Starbucks $3.65 Cup of Coffee Is Too Expensive
Jennifer Williams
The cost of a Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) “short” cup of coffee, which is 8 fl oz, is $3.65. It comes in four versions: Blonde Roast – Sunsera, Pike Place Roast, Featured Dark Roast, and Decaf Pike Place Roast. Each has five calories. No matter what else Starbucks does to improve its tattered fortunes, it needs to charge less.-->-->24/7 Wall St. Key Points:No matter what else Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX) does to improve its tattered fortunes, it needs to charge less.A $3.65 very small cup of coffee is no value.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->The price of a cup of coffee brewed at home is $0.40. Factoring in electricity and water adds a few pennies. A coffee brewing machine costs as little as $15. The value of that machine per cup can be measured over years and thousands of cups.Another comparison is the cost of making a cup of Starbucks coffee at home. A box of 22 Starbucks K-Cup pods costs about $21, making each cup around $1.00. The cost of the machine also needs to be factored in. Over several years, that will amount to pennies.What the Starbucks CEO Has DoneStarbucks CEO Brian Niccol has transformed the company into a new entity, he says. He has closed hundreds of stores and fired the people who work in them. He has laid off over 1,000 corporate staff. The latest slogan for his plans is “Project Bloom.” He also had a “Back to Starbucks” plan.Niccol created a uniform for baristas. He established a process that enables Starbucks products to reach customers more quickly. He has made the menu smaller.According to a message reported by The Wall Street Journal, Niccol is lurching from one decision to another. “The reality is the business has not performed and we needed to recognize that aspect.” No matter how strong his optimism has been, his plans are not working.Loading stock data...While Niccol decides which stores should turn out their lights, stockholders have become impatient. Starbucks shares have declined by 11% over the past year. The S&P 500 is up 16% over the same period. McDonald’s stock is flat.Niccol went to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. At some point, they must have told him what a “value proposition” is. No matter whether the stores look better inside or if the baristas have uniforms, a $3.65 very small cup of coffee isn’t a value under any circumstances.New Starbucks Secret Menu, Plus 10 Up-and-Coming Coffee Chains You Should KnowIf You’ve Been Thinking About Retirement, Pay Attention (sponsor)Retirement planning doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. The key is finding expert guidance, and SmartAsset’s simple quiz makes it easier than ever for you to connect with a vetted financial advisor. Here’s how:Answer a Few Simple Questions. Get Matched with Vetted Advisors Choose Your Fit Why wait? Start building the retirement you’ve always dreamed of.Get started today! (sponsor)
Billionaire Bill Nygren Bought These Cheap Stocks in Q2
Robert Jones
-->-->Key PointsWBD, ABNB, and CRM are magnificent value bets that Bill Nygren’s fund picked up in Q2.The markets might be expensive, but Nygren’s latest Q2 bests are full of value options!Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->Legendary billionaire investor Bill Nygren and his team over at the Oakmark Select fund made quite a few notable moves in the second quarter. Many of the buys were not only intriguing, but seemed to scream of value. Given he’s a value investor who’s not shy away from some of the more unloved corners of the market, the following second-quarter bets shouldn’t come across as too surprising.Either way, I think the names are worth stashing on a radar or even buying if you’re able to achieve a more desirable entry point going into year’s end. At this juncture, though, it doesn’t look like the market is all too upset about the U.S. government shutdown. Not with that recent rate cut dealt by the Fed and hopes for more in the coming months.Either way, don’t let market-wide overvaluation concerns deter you from picking the value stocks that do exist out there. In this piece, we’ll check in on three cheap-looking stocks that Nygren’s fund recently shed a bright light on. I’m tempted to pursue them in the fourth quarter, especially if there’s a pullback by the time the holiday season rolls around.Warner Bros. DiscoveryLoading stock data...Warner Bros. Discovery(NYSE:WBD)just so happened to be one of the best performers of the third quarter. So, hats off to Nygren and Oakmark for picking such a timely winner in the second quarter. Indeed, shares of the hard-hit media firm clocked in some very strong earnings. As things look up for streaming and the box office (the Minecraft movie was a hit), it’s tempting to pursue the Q3 winner, even though the price of admission has gone way up since Nyrgren likely bought.Add the recent Paramount Skydance merger talks into the equation, and the case for buying in the high-teens, I think, still makes a lot of sense. Indeed, it took some time for the merger to start showing promise. Now that there’s upside momentum behind the name and the potential for further industry consolidation, I continue to view shares as a very interesting, even after gaining more than 72% in the past three months.AirbnbLoading stock data...Airbnb(NASDAQ:ABNB)wasn’t quite the Q3 winner that WBD was. In fact, it’s actually down around 12% in the past three months, providing value investors a second window of opportunity to pick up a few shares of the alternative accommodations kingpin. Of course, there’s no easy solutions for Airbnb, which has gone nowhere for a few years now.With recent pressures hitting consumers, one would think Airbnb would be an easy sell, given it’s a travel play that hasn’t been working all too well. In any case, lodging won’t stay in a funk forever. And for investors who can get in at a depressed multiple, I do think the long-term risk/reward is looking too good to pass up.For value investors who have time to wait for things to play out, I like the name, perhaps a bit more than WBD. With shares going for 24.8 times forward price-to-earnings (P/E), I like the sticker price for the wide-moat firm that’s well-positioned to boom once consumers are ready to spend again.SalesforceLoading stock data...Salesforce (NYSE:CRM)is a cloud software stock that’s been really left behind as AI has powered many of its tech peers higher in recent quarters. The stock has lost more than a third of its value from its late-2024 peak, and things don’t seem to be looking all too upbeat, not after the post-earnings guidance dealt out in the last quarter. Indeed, Marc Benioff needs to start showing his investors what Agentforce is truly capable of.Indeed, the agentic AI platform may still be in its early innings, but sooner or later, it’s going to need to post numbers that get investors excited enough to buy the stock. Sooner or later, investors will run out of patience and go for one of the AI plays that’s working.With Nygren initiating a new position in the firm, I do think that it’s time to view Benioff’s empire as a deep value option with underrated AI tailwinds. At 18.8 times forward P/E, CRM stock has arguably never been this cheap! It’s a name like Salesforce that leads me to believe that maybe we’re not in an AI bubble, after all!In any case, if Agentforce can accelerate adoption, I think its stock could really surprise investors in 2026.Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.Here’s how it works:1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future.
Silver’s on a Hot Streak. Capture the Upside With SIL and SILJ
John Miller
-->Key PointsThe SIL and SILJ ETFs are fast movers that could magnify silver’s price gains.However, investors should right-size their SIL and SILJ investments due to the volatility risk.It sounds nuts, but SoFi is giving new active invest users up to $1k in stock, see for yourself (Sponsor)-->-->When gold jumps, silver soars. That’s an old concept that could make investors a lot of money when precious metal prices rally. And in 2025, those prices are definitely on the move.Some folks like to hold silver bars and coins in hopes of a price rally, and that’s fine but it’s not always the most convenient solution. In conjunction with or as an alternative to owning physical silver, investors might consider buying exchange-traded funds (ETFs) such as theGlobal X Silver Miners ETF(NYSEARCA:SIL)and theAmplify Junior Silver Miners ETF(NYSEARCA:SILJ).If silver continues its epic run, the SIL and SILJ ETFs could mint new millionaires in the coming months. Before you jump into the trade, however, be sure to weigh the risks of these often volatile assets and plan for swift price moves in both directions.Why Silver, and Why Now?You may have heard the disparaging saying that silver is the “poor man’s gold.” While it is true that an ounce of silver is much cheaper in dollar terms than an ounce of gold, this doesn’t mean silver is less worthy of your investable capital.From an industrial point of view, silver has a wide variety of uses. According to the Silver Institute, silver plays important roles in the production of solar cells, computers, smartphones, electric vehicles, water purifiers, and more.Furthermore, since silver is less expensive than gold, silver’s price has the potential to move faster during a precious-metals bull market. This idea appears to be playing out in 2025 so far; in dollar terms, as of Oct. 6, gold was up 52% year to date while silver gained 66.5%.Besides, the U.S. dollar is comparatively down this year, and this won’t only benefit gold holders. The dollar’s slide should also help silver stackers, so don’t overlook the “white metal” if you’re thinking about expanding your portfolio into precious metals.SIL: Drilling Down Into Silver MinersLoading stock data...It makes sense that silver-mining companies’ revenues and profits would improve when the silver price rises sharply. Consequently, stocks representing silver miners could gain substantial value during a silver bull market like the one that’s in progress now.To capture some of that upside, investors can consider the Global X Silver Miners ETF. With 38 stocks in its holdings list, the SIL ETF mainly focuses on the bigger and better-known businesses that mine silver.Some of the silver miners on that list are Pan American Silver(NYSE:PAAS), First Majestic Silver(NYSE:AG),Hecla Mining(NYSE:HL) andEndeavor Silver(NYSE:EXK). All in all, the Global X Silver Miners ETF covers the heavy hitters in the silver-mining industry.If silver continues its hot streak, it’s easy to imagine the SIL ETF maintaining its steep upward trajectory. It’s also worth noting that the Global X Silver Miners ETF imposes an annual expense ratio of 0.65%, which sounds like a small price to pay for exposure to an array of top-tier silver miners.SILJ: Aiming High With Smaller Silver MinersLoading stock data...Sometimes, bigger isn’t necessarily better. Sure, the large-cap mining stocks in the SIL ETF will probably head higher during a silver bull run, but the smaller names in the silver industry could move even faster.In that vein, the Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF concentrates on small-cap silver miners with strong upside prospects. This fund has 56 stocks in its holdings list, including under-the-radar names like Aftermath Silver(OTC:AAGFF),Silver Storm Mining(OTC:SVRSF) andSantacruz Silver Mining(OTC:SCZMF).The Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF deducts an annual expense ratio of 0.69% from the share price, so that’s a consideration for long-term investors. Still, if you’re seeking magnified gains when silver shoots higher, SILJ ETF certainly deserves your attention.Risk Mitigation is KeyBecause SIL and SILJ hold dozens of silver mining stocks, there’s a measure of risk mitigation inherent to these funds. Nevertheless, these ETFs can be quite volatile sometimes as the silver price can move quickly and this will impact the miners’ financials.Moreover, the impact of volatile silver prices could hit smaller mining companies even harder than the bigger ones. Hence, even if you’re bullish about silver in 2025, it’s sensible to only take a small share position in SIL and an even smaller position in SILJ.Additionally, you’ll want to be watchful as the Global X Silver Miners ETF is already up sharply year to date and so is the Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF. If the dollar stages a comeback or if the economy takes a downturn, the silver price could decline quickly along with SIL and SILJ. It’s wise, then, to have an exit plan in case the silver-miner trade goes against you.In the final analysis, you don’t want to treat the the Global X Silver Miners ETF and the Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF as shiny objects or novelties. These are funds for serious silver-market investors, so carefully plan your trades and prepare for all possible outcomes this year.Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users up to $1k in StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.From $0 commission trading to fractional shares and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to sign up and secure your bonus.(sponsor)DISCLOSURE:INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUEBrokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 30 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify.Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options [HYPERLINK: https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/a151a9ae-d784-4a15-bdeb-23a029f50b70/riskstoc.pdfInvesting in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement [HYPERLINK https://www.sofi.com/iporisk/]. This should not be considered a recommendation to participate in IPOs and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For more information on the allocation process please visit IPO Allocation [HYPERLINK https://support.sofi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058602892-How-does-SoFi-allocate-IPO-shares].
5 Elite Dividend Stocks Wall Street Loves Today (AGNC, CVX, MPLX, PH, VZ)
Sarah Davis
-->Key PointsSolidly reliable growth stocks that have an additional dividend aspect are favorites for many investors who want steady appreciation without undue price turbulence in their portfolios. Indispensable industries like energy, real estate, aerospace, and telecommunications often contain more of these reliable growth and income stocks than more volatile, high-flying technology or biotech.stocks.It sounds nuts, but SoFi is giving new active invest users up to $1k in stock, see for yourself (Sponsor)-->-->There is a fairly broad demographic of investors who are happy with steady growth and the bonus of a dependable dividend for their portfolios. They may cite their content in being able to leave behind sleepless nights, stress related, stomach churning heartburn, worries over market volatility, and regulatory concerns over high-flyers as their justification – all perfectly valid reasons.Steady growth and income stocks can usually be found in companies with long histories providing indispensable products and/or services to a large market segment. Some of these industries include energy, real estate, aerospace, and telecommunications. While the list is long and clearly a number of stocks may be favored more than others by some, among Wall Street analysts’ favorites are (prices based on market quote at time of this writing):AGNC Investment Corp.AGNC Investments’ $102 billion funds are almost exclusively used for US Government insured mortgage securities, such FDMC, GNMA, and GNMA.AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: AGNC)Current Price: $9.93Yield14.51%12-mo. Consensus$9.82Avg. Daily Volume19.73 million sharesYTD Total Return20.72%Assets$102.02 billion1-Year Total Return11.37%52-wk low$7.853-Year Total Return111.48%52-wk high$10.635-Year Total Return35.52%Formerly known as American Capital Agency Corp. the company changed its name to AGNC Investment Corp. in 2016. Based in Bethesda, MD, AGNC Investment Corp. invests almost exclusively in US Government Agency mortgage securities, such as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginny Mae. However, it uses leverage via repurchase agreements and aggressively incorporates hedging strategies and derivatives to both protect portfolio assets as well as to enhance returns. With a $102 billion portfolio size, AGNC is one of the larger US Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) in operation. Under the REIT registration rules, AGNC has to remit 90% of its profits.The three largest institutional investors in AGNC are: Vanguard (9.10% of outstanding shares); Blackrock (5.06%); and Geode Capital Management LLC (2.40%). REITs can focus on a range of sub-categories in the real estate realm that can generate hefty returns if managed in a strategic fashion. AGNC Investment Corp. invests almost exclusively in US Government Agency mortgage securities. However, it uses leverage via repurchase agreements and aggressively incorporates hedging strategies and derivatives to both protect portfolio assets as well as to enhance returns. Since AGNC is not subject to the overhead, management, and liability costs associated with physical premises real estate operations, it has more capital to leverage into portfolio management of its FNMA and FDMC bonds. As such, its profit margin is a hefty 76.21%.However, while AGNC’s investment strategy offers high return potential, it also carries some market risk. Leverage works both ways; while it can boost returns during healthy market conditions, it can have a negative impact during more turbulent periods. FNMA and FDMC paper is much more interest rate sensitive, so although AGNC has never failed to pay a dividend payment since its inception in 2008 (17 years) its dividend amounts have varied during periods of unusual market volatility or bearish environments. Should AGNC’s returns fall below its cost of capital in the future, it might need to reduce its dividend. This has happened in the past, which can mean some uncertainty for income-focused investors.The other caveat with AGNC is that it expands its portfolio by selling stock to buy more mortgage-backed securities (MBS). AGNC issued 92.6 million shares in the Q2, raising nearly $800 million for additional MBSes. These large block issuances can cause value dilution of its existing shares. On the other hand, AGNC’s high-yield dividend has more than offset any price dilution losses (it has delivered an 11% average annual total return). However, investors must be comfortable with the possibility that the value of their investment could decline in the long term if AGNC continues to sell stock to grow its portfolio — even if these sales do not grow the value of the stock price or dividend rate.REITS can provide a solid real estate based income stream for a portfolio that can offer stronger intrinsic value than higher synthetically derived dividend plays, such as YieldMax ETFs, albeit with lower dividends. If diversification is desired for a portfolio, REITs may not equal the growth of many tech stocks, but they will solidly deliver the income to ride out tough economic times, such as what the US underwent from 2021-2024. Some analysts think that AGNC is grossly undervalued.Simply Wall Street, for example, believes that AGNC’s fair value market price is $19.71, making its current price a nearly50% discount. Much like the YieldMax ETFs, although AGNC’s overall price has remained in a tight range since Q2 2022, its double digit returns have been solid, and its total assets have grown from $72 billion to over $102 billion in the past 24 months, so more and more investors are joining Vanguard and Blackrock on the AGNC bandwagon.MPLX LPMPLX handles transport, refining, and storage operations for Marathon Oil and for other companies on a contractual fee basis.MPLX LP (NYSE: MPLX)Current Price: $47.80Yield8.00%12-mo. Consensus$86.79Avg. Daily Volume1.44 million sharesYTD Total Return5.71%Assets$37.84 billion1-Year Total Return17.45%52-wk low$43.543-Year Total Return100.63%52-wk high$54.875-Year Total Return345.39%Much like telecom data and communication networks, the oil and gas industry also has its own infrastructure network to transport and store products. The oil and gas industry’s network is referred to as the midstream sector. It consists of pipelines, storage facilities, processing and transport terminals, maritime tankers, trucks, and other infrastructure facilities. Midstream companies that trade publicly are organized as Limited Partnerships or Master Limited Partnerships. Similarly to REITs, they are required to remit 90% of profits to shareholders.MPLX LP is based in Findlay, OH. Incorporated in 2012, MPLX LP is a subsidiary ofMarathon Oil (NYSE: MPC). There are two primary operations units, in addition to Marathon Oil’s Capline and Mark West pipeline networks. Logistics and Storagehandles transportation, distribution, storage and marketing of crude oil, refined products and other hydrocarbon-based products throughout the U.S. These assets consist of a network of wholly and jointly-owned common carrier crude oil and refined product pipelines, associated storage assets, refined product terminals, storage caverns, refinery integrated tank farm assets, rail and truck racks, a marine business, export terminals, and wholesale and fuels distribution businesses.Gathering and Processingis dedicated to natural gas and separating various hydrocarbon components from it for different markets. The heavier and more valuable hydrocarbon components, which have been extracted as a mixed NGL stream, are then further separated into their component parts for end-use sale through the process of fractionation. MPLX sells basic Natural Gas Liquid (NGL) products, including ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane and natural gasoline.MPLX stock has sold off since it announced it was selling its midstream gathering and processing asset for the Uinta and Green River Basins, which service Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, for $1 billion in cash to a subsidiary of Harvest Midstream. MPLX had earlier signalled it planned to concentrate more of its operation in the Marcellus and Permian Basin regions. As such, the price may be considered a temporary discount, since a number of potentially very lucrative joint ventures and strong simpatico acquisitions should boost its long-term prospects. Joint ventures include:BANGL NGL pipeline expansion: MPLX and its partners approved a project to expand this natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline, which should enter service in Q3 2026.Oneok JV: MPLX formed a JV with Oneok to build a new LPG export terminal and associated pipeline, both of which are projected to start operating in early 2028. MPLX will own 50% of the $1.4 billion export terminal and 20% of the $350 million pipeline.Traverse Pipeline: MPLX and its partners in the Blackcomb and Rio Bravo pipeline projects have also approved the construction of the Traverse Pipeline, which is expected to complete in 2027.Eiger Express Pipeline: MPLX is investing in this new gas pipeline through its existing Matterhorn JV and taking a direct 15% interest in the project. This pipeline is slated to start commercial service by Q3 2028.Gulf Coast Fractionation Complex: MPLX also agreed to build two NGL fractionation plants next to Marathon Petroleum’s Galveston Bay refinery. Marathon will buy all output from those facilities when they come online in 2028 and 2029.Acquisitions include:Matterhorn Express Pipeline: MPLX is buying an additional 5% of this JV for $151 million, boosting its stake to 10%. Whiptail Midstream: MPLX paid $237 million for Whiptail, which owns extensive oil, gas, and water gathering systems in the San Juan Basin.BANGL Pipeline: MPLX agreed to acquire the remaining 55% stake in this pipeline for $715 million, giving it sole ownership.Northwind Midstream: Northwind’s 200 miles of natural gas gathering, treatments, and processing infrastructure for New Mexico will all be taken over by MPLX for $2.4 billion. Acquiring Northwind will provide an immediate boost to MPLX’s cash flow, which should continue growing over the next year as the company completes its in-process expansion projects.For income investors, MPLX LP has increased its dividend annually since 2013. At 12 years, it is nearly at the halfway mark to reaching the elite 25 consecutive year “Dividend Aristocrat” Club. Verizon CommunicationsVerizon Communications is the largest US wireless carrier, and its recent announcement with AST Space Mobile indicates that space based cellular broadband will be its next expansion plan.Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ)Price: $39.85Yield6.93%12-mo. Consensus$48.59Avg. Daily Volume19.91 million sharesYTD Total Return6.51%Assets$383.28 billion1-Year Total Return-0.83%52-wk low$37.593-Year Total Return33.18%52-wk high$47.365-Year Total Return-9.37%Verizon was formed in 2000 from the former “Baby Bell” companies, Bell Atlantic and Nynex, along with GTE, which were originally all part ofAT&T (NYSE: T), or Ma Bell, and split up in 1984 by the DOJ in an antitrust case.Although Verizon has the largest domestic US wireless network, the company acknowledges that with over half of its revenues derived from that sector, it has more vulnerabilities if there are issues with satellite signals or other wireless related service problems than its competitors. Therefore, Verizon is in the process of further developing its 5G and AI technologies.Verizon’s FIOS optic fiber system is the core of its 5G network and they proudly advertise that it has been the recipient of the greatest number of consumer awards for customer satisfaction and internet speeds over the past decade. FIOS’ superior speed results in lower latency, a feature that has become a driving force behind the growth of the 5G IoT (Internet of Things) market. On the AI front, Verizon announced a partnership in December withNvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA)that will integrate Verizon 5G networks and Mobile Edge Compute (MEC) with Nvidia’s AI Enterprise software and NIM microservices. The partnership is expected to deliver high-bandwidth, minimal latency generative AI, computer vision and AR/VR for various industries. Strategically, both parties benefit:For Verizon: The partnership allows it to move beyond being a connectivity provider and offer cutting-edge, integrated AI solutions, as well as solidifying its leadership in private 5G and mobile edge computing.For NVIDIA: By leveraging Verizon’s robust private 5G network infrastructure, NVIDIA can expand the reach of its AI Enterprise software and microservices to a broader range of enterprise customers. Verizon’s biggest breakthrough announcement of late was an agreement withAST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS)to collaborate in providing space-based cellular broadband service throughout the US in 2026. Conversely – despite Verizon’s financial and business growth metrics, its 1 year trading range ($37-$45) has stayed within roughly 10 points, and has not approached its $61 high price in over 5 years. The 6.93% yield will likely reduce if the stock price can break back over $50, but otherwise, there are other market factors at this time that are preventing such a run.Chevron CorporationChevron’s merger with Hess is expected to give Chevron a larger than expected revenue boost, according to CEO Mike Wirth.Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) Price: $148.90Yield4.59%12-mo. Consensus$169.87Avg. Daily Volume9.04 million sharesYTD Total Return6.38%Assets$250.82 billion1-Year Total Return3.34%52-wk low$132.043-Year Total Return7.12%52-wk high$168.965-Year Total Return149.73%Chevron is the second largest US oil company by market cap. At the time of this writing, the CVX market cap is at $250.82 billion. Its primary business is in oil and gas.As one of the largest Permian Basin crude oil producers, Chevron is a leader in drilling and exploration of shale oil, which is obtained through fracking. This allows Chevron to add a nearly 50% markup in its price on crude oil, which costs the company $50 per barrel, on average. Chevron pays zero royalties, so gross and net profits are essentially the same. Permian shale oil on a whole was expected to dramatically increase production going throughout 2025, according to the EIA. Chevron’s footprint in the Liquified Natural Gas arena is expanding. The Hess Merger: Based on Hess Corp.’s 30% stake in Guyana’s Stabroek oil field, Chevron’s $55 billion acquisition was the second largest merger transaction in history after ExxonMobil’s $60 billion deal for Pioneer Natural Resources. The Hess deal was controversial because Exxon, who co-owned Stabroek with a 45% stake, claimed it should have “right of first refusal” and attempted to block the deal for nearly two years, since it would trigger a change-of-control clause.The FTC cleared the pending Chevron-Hess merger for potential antitrust issues in late September 2024, so the $55 billion deal closed in July, 2025. However the dispute with Exxon is still under arbitration, so if that can reach a resolution, Chevron’s Hess acquisition is anticipated to double its free cash flow by 2027, predicated on oil prices at $70 per barrel. Chevron CEO Mike Wirth is so bullish on the Hess contribution prospects that he recently stated publicly that the energy demands from data centers and the extra value discovered after the Hess merger combined should cause an upward revision of financials in their next investor conference this November, according toReuters. President Trump’s announced peace agreement in Gaza has sent oil prices lower, now that the threats to OPEC appear to be significantly diminished. As such, a number of oil companies may face a selloff. Some analysts recently picked Chevron as an excellent energy industry play for whichever direction oil prices go, due to its combination of assets:Upstream (exploration and production)Downstream (refining and chemicals)When energy prices rise, upstream operations become more valuable, while downstream operations are more important when energy prices fall. From an income perspective, Chevron boasts 38 straight years of dividend increases and a sizable debt reduction from $45 billion to the mid $30 billion range. Chevron was hailed for its combination of a relatively balanced energy operations approach, combined with a rock-solid balance sheet. Wall Street analysts’ consensus projects Chevron EBITDA of $47.8 billion in 2026 vs. $37.7 billion in net debt. This makes Chevron an ideal choice for conservative investors looking for some upside from the price of oil combined with some downside protection if the price doesn’t decline sharply from here.Parker-Hannifin CorporationParker-Hannifin’s motor, fuel, cooling, and other systems and components have led the automotive, aviation, and aerospace industries for over a century.Parker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH)Price: $716.66Yield1.00%12-mo. Consensus$799.05Avg. Daily Volume604,390 sharesYTD Total Return13.535Assets$29.49 billion1-Year Total Return14.61%52-wk low$488.453-Year Total Return194.61%52-wk high$779.775-Year Total Return251.92%While not as much of a household name in aerospace as Boeing or Northop-Grumman, Cleveland, OH basedParker-Hannifin Corporation (NYSE:PH)has made itself crucial to the industry with its wide array of systems, components, and indispensable aeronautic parts and machinery for military, manufacturing, and other industrial applications. The company was founded in 1917, and boasts 70 uninterrupted years of dividend growth., making it a member of the rare and exclusive Dividend King club. Founded by Arthur Parker, the company initially built pneumatic brakes and industrial machine parts and fittings for the automotive and aviation sectors. Parker fittings became known for their reliability, and were specifically requested by Charles Lindbergh forThe Spirit of St. Louisfor his landmark historical transatlantic flight. Parker valvers, fluid connectors, and other crucial parts became essential for the war effort during WW II. Parker technology and innovations continued to historically trailblaze the aerospace industry through its parts and systems, including fuel systems for NASA’s Apollo 11 moon landing, motor control, filtration, and other systems via major acquisitions both domestic and international, and a quiet, yet steady lead presence in the industry for over the past half century. It’s interesting to note that institutional investorslovePH, with a whopping90.18%of shares in the hands of institutions. Vanguard’s Total Stock Market Index Fund owns 3.25% of the available shares, and its Vanguard 500 Index Fund owns 2.87%. The Fidelity 500 Index Fund owns 1.28%, iShares Core S&P 500 ETF is 4th, with 1.21%, and SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust is fifth with 1.20%.Growth and Income stocks may lack the sizzle and cyclonic twists and turns of Magnificent Seven tech stocks and their ilk, but investors in these growth and income stocks enjoy a steady and dependably predictable trajectory in stock price and in returns to offer savings on antacid medication. If You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)
IBM Is America’s Worst Tech Company
Sarah Johnson
Live: Tilray Brands (TLRY) Q1 FY2026 Earnings Coverage
Jane Williams
Income Utility Stocks To Buy For AI (BLK, EQT, KMI, CEG)
David Johnson
3 High-Flying Stocks Under $10 to Buy Hand Over Fist Right Now
Sarah Johnson
The ETFs Running Way Past The S&P 500 Right Now
John Smith
Down 20%, Is Intuit the Best Fintech Stock to Buy Today?
Jane Williams
3 Monthly Dividend ETFs That Outperform SCHD and Pay You More Often
Emily Johnson
-->-->Key PointsThese exchange-traded funds pay you every month. SCHD pays every quarter.Their overall performance has also been better than the SCHD.SCHD has slipped into the red this year, whereas others have raced ahead.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->Part of the reason why the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD) is so popular is that it is almost unmatched when you compare it to other dividend ETFs. Of course, there are many other ETFs that pay good dividends, but very few are going to get you a recipe that not only gets you long-term capital returns, but a steady, sustainable dividend yield close to 4%.However, SCHD isn’t in a league of its own, and there are monthly dividend ETFs that have managed to outperform it. So for income investors, it could be a good idea to hold these funds alongside SCHD in your portfolio. SCHD is down 2.45% over the past year, because it does not have significant exposure to the ongoing tech rally. Many ETFs have managed to reach an arrangement where they’re squeezing out income while providing tech exposure while also providing a downside buffer. Will these novel ETFs eat SCHD’s cake? Probably not, but it’s worth looking into them if you want to boost your portfolio. If market dynamics go back to the pre-AI “normalcy,” you can always retreat back to SCHD.Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (DIVO)Loading stock data...Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSEARCA: DIVO) is the perfect compromise between an ETF that outperforms SCHD and takes advantage of options, without leaning too much on that strategy.The ETF is actively managed and follows the Enhanced Dividend Income Portfolio strategy managed by the fund’s sub-adviser, Capital Wealth Planning. The strategy centers on investing in 20-25 high-quality large-cap companies from the S&P 500 with a history of both dividend and earnings growth.Then, a fraction of those holdings is used to write covered call options for more income. What you end up with is 2% to 3% income from dividends and an additional 2% to 4% from option premiums.The dividend yield at the moment is 4.54%. The expense ratio is 0.56%, or $56 per $10,000. DIVO has historically been on par or slightly better than the SCHD. However, it has pulled ahead significantly in the past year. SCHD is down 1.94% (with dividends, inflation-adjusted), whereas DIVO is up 10.39%.SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (DIA)Loading stock data...SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust (NYSEARCA: DIA) tracks the performance of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The DJIA is a price-weighted index of 30 large, blue-chip U.S. stocks and is one of the most famous indexes.In practice, DIA holds essentially the same 30 stocks that make up the DJIA, weighted according to the index’s price-weighted methodology rather than by market capitalization. It gets you a small monthly yield of around 1.45% at the moment. This is great if you just want to outperform SCHD while getting paid 12 times a year. The DIA ETF is up 11.36% over the past year, as it has exposure to companies like Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Visa (NYSE: V), and IBM (NYSE: IBM). The exposure to these hotter sectors of the market has allowed DIA to outperform SCHD over the past 20 years, albeit slightly. The overall total return of SCHD (dividends reinvested) over the past 20 years is 255.76%, compared to DIA’s 278.38%. The expense ratio is 0.16%, or $16 per $10,000.NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (QQQI)Loading stock data...NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (NASDAQ: QQQI) is one of the new ETFs that heavily rely on options to convert the heavy options trading trend and the tech rally into solid income.QQQI uses a data-driven covered call options strategy that buys Nasdaq-100 stocks while writing call options on those holdings to generate premium income. Plus, the call spread approach allows for better upside and captures gains whenever possible.QQQI also buys protective put options to cap losses during downturns. QQQI gets you a 13.51% yield and has an expense ratio of 0.68%, or $68 per $10,000. It has managed to deliver 25.60% in overall returns over the past year.Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users up to $1k in StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.From $0 commission trading to fractional shares and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to sign up and secure your bonus.(sponsor)DISCLOSURE:INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUEBrokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 30 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify.Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options [HYPERLINK: https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/a151a9ae-d784-4a15-bdeb-23a029f50b70/riskstoc.pdfInvesting in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement [HYPERLINK https://www.sofi.com/iporisk/]. This should not be considered a recommendation to participate in IPOs and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For more information on the allocation process please visit IPO Allocation [HYPERLINK https://support.sofi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058602892-How-does-SoFi-allocate-IPO-shares].
Walmart’s 3-Year AI Plan for Company’s Future
John Miller
Most people assume that, over the next three years, major retailers will cut huge numbers of workers because of artificial intelligence (AI). Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT), McDonald’s, Starbucks, and Costco will, in total, fire hundreds of thousands of people and save hundreds of millions of dollars. AI will allow them to cut frontline workers, and much of the savings will go to their bottom lines.-->-->24/7 Wall St. Key Points:Walmart Inc.’s (NYSE: WMT) CEO believes artificial intelligence will change “literally every job” over the next three years.Yet, he expects the company’s employee count will not change much.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->Loading stock data...Any public company that does not make these cuts will watch its stock be hammered because the management will be viewed as living in the tech Middle Ages. Low-wage and low-skilled workers in stores are at checkout and in customer service. They also handle inventory and put merchandise on shelves. The transition has already begun. Checking out without cashiers at many stores is already in place.Not So FastWalmart CEO Doug McMillon says, “Not so fast.” In comments picked up by The Wall Street Journal, he said, “It’s very clear that AI is going to change literally every job.” However, he expects Walmart’s employee count will not change much over the next three years. Walmart is America’s largest employer outside the government, with 1.6 million workers.McMillon says he sees growth in people who handle home delivery and bakeries. In-store maintenance jobs may increase as well.McMillon readily admits that chatbots will help people shop. The number of people in warehouses will fall, and robots will handle much in-store work. However, “We are going to put people in front of people.” The theory is that people don’t want the advice of a robot when they are deciding what products to buy.The plan has a flaw: McMillon does not explain how Walmart will retain employees as AI takes on a larger role. Donna Morris, Walmart’s chief people officer, said, “We’ve got to do our homework, and so we don’t have those answers.” This might give Walmart workers a false sense of security.Morris’s comment is at the heart of the matter of how companies keep employment counts level. Across many industries, AI is expected to replace jobs such as paralegals, software developers, truck drivers, farm workers involved in harvesting, and even higher-level positions like air traffic controllers.The fact is that ever more jobs are not guaranteed as AI becomes more advanced.Is This What Catapults Walmart to a $1 Trillion Valuation?Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.Here’s how it works:1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future.
Build Your Lifetime Income Stream: 5 Dividend ETFs Worth Owning
John Brown
-->-->Key PointsThese dividend-paying exchange-traded funds are durable and stable.They can boost your dividends and continue doing so for decades.These are among the best dividend ETFs you can buy today for the long term.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->If you are looking for a source of income that outlives you, look into dividend ETFs that are time-tested over decades. The stock market today looks nothing like the stock market two decades ago, and it is likely that many of the top 20 companies will look alien to you in 2045.This means betting on very narrow sector-based ETFs should be out of the equation. Funds that are overly reliant on options should also be avoided, since a short-selling ban like the one in 2008 could be catastrophic for them. Something like that happening in your lifetime is certainly possible.You can always hold those ETFs as satellite holdings, but if your aim is to have five “core” dividend ETF holdings that will compound forever, the following five are worth it:Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (SCHD)Loading stock data...Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF (NYSEARCA:SCHD)is a passively-managed ETF that tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Dividend 100 Index.It owns 103 large-cap U.S. companies that have paid dividends for at least ten consecutive years. The ETF then scores them on four pillars: cash-flow-to-total-debt, return on equity, dividend yield, and five-year dividend growth.The 103 holdings with the best composite scores are market-cap weighted, so the portfolio tilts toward sturdy cash generators. This includesAbbVie (NYSE:ABBV),Chevron (NYSE:CVX),The Home Depot (NYSE:HD), andAltria (NYSE:MO). All of these companies have long histories and are well-positioned to keep delivering income.SCHD gives you a 3.8% dividend yield with an expense ratio of just 0.06%, or $6 per $10,000.First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (FDL)Loading stock data...First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund (NYSEARCA:FDL)is an index ETF that tracks the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index. The fund owns 100 large and mega-cap U.S. companies that have maintained consistent and sustainable dividend policies. Stocks are screened for flat or positive 5-year dividend growth and for estimated earnings that cover the indicated dividend.The final list is ranked by indicated yield and is weighted by the dollar value of dividends they are expected to pay, with a 10% cap on any single holding.This has worked wonderfully, and FDL has been one of the most consistent and stable ETFs in the past decade. It yields 4.21% and has an expense ratio of 0.43%, or $43 per $10,000.Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (VYM)Loading stock data...Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund ETF (NYSEARCA:VYM)tracks the FTSE High Dividend Yield Index. It holds ~583 stocks that are forecast to pay above-average dividends over the next 12 months, excluding REITs.The portfolio is market-cap-weighted, so the biggest, most stable dividend payers are its top holdings. This also lets it avoid value traps because the fund simply owns the higher-yielding half of the dividend-paying universe.If large-cap dividend growers keep raising payouts and rates stabilize, VYM should keep cranking out a cash stream that beats the broad market and remain stable.The dividend yield is lower at 2.4% with an expense ratio of 0.06%. However, you get solid diversification that very few ETFs can provide.Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund (VYMI)Loading stock data...Vanguard International High Dividend Yield Index Fund (NASDAQ:VYMI)tracks the FTSE All-World ex-US High Dividend Yield Index.The fund starts with large and mid-cap companies outside the U.S., removes REITs and stocks not expected to pay dividends in the next year, and then ranks the rest by expected dividend yield. It keeps the highest-yielding half of that universe and weights each stock by market capitalization.You get exposure to big international firms that can buck the trend if the domestic market is ever hit by volatility. The USD is currently undergoing a decline, and these international firms have delivered higher relative returns.VYMI is up 25.3% year-to-date, and it has a dividend yield of 3.3%. The expense ratio is 0.17%, or $17 per $10,000.Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF (PFFA)Loading stock data...Virtus InfraCap US Preferred Stock ETF (NYSEARCA:PFFA)is not like the other ETFs in this list. It invests in preferred shares that are issued by companies with market caps over $100 million.These stocks sit between bonds and common stocks and pay a fixed or floating rate that is distributed before common dividends. This leads to very high yields for ETFs that focus on them.However, the caveat is that you are forgoing upside, but the environment today allows you to capture significant upside due to rate cuts.PFFA is sitting at a discount of ~17% and can recover as interest rate cuts push more investors away from bonds and towards preferreds.PFFA has a 9.09% yield and pays monthly. The expense ratio is 2.48%, or $248 per $10,000, though this is mostly due to interest payments. The management fee is 0.80%.Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users up to $1k in StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.From $0 commission trading to fractional shares and automated investing, this app is designed to simplify investing for everyone, whether you’re just starting or already experienced. Its easy to sign up and secure your bonus.(sponsor)DISCLOSURE:INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUEBrokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 30 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify.Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options [HYPERLINK: https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/a151a9ae-d784-4a15-bdeb-23a029f50b70/riskstoc.pdfInvesting in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) involves substantial risk, including the risk of loss. Further, there are a variety of risk factors to consider when investing in an IPO, including but not limited to, unproven management, significant debt, and lack of operating history. For a comprehensive discussion of these risks please refer to SoFi Securities’ IPO Risk Disclosure Statement [HYPERLINK https://www.sofi.com/iporisk/]. This should not be considered a recommendation to participate in IPOs and investors should carefully read the offering prospectus to determine whether an offering is consistent with their investment objectives, risk tolerance, and financial situation. New offerings generally have high demand and there are a limited number of shares available for distribution to participants. Many customers may not be allocated shares and share allocations may be significantly smaller than the shares requested in the customer’s initial offer (Indication of Interest). For more information on the allocation process please visit IPO Allocation [HYPERLINK https://support.sofi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058602892-How-does-SoFi-allocate-IPO-shares].
5 of Our Favorite High-Yield Stocks Pay Monthly Dividends
Emily Williams
Most stockspay quarterly dividends, which is fine for many shareholders who reinvest dividends. However, many investors rely on dividends as part of a passive income stream, and getting a monthly dividend payout is more beneficial. Typically, real estate investment trusts, business development companies, and closed-end funds are among the investment vehicles that pay distributions every month. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), passive income generally includes earnings from rental activity or any trade, business, or investment in which the individual does not materially participate. It can also include income from limited partnerships, stocks, bonds, and other similar enterprises in which the investor is not actively involved.-->-->24/7 Wall St. Key Points:While inflation seems tame, the reality is some prices have stayed elevated, and that is where a monthly check comes in very handy.Monthy pay dividend stocks are the perfect partner to monthy pension or Social Security distributions.Our favorite monthly dividend stocks may be among the best ideas as falling interest rates will likely provide high-yield dividend stocks a nice tailwind the rest of the year and in 2026.Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset’s free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don’t waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)-->-->We screenedour 24/7 Wall Street research database for high-quality companies rated Buy by major Wall Street firms that pay monthly dividends, which seem like great ideas for Baby Boomers and Gen X passive income-oriented investors seeking upside appreciation.Why we recommend monthly income stocksA monthly checkfrom your stock portfolio makes sense for most people with bills and expenses due every 30 days, especially in a world where prices are consistently rising. Items such as mortgage payments, rent, utility bills, cell phone and internet bills, trash collection, and even grocery bills are always due each month. A steady stream of passive monthly income can be a huge help in meeting these obligations.Agree RealtyLoading stock data...Agree RealtyCorp. (NYSE: ADC) is an $8 billion+ industry leader in the acquisition and development of properties net leased to retailers. This mid-cap stock offers a reliable 4.30% dividend and strong upside potential. Agree Realty is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires and develops properties net-leased to industry-leading, omnichannel retail tenants.The company’sassets are held by, and all of its operations are conducted directly or indirectly through, the operating partnership of which the company is the sole general partner.Its portfoliocomprises over 2,370 properties in 50 states, totaling approximately 48.8 million square feet of gross leasable area (GLA). The company’s portfolio of properties is located in:TexasOhioFloridaMichiganIllinoisNorth CarolinaNew JerseyPennsylvaniaCaliforniaNew YorkGeorgiaVirginiaConnecticutWisconsinAgree Realtytenants include these companies and more:WalmartDollar GeneralTractor SupplyBest BuyDollar TreeTJX Companies,O’Reilly Auto PartsCVSKrogerLowe’sHobby LobbyBurlingtonSherwin-WilliamsSunbelt RentalsWawaHome DepotTBC CorporationGerber CollisionApple Hospitality REITLoading stock data...Apple Hospitality REITInc. (NYSE: APLE) owns one of the largest portfolios of upscale, select-service hotels in the United States. It is a publicly traded REIT that pays a solid 8% monthly dividend and distinguishes itself in the market with its unique offerings.The companycomprises 224 hotels with more than 30,066 guest rooms in 87 markets throughout 37 states, as well as one property leased to third parties. Its hotel portfolio comprises 100 Marriott-branded hotels, 119 Hilton-branded hotels, and five Hyatt-branded hotels.Its hotels operateprimarily under Marriott or Hilton brands. They are operated and managed under separate management agreements with 16 hotel management companies, including:Hilton Garden InnHamptonCourtyardResidence InnHomewood SuitesSpringHill SuitesFairfieldHome2 SuitesTownePlace SuitesAC HotelsHyatt PlaceMarriottEmbassy SuitesAloftHyatt HouseApple Hospitalityhotels are in various states, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, and Michigan.EPR PropertiesLoading stock data...This REITinvests in some of the most popular entertainment companies and pays a handsome 6.09% dividend. EPR Properties (NYSE: EPR) is a leading experiential net-lease REIT, specializing in select enduring experiential properties within the real estate industry. It operates through two segments.The Experientialsegment consists of approximately:157 theater properties58 eat and play properties24 attraction properties11 ski propertiesFour experiential lodging propertiesOne gaming propertyOne cultural property22 fitness and wellness propertiesThe company’sEducation segment consists of property types, including 59 early childhood education center properties and nine private school properties.The EPR Propertiesinvestment portfolio includes ownership of and long-term mortgages on experiential and educational properties. The company has investments in approximately 44 states. All the company’s owned single-tenant properties are leased under long-term, triple-net leases.Main Street CapitalLoading stock data...Main StreetCapital Corp. (NASDAQ: MAIN) has helped over 200 private companies grow or transition by providing flexible private equity and debt capital solutions. This company is a favorite among Wall Street investors and offers a substantial dividend yield of 4.66%. Main Street Capital is a private equity firm that provides equity capital to lower-middle market companies.The firm alsoprovides debt capital to middle-market companies for:AcquisitionsManagement buyoutsGrowth financingsRecapitalizationsRefinancingThe firmseeks to partner with entrepreneurs, business owners, and management teams, and generally provides “one-stop” financing alternatives within its lower middle-market portfolio.Main StreetCapital typically invests in lower-middle-market companies with annual revenues ranging from $10 million to $150 million.The firm’smiddle market debt investments are in businesses that are generally larger in size than its lower middle market portfolio companies. It also creates majority and minority equity.Realty IncomeLoading stock data...This REITinvests in free-standing, single-tenant commercial properties. This is an ideal stock for growth and income investors seeking a safer, contrarian investment for the remainder of 2025 with a 5.33% dividend. Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: O) is an S&P 500 company that provides stockholders with dependable monthly income.The companyacquires and manages freestanding commercial properties that generate rental revenue under long-term net lease agreements with its commercial clients.It is engagedin a single business activity: leasing property to clients, generally on a net basis. This business activity spans various geographic boundaries and encompasses a range of property types and clients across multiple industries.The companyowns or holds interests in approximately 15,621 properties in all 50 United States, as well as:United KingdomFranceGermanyIrelandItalyPortugalSpainWith clientsdoing business in 89 industries, its property types include: retail, industrial, gaming, and others, such as agriculture and office.Its primaryindustry concentrations include:Grocery storesConvenience storesDollar storesDrug storesHome improvement storesRestaurantsQuick serviceFour Stocks That Yield 12% and Higher Are Passive Income KingsIf You have $500,000 Saved, Retirement Could Be Closer Than You Think (sponsor)Retirement can be daunting, but it doesn’t need to be.Imagine having an expert in your corner to help you with your financial goals. Someone to help you determine if you’re ahead, behind, or right on track. With SmartAsset, that’s not just a dream—it’s reality. This free tool connects you with pre-screened financial advisors who work in your best interests. It’s quick, it’s easy, so take the leap today and start planning smarter!Don’t waste another minute; get started right here and help your retirement dreams become a retirement reality.(sponsor)
Symbotic Stock is Up 172% This Year—Here Is Why it’s Not Done Yet
Michael Williams
20 Years On Wall Street Taught Me: Buy and Hold High-Yield Dividend Giants
David Johnson
Three Reliable Dividend Funds Retirees Will Love
Robert Miller
Insiders Snap Up $54M in Biotech and Offshore Driller Stocks
John Davis
OPEC+ Supply Surge: 3 Oil Stocks to Sell Before the Crash
David Johnson
Double Your Money This Year With These 3 Small-Cap Growth Stocks
Michael Brown
These Executives Could Replace Starbucks CEO Niccol
Emily Williams
This Quantum Computing Stock Could Be the Next Nvidia – 1,000% Returns Ahead
Emily Smith
These Penny Stocks are Soaring Today: DFLI, YCBD, PSTV
Michael Miller
3 High-Yield Dividend Stocks to Buy in October
David Brown
Here’s Why These 3 Top Defense Stocks Are Hot Buys Right Now.
Emily Johnson
When the Market Collapses, This Is the Stock to Own
Michael Miller
Latest Articles
Trump’s $1 Trillion Military Blitz: 2 More Defense Stock Winners to Buy Now
Jane Johnson
These Workers Will Have to Pay Higher Social Security Taxes Next Year. Here’s Why
Michael Williams
The 3 Best Dividend Stocks Set to Dominate 2026
Robert Davis
Is Google’s Gemini Finally Ready to Compete With ChatGPT?
Sarah Williams
Synopsys Dropped 36% After Earnings: Is This an Overreaction or Buying Opportunity?
John Smith
Stock Market News October 10: S&P 500 (SPY) Falls 1.59% Before Earnings Kick-Off
John Jones
Invest Here To Get a Piece of OpenAI
Michael Miller
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) Stock Price Prediction for 2025: Where Will It Be in 1 Year (Oct 9)
Emily Smith
Stock Market Live October 1: S&P 500 (VOO) Falls as U.S. Government Shuts Down
Emily Brown
The ETF That Outperforms VYM and Delivers Consistent Monthly Payouts
Michael Jones