| | Hello and welcome to Dividend Brief, the two-times weekly newsletter focused on dividend investing. | Today, we will look into Oracle, Comcast, and UPS, highlight a few dividend stocks worth watching, as well as share companies that are about to pay a dividend in the next few days. |
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| | | | Artificial Intelligence | Oracle Launches AI Agents for Supply Chain Management at CloudWorld Event | | Oracle recently unveiled new AI-powered agents aimed at transforming supply chain management during its CloudWorld event in Austin. These agents are designed to assist supply chain workers by automating tasks and enhancing efficiency across various functions, from procurement to sustainability. Acting as specialized AI bots, the agents can work autonomously or with human oversight, streamlining workflows and reducing the administrative workload. | The launch of these AI agents aligns with a broader trend in the tech industry, where companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Nvidia are pushing similar solutions to optimize routine but time-consuming tasks. Oracle’s new AI tools, available through its Fusion Cloud Supply Chain and Manufacturing platform, are tailored to handle everything from product inspections to managing delivery logistics, aiming to improve accuracy and decision-making. | This announcement follows Oracle’s recent involvement in the ambitious Stargate Project, a $500 billion initiative with OpenAI and SoftBank to build AI data centers across the U.S. While Oracle’s cloud service lags behind Amazon, Microsoft, and Google in market share, the company’s recent financial performance shows growth, with a 52% increase in cloud infrastructure revenue, signaling that Oracle is riding the AI wave alongside its larger competitors. | ORCL currently trades at $171 and pays a dividend of 40 cents per share, a yield of 0.94%. |
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| | Mobile | Comcast Shifts Focus to Wireless Business After Broadband Customer Losses | | Comcast is turning its attention to the wireless sector as it faces challenges in its broadband business. The company reported a loss of 139,000 broadband customers in the fourth quarter, marking a shift in the once-strong growth engine of the cable industry. As cable TV subscriptions continue to decline, broadband was expected to make up for these losses, but Comcast is now experiencing slowdowns in customer growth. | Despite steady revenue, the company’s broadband segment is feeling the impact of competition from wireless providers such as Verizon and T-Mobile, which now offer home broadband services. This shift in the market has led to a reevaluation of Comcast’s strategy. | In response, Comcast plans to focus more heavily on bundling mobile services with broadband to attract new customers. This approach aims to tap into the growing demand for mobile options while also leveraging its broadband infrastructure. While this pivot signals an effort to adapt to changing market dynamics, Comcast's stock saw a decline of more than 8% following the announcement, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding its new strategy. | CMCSA currently trades at $33 and pays a dividend of 31 cents per share, a yield of 3.74%. |
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| | Technology | | | The Magnificent Seven—Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Tesla—have redefined market leadership. | But as their record-breaking growth slows, the focus shifts to the next generation of industry leaders. | Analysts have identified seven global companies with the potential to rise above the rest in 2025. | These stocks are poised to surge, fueled by growing market share, robust cash flows, and innovative strategies that set them apart from the competition. | (By clicking the link above, you will get this free report and a free subscription to MarketBeat's daily email newsletter. You are also agreeing to the terms of our privacy policy. Unsubscribe at any time.) | Position yourself to capture the next wave of market-defining opportunities. | Click here to uncover the “7 Stocks That Will Be Magnificent in 2025” before the market catches on. | (By clicking the link above, you will get this free report and a free subscription to MarketBeat's daily email newsletter. You are also agreeing to the terms of our privacy policy. Unsubscribe at any time.) |
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| | Shipping & Receiving | UPS Restructures Partnerships and Streamlines Operations for Long-Term Growth | | United Parcel Service is navigating a significant shift as it restructures partnerships and operations to position itself for long-term growth. The company recently reported changes in its performance across various segments, reflecting both opportunities and challenges within the evolving transportation and logistics industry. | A notable development involves a restructured agreement with its largest partner, which will significantly reduce shipping volume by 2026. This adjustment reflects UPS's focus on optimizing its operations and redefining its market strategy. Additionally, the company has fully insourced its UPS SurePost product and is actively reconfiguring its U.S. network as part of a broader initiative to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. | While supply chain solutions faced setbacks tied to a prior divestiture, UPS continues to see growth in other areas, including domestic and international operations. Efforts to streamline processes and implement multi-year efficiency initiatives aim to deliver substantial cost savings, helping to drive profitability in the years ahead. | Looking forward, UPS plans to balance capital investments with shareholder returns through dividends and buybacks. As the company adapts to changing market conditions and realigns its operations, it remains focused on strengthening its position in key areas and maintaining resilience in a competitive landscape. | UPS currently trades at $111 and pays a dividend of $1.63 per share, a yield of 5.86%. |
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| | Dividend Stocks Worth Watching | The Coca-Cola Company (KO) is turning its share price woes around through marketing campaigns designed to expand its global sales. Shareholders also get to take advantage of the company’s 3.05% yield. | General Electric (GE) has seen the fruits of its restructuring efforts in recent weeks, making it worth watching for continued improvements. Its low 0.55% dividend yield is somewhat offset by the company’s increasing share price. | Novartis AG (NVS) continues to observe positive developments in its pipeline, leading to renewed interest by investors. Its 3.62% dividend yield is nothing to scoff at, either. | | Dividend Increases | | | NOMD upped its dividend payout to 17 cents per share, an increase of 13%. Its new forward yield is 3.91%.
SCHW increased its dividend payout to 27 cents per share, an increase of 8%. Its new forward yield is 1.31%.
TRMK boosted its dividend payout to 24 cents per share, an increase of 4.4%. Its new forward yield is 2.5%. |
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| Dividend Decreases | | | | | WINA decreased its dividend payout to 90 cents per share, a cut of 89%. Its new dividend yield is 0.94%.
CRT bumped its dividend payout down to 9.5 cents per share, a cut of 1.5%. Its new dividend yield is 9.0%.
UG lowered its dividend payout to 35 cents per share, a cut of 5.4%. Its new dividend yield is 12.84%. |
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| | | | Upcoming Dividend Payers | SGU is going to pay 17.25 cents per share to all shareholders of record on 2/5/25
LKFN is going to pay 50 cents per share to all shareholders of record on 2/5/25
LOW is going to pay $1.15 per share to all shareholders of record on 2/5/25 | | Everything Else | United Utilities and Pennon plan to raise dividend payouts while increasing household water bills to balance financial pressures. Kimberly-Clark increased its quarterly dividend by 3.3% to $1.26 per share, despite falling short on fourth-quarter profit estimates. Altria has emerged as the top dividend payer in the S&P 500, with an impressive yield nearing 8%. Energy Transfer LP boosted its dividend by 5.3%, reinforcing its focus on delivering shareholder value. Severn Trent announced plans for annual dividend hikes as customer bills are set to rise by 47%.
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| | That’s all for today’s edition of the Dividend Brief.
Thanks for reading, and if you have any feedback or dividend stocks you want me to take a look at, just reply to this email!
—Noah Zelvis
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