeneca from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. assumed coverage on AstraZeneca in a research note on Thursday, August 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research note on Monday, October 11th. UBS Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Tuesday, October 19th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of AstraZeneca in a research report on Friday, September 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $124.00. Read more …

 


Pembina Pipeline (NYSE:PBA) (TSE:PPL) was downgraded by equities researchers at CIBC from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. TD Securities upped their price objective on Pembina Pipeline from C$43.00 to C$45.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, November 8th. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Pembina Pipeline from C$42.00 to C$48.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, August 9th. Scotiabank upped their price objective on Pembina Pipeline from C$42.00 to C$43.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Friday, November 5th. Credit Suisse Group initiated coverage on Pembina Pipeline in a report on Wednesday, August 18th. They set a "neutral" rating for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on shares of Pembina Pipeline in a research report on Wednesday, July 28th. They set a "market perform" rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $40.40.

Shares of NYSE:PBA traded down $1.03 during trading on Monday, hitting $31.87. 81,796 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,108,605. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $32.77 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.19. The company has a market cap of $17.54 billion, a PE ratio of -132.79, a P/E/G ratio of 5.35 and a beta of 1.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.54, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. Pembina Pipeline has a 12-month low of $23.48 and a 12-month high of $34.73. Read more …

 


Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY) (TSE:RY) was downgraded by investment analysts at Bank of America from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several other analysts have also recently weighed in on RY. Desjardins lifted their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$138.00 to C$141.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 27th. Zacks Investment Research cut shares of Royal Bank of Canada from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, November 13th. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$144.00 to C$148.00 in a research note on Tuesday, August 17th. Fundamental Research lifted their price objective on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from $127.27 to $143.76 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 1st. Finally, Credit Suisse Group boosted their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$135.00 to C$140.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $134.48. Read more …

 

 


Ventas (NYSE:VTR) was downgraded by equities researchers at Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report issued on Monday, Price Targets.com reports. They currently have a $55.00 price objective on the real estate investment trust's stock. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group's price target indicates a potential upside of 7.11% from the stock's current price.

Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Capital One Financial restated an "equal weight" rating on shares of Ventas in a report on Friday, November 5th. Raymond James upgraded Ventas from an "outperform" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and increased their target price for the company from $65.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Thursday, September 23rd. BMO Capital Markets upgraded Ventas from an "underperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and set a $60.00 target price for the company in a research note on Thursday, August 26th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Ventas from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their target price for the company from $61.00 to $66.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on Ventas in a research note on Monday, October 4th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $60.00 target price for the company. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $59.24.

Ventas stock opened at $51.35 on Monday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $55.15 and its 200-day moving average is $56.34. The company has a market cap of $20.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 96.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.94 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 0.59 and a quick ratio of 0.71. Ventas has a 12 month low of $45.40 and a 12 month high of $61.09. Read more …

 


National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA) was downgraded by research analysts at Scotiabank to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Tuesday, TipRanks reports. They presently have a C$113.00 target price on the financial services provider’s stock. Scotiabank’s price target points to a potential upside of 7.38% from the company’s previous close.

NA has been the topic of several other reports. Canaccord Genuity boosted their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$101.00 to C$103.50 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, August 26th. Barclays cut National Bank of Canada to a “sell” rating and set a C$100.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, November 15th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on National Bank of Canada from C$101.00 to C$104.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 26th. Credit Suisse Group restated a “neutral” rating on shares of National Bank of Canada in a report on Thursday, September 2nd. Finally, Cormark lifted their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$109.00 to C$112.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 26th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of C$100.23. Read more …

 

November 24, 2021

12 Best Monthly Dividend Stocks and Funds to Buy for 2022

 

Your bills come monthly. Why not your dividend checks? These are some of 2022's best monthly dividend stocks and funds for easier income planning.

 

 


For all the changes we've experienced in recent years, some things remain regrettably the same. We all have bills to pay, and those bills generally come monthly. Whether it's your mortgage, your car payment or even your regular phone and utility bills, you're generally expected to pay every month.

 

While we're in our working years, that's not necessarily a problem, as paychecks generally come every two weeks. And even for those in retirement, Social Security and (if you're lucky enough to have one) pension payments also come on a regular monthly schedule. But unfortunately, it doesn't work that way in our investment portfolios.

 

That's where monthly dividend stocks come into play.

 

Dividend-paying stocks generally pay quarterly, and most bonds pay semiannually, or twice per year. This has a way of making portfolio income lumpy, as dividend and interest payments often come in clusters.

 

Well, monthly dividend stocks can help smooth out that income stream and better align your inflows with your outflows.

 

"We'd never recommend buying a stock purely because it has a monthly dividend," says Rachel Klinger, president of McCann Wealth Strategies, an investment adviser based in State College, Pennsylvania. "But monthly dividend stocks can be a nice addition to a portfolio and can add a little regularity to an investor's income stream."

 

 

Today, we're going to look at 12 of the best monthly dividend stocks and funds to buy as we get ready to start 2022. You'll see some similarities across the selections as monthly dividend stocks tend to be concentrated in a small handful of sectors such as real estate investment trusts (REITs), closed-end funds (CEFs) and business development companies (BDCs). These sectors tend to be more income-focused than growth-focused and sport yields that are vastly higher than the market average.

 

Continue reading …

November 22, 2021

7 Stocks to Watch Now as Consumer Prices Spike

 

Inflation is affecting each of these consumer picks differently. Proceed with care.

 


 

With inflation at its highest rate since 1990, it’s not just consumers that are feeling the pinch. Many stocks to watch in the consumer products and retail spaces are feeling it as well. Sure, rising prices are driving demand for some companies in the consumer staples sector, such as discount stores. But between the cost of inventory, labor, raw materials and shipping going up, increased sales may not correspond with increased profits.

 

At least across the board. Some companies have more proactively passed along rising prices to consumers. Coupled with cost-savings initiatives, some have also done a better job managing the unprecedented run-up in prices. What’s more, a strong earnings season has helped bolster the argument that fears of widespread inflationary pressures may be overblown.

 

However, if elevated rates continue into 2022, as consumer companies such as Unilever (NYSE:UL) have started to warn their investors? Results in the current quarter — and in the first few quarters of next year — may be affected. Many investors may consider names in this area of the market to be “safe harbors” compared to more speculative and volatile names. But you may also want to pay close attention to how they’re handling these not-so-“transitory” headwinds.

 

 

For these seven stocks to watch, keep an eye on how they’re tackling inflation. Some of them stand to thrive in spite of it, while others could struggle because of it:

 

Continue reading …

 

November 20, 2021

Dividend Increases Week 46, 2021



In this article, I will go through the weekly dividend increases and cuts in popular and well-known stocks. (Member of The Dividend Champions or Canadian All-Star list)

 

Recently, 21 companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period.

 

The table below summarises the dividend change announcements.  The table shows the current dividend, the new dividend and the percentage increase (%). Dividends are shown on an annual basis and in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Yield is the new dividend yield of the most recent price, and Years is the years of consecutive dividend increases.

 

November 19, 2021

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 15 2021

 



Upgrades:

 


Chevron (NYSE:CVX) was upgraded by research analysts at UBS Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, The Fly reports.

CVX has been the topic of several other research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut Chevron from an "overweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and cut their price objective for the company from $128.00 to $111.00 in a research note on Wednesday, September 15th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Chevron from $109.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, November 1st. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Chevron from $126.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, July 23rd. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Raymond James increased their price target on Chevron from $134.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, November 1st. Finally, Redburn Partners raised Chevron from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 22nd. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $120.24.

Shares of CVX opened at $114.23 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $220.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.51 and a beta of 1.30. Chevron has a one year low of $81.03 and a one year high of $116.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.03 and a current ratio of 1.28. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $106.25 and a 200 day moving average price of $104.42. Read more …

 


Royal Dutch Shell (OTCMKTS:RDS-A) was upgraded by research analysts at Scotiabank from a “sector perform” rating to a “sector outperform” rating in a report issued on Wednesday, FinViz reports. The brokerage currently has a $56.00 price objective on the stock, up from their previous price objective of $54.00. Scotiabank’s price objective suggests a potential upside of 22.83% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities analysts also recently issued reports on the company. TD Securities started coverage on Royal Dutch Shell in a research note on Monday, October 25th. They set a “buy” rating and a $56.00 target price for the company. HSBC dropped their price objective on Royal Dutch Shell to $51.70 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, November 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Royal Dutch Shell has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $53.14. Read more …

 


Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ:GILD) was upgraded by investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

GILD has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a “buy” rating and set a C$84.00 price target on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Monday, August 23rd. SVB Leerink dropped their price target on Gilead Sciences from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 29th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Gilead Sciences from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $72.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 10th. Evercore ISI reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Gilead Sciences in a research report on Sunday, October 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Gilead Sciences from $83.00 to $84.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 12th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $116.36. Read more …

 

 


TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX) was upgraded by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley to a “top pick” rating in a research note issued on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other analysts also recently weighed in on TJX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of TJX Companies from $80.00 to $86.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 16th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $101.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday. Citigroup upped their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $75.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 19th. MKM Partners upped their price target on shares of TJX Companies from $79.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 20th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of TJX Companies from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $69.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, July 21st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fifteen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $80.53. Read more …

November 18, 2021

7 Top Dividend Stocks to Load up on as Winter Sets In

 

Here are seven top dividend stocks to consider right now ahead of the cold weather

 

 


There’s a tremendous amount of disagreement in the markets right now with respect to where the economy could be headed from here. Concerns related to inflation, overvaluation, and an eventual end to the existing accommodative monetary and fiscal stimulus measures have some investors considering taking the foot off the gas. Or, they’re looking at defensive dividend stocks to load up on heading into the winter.

 

Such a view certainly makes sense. Anything growth related has outperformed for so long, value has to catch up. At least, that’s the theory among many value investors who have been pushed aside for the past decade.

 

That said, technological innovation continues to drive the global economy. Perhaps taking an “all-in” or “all-out” approach doesn’t make sense. I’d agree with that view. However, easing off the gas and into some safer, dividend-paying stocks certainly seems like a prudent idea right now.

 

 

However, picking the best dividend stocks that provide not only income but capital appreciation potential — that’s a bit more difficult. These top seven stocks are ones on my watch list right now as potential additions in the near future. Let’s dive into why these companies provide a great defensive posture, while also providing decent upside potential in the years to come.

 

Continue reading …

 

November 16, 2021

Merck Is a Dividend Play Ready to Get Back in Gear

 

MRK stock is a good buy here for conservative income investors

 


Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Merck (NYSE:MRK) stock was a good one to own. The performance of Merck stock matched that of the S&P 500, and it paid a steadily rising dividend.

 

Since then, the obsession with growth and vaccines has told a different story. Over the last two years the average S&P stock is up nearly 49%, Merck just 3.7%.

 

Recently, however, the charts for Merck have turned more bullish. It has a drug to treat Covid-19 that could be distributed worldwide. The third quarter results were upbeat.

 

Can we go back to curing cancer again?

 

The Good News

Merck’s molnupiravir, an antiviral pill for people with mild Covid-19 at risk for more serious illness, was approved recently by U.K. regulators. It’s now expected to win emergency use authorization in the U.S. by December.  That would open $2.2 billion in orders from the Food and Drug Administration, with options for more. Merck expects to produce 20 million courses of the drug next year.

 

Merck is also closing in on the $11.5 billion acquisition of Acceleron Pharma (NASDAQ:XLRN), which has new drugs for anemia and hypertension. There had been concern the deal would not go through, but European regulators are now signing off.

 

 

Then there’s the possibility Merck could spin off its animal health division, a move that has proven profitable for other companies.

 

Continue reading …

 

November 13, 2021

Dividend Increases Week 45, 2021



 

In this article, I will go through the weekly dividend increases and cuts in popular and well-known stocks.

 

Recently, 8 popular companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period.

 

The table below summarises the dividend change announcements.  The table shows the current dividend, the new dividend and the percentage increase (%). Dividends are shown on an annual basis and in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Yield is the new dividend yield of the most recent price, and Years is the years of consecutive dividend increases.

 

 

 

 

November 12, 2021

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 8 2021

 



Upgrades:

 


The J. M. Smucker (NYSE:SJM) was upgraded by investment analysts at Guggenheim from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports.

SJM has been the topic of several other research reports. Zacks Investment Research lowered shares of The J. M. Smucker from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $137.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, July 27th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on The J. M. Smucker from $126.00 to $117.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 27th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of The J. M. Smucker in a research note on Thursday, August 26th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $140.00 target price on the stock. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on shares of The J. M. Smucker from $130.00 to $125.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, August 27th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of The J. M. Smucker from $140.00 to $132.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, The J. M. Smucker presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $129.33. Read more …

 


Algonquin Power & Utilities (TSE:AQN) was upgraded by analysts at BMO Capital Markets to a “buy” rating in a report issued on Wednesday, TipRanks reports. The firm presently has a C$17.00 price objective on the stock. BMO Capital Markets’ target price indicates a potential downside of 5.24% from the company’s previous close.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Algonquin Power & Utilities from C$20.00 to C$21.00 and gave the stock a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, August 23rd. CSFB set a C$16.00 price target on Algonquin Power & Utilities and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 27th. CIBC boosted their target price on Algonquin Power & Utilities to C$22.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, August 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and issued a C$18.00 target price on shares of Algonquin Power & Utilities in a report on Monday, August 16th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a C$16.00 target price on shares of Algonquin Power & Utilities in a report on Wednesday, October 27th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of C$18.19. Read more …

 


Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO) (NYSE:BMO) was upgraded by research analysts at Desjardins to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, TipRanks reports. The firm currently has a C$145.00 target price on the bank’s stock. Desjardins’ target price would suggest a potential upside of 4.17% from the company’s current price. Desjardins also issued estimates for Bank of Montreal’s Q4 2021 earnings at $3.10 EPS, FY2021 earnings at $12.72 EPS, FY2021 earnings at $12.72 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $13.10 EPS.

Other equities analysts have also issued reports about the stock. National Bankshares increased their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$139.00 to C$149.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. Barclays upgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from an “underperform” rating to an “equal weight” rating and set a C$83.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 7th. National Bank Financial increased their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal to C$149.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 25th. CSFB increased their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$144.00 to C$147.00 in a report on Wednesday, September 1st. Finally, Cormark upped their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$138.00 to C$144.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 25th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of C$138.66. Read more …

 

 


Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ:COST) was upgraded by investment analysts at Gordon Haskett from an “accumulate” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Thursday, PriceTargets.com reports. The firm currently has a $575.00 price objective on the retailer’s stock, up from their prior price objective of $525.00. Gordon Haskett’s target price points to a potential upside of 12.85% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other research firms have also recently weighed in on COST. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on Costco Wholesale from $480.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 4th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $500.00 to $550.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 4th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Tigress Financial restated a “buy” rating and issued a $520.00 target price on shares of Costco Wholesale in a research note on Wednesday, September 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $525.00 to $580.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 4th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their target price on Costco Wholesale from $468.00 to $472.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 4th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Costco Wholesale has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $496.23. Read more …

November 11, 2021

7 Best Retirement Stocks to Buy to Build Long-Term Wealth

 

Stay ahead of the trend with these relevant companies

 


At surface level, the concept of finding the best retirement stocks to buy is a patently obvious one: acquire shares of stable blue chips that have a long history of consistent and robust dividend payouts. Then, just sit back during your golden years while these corporate giants work hard for you for a change.

 

While carrying plenty of truth, the reality is that retirement stocks represent a tricky subject because retirement itself is fraught with uncertainty. In prior generations, people could simply depend on the unprecedented strength of the U.S. economy during the post-World War II era. Frankly, no one could challenge this nation. But the rise of China along with shifting societal and technological trends suggest that American hegemony is no longer dependably viable.

 

For instance, banking on the rise of personal computers would have been a great opportunity if you were heading into your golden years during the 1980s and 1990s. Nowadays, the rise and rapid proliferation of smart mobile devices have made investing strictly on legacy tech platforms an incredibly risky proposition. Therefore, retirement stocks don’t just face outside threats but internal headwinds as well.

 

 

Further, the outlook for American society is not clear cut because of the potentially lingering impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic. As The Wall Street Journal pointed out, life expectancy fell by 1.5% in 2020, “the biggest decline since at least World War II.” In addition, the financial devastation — particularly against underprivileged and at-risk communities — may drag the economy for years to come. This too will affect retirement stocks.

 

Continue reading …

 

November 10, 2021

The Kiplinger Dividend 15: Our Favorite Dividend-Paying Stocks

 

All of our favorite dividend stocks hiked payouts over the past year, and yields, on average, trounced the yield of the S&P 500.

 


 

The past year was a recovery year for dividends.

 

A record profit rebound for U.S. companies powered by the reopening of the economy puts the S&P 500 Index on track in 2021 for its 10th straight year of record dividend payouts.

 

In the third quarter, S&P dividends hit a quarterly record of $15.36 per share, and forecasts point to a new record in the fourth quarter. For the full year, S&P Dow Jones Indices sees payouts rising nearly 5%, to $60.97, for stocks in the index, following 2020's record payout of $58.28.

 

Unlike last year, when 42 S&P 500 companies suspended dividends to preserve cash during the pandemic, just one stock halted payouts this year. "Dividends are back," says Howard Silverblatt, senior index analyst at S&P.

 

Members of the Kiplinger Dividend 15, our favorite dividend stocks, benefited from the resurgence. All of our companies boosted their payouts over the past year. As a group, our dividend payers yield an average of 3.2%, more than twice the S&P 500's 1.4% yield.

 

 

Things weren't as rosy on a total-return basis, however. Over the past 12 months, the Dividend 15 returned 21.1%, on average, compared with a 29.3% gain for the broad market. The biggest gainer was asset manager Blackstone, whose shares rose 116.8% in the past year. Emerson Electric, drugmaker AbbVie, computer chip manufacturer Texas Instruments and energy firm Enterprise Products Partners also posted market-beating returns. Laggards were led by Air Products & Chemicals and defense contractor Lockheed Martin.

 

Continue reading …

 

November 7, 2021

Dividend Increases Week 44, 2021

 



In this article, I will go through the weekly dividend increases and cuts in popular and well-known stocks.

 

Recently, 15 popular companies announced dividend increases. Note that no dividend cuts or suspensions were announced during this period.

 

The table below summarises the dividend change announcements.  The table shows the current dividend, the new dividend and the percentage increase (%). Dividends are shown on an annual basis and in US dollars unless otherwise stated. Yield is the new dividend yield of the most recent price, and Years is the years of consecutive dividend increases.


* Canadian Dollars


November 6, 2021

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 1 2021 (Part 2)

 



Upgrades:

 


Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) was upgraded by investment analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a “buy” rating to a “conviction-buy” rating in a research note issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports.

Several other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on PSX. Piper Sandler upgraded Phillips 66 from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $85.00 to $87.00 in a report on Wednesday, October 6th. Citigroup boosted their price target on Phillips 66 from $75.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 6th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Phillips 66 from $94.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday. Barclays lowered their price target on Phillips 66 from $95.00 to $88.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Phillips 66 from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Monday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Phillips 66 currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $85.63. Read more …

 


Thomson Reuters (NYSE:TRI) (TSE:TRI) was upgraded by investment analysts at BNP Paribas from an “underperform” rating to a “neutral” rating in a note issued to investors on Wednesday, Price Targets.com reports.

Several other brokerages also recently weighed in on TRI. TD Securities upgraded Thomson Reuters from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $160.00 price target for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 6th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Thomson Reuters from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $123.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, October 7th. Royal Bank of Canada downgraded Thomson Reuters from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $118.00 to $122.00 in a report on Monday. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of Thomson Reuters from $105.00 to $106.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 23rd. Finally, National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Thomson Reuters from C$145.00 to C$162.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 2nd. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $125.90. Read more …

 


QUALCOMM (NASDAQ:QCOM) was upgraded by research analysts at The Goldman Sachs Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on the company. Canaccord Genuity reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $225.00 price objective (up from $200.00) on shares of QUALCOMM in a research note on Thursday, August 12th. Cowen boosted their target price on QUALCOMM from $180.00 to $185.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 29th. Susquehanna reaffirmed a “hold” rating and issued a $157.00 target price on shares of QUALCOMM in a research report on Thursday, July 29th. Zacks Investment Research lowered QUALCOMM from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $135.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, October 4th. Finally, Mizuho decreased their target price on QUALCOMM from $180.00 to $165.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 19th. Thirteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $166.77. Read more…

 

 


GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK) was upgraded by stock analysts at Barclays from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating in a research note issued on Friday, The Fly reports.

GSK has been the topic of several other research reports. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating on shares of GlaxoSmithKline in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of GlaxoSmithKline in a report on Monday. Berenberg Bank reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of GlaxoSmithKline in a report on Monday, October 18th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded shares of GlaxoSmithKline from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating and set a $41.00 target price on the stock. in a report on Tuesday, July 20th. Finally, UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of GlaxoSmithKline in a report on Monday, September 20th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $41.00.

GlaxoSmithKline stock opened at $43.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of -0.95, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.81 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.66. GlaxoSmithKline has a 12 month low of $33.53 and a 12 month high of $43.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $115.78 billion, a PE ratio of 18.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.57 and a beta of 0.72. Read more …

November 5, 2021

Notable Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades for Week of November 1 2021 (Part 1)

 



Upgrades:

 


Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) was upgraded by analysts at Northland Securities from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note issued on Monday, PriceTargets.com reports. The firm presently has a $49.00 price target on the chip maker’s stock. Northland Securities’ price target indicates a potential downside of 0.39% from the company’s current price.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on INTC. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “sell” rating and issued a $44.00 target price (down previously from $51.00) on shares of Intel in a research report on Friday, October 22nd. Zacks Investment Research upgraded Intel from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $58.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Friday, July 9th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Intel from $57.00 to $52.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, October 22nd. Credit Suisse Group set a $80.00 price objective on Intel in a report on Friday, October 22nd. Finally, Bank of America cut their price objective on Intel from $52.00 to $45.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, October 22nd. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, sixteen have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $56.52. Read more …

 


Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) was upgraded by equities researchers at Argus from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a note issued to investors on Monday, Analyst Price Targets reports. The brokerage presently has a $110.00 price objective on the stock. Argus’ price objective would suggest a potential upside of 25.40% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday. Barclays lifted their price objective on Merck & Co., Inc. from $87.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, October 8th. Truist began coverage on Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Tuesday, July 27th. They set a “buy” rating and a $92.00 price target for the company. Berenberg Bank reissued a “hold” rating and set a $92.00 price target (up previously from $86.00) on shares of Merck & Co., Inc. in a research report on Sunday, October 10th. Finally, Zacks Investment Research raised Merck & Co., Inc. from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $82.00 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, August 24th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Merck & Co., Inc. presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $94.16. Read more …

 


Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) was upgraded by research analysts at Stephens from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. The firm currently has a $130.00 price objective on the coffee company’s stock, up from their previous price objective of $118.00. Stephens’ price objective indicates a potential upside of 22.56% from the stock’s previous close.

A number of other equities research analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $104.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 28th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Starbucks in a report on Monday, October 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $135.00 price objective for the company. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $144.00 to $128.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Starbucks from $125.00 to $115.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Friday. Finally, Atlantic Securities downgraded shares of Starbucks from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $105.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, September 30th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $123.00. Read more …

 

 


Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) was upgraded by stock analysts at HSBC from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report released on Monday, The Fly reports.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on SNY. UBS Group reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Sanofi in a research note on Thursday, August 12th. Morgan Stanley restated an “overweight” rating on shares of Sanofi in a research note on Friday, August 6th. Zacks Investment Research upgraded shares of Sanofi from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $51.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, September 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated an “overweight” rating on shares of Sanofi in a research note on Thursday, October 14th. Finally, SVB Leerink upgraded shares of Sanofi from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, September 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $51.00. Read more …