3 Dividend Stocks Worth Checking Out Right Now
With all the focus on earnings and an improving job market, the stock market today is filled with upbeat news. Regardless, some would argue that investors should not overlook dividend stocks as well. For the most part, this would be due to rising concerns over inflation as the red-hot economy continues to recover. In fact, Meera Pandit, a global market strategist at JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) argues that there are cracks in the Fed’s “transitory narrative” on the matter. In essence, Pandit notes that inflation remains elevated for longer than anticipated. Among the core factors contributing to this would be a prolonged pandemic and skyrocketing consumer demands.
Now, how do dividend stocks factor into all of this? Well, even with strong earnings, there would be investors eager to make more defensive plays as well. Seeing as dividends offer a more consistent form of gains from the stock market, this would make sense. Arguably, diversifying one’s portfolio amidst such volatile times could also be a strategic play for less adventurous investors. For one thing, there is certainly no shortage of top-notch companies to choose from among dividend stocks.
Take Nucor (NYSE: NUE) for example. It is a leading name in the U.S. steel manufacturing industry today. Earlier today, the company posted stellar figures in its third-quarter earnings report. Notably, Nucor posted a record quarterly earnings per share of $7.28, an over 1,000% year-over-year surge. The company currently offers a cash dividend of $0.40 per share. Elsewhere, more defensive stock alternatives include consumer staples such as McDonald’s (NYSE: MCD) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG). Should all this have you keen on top dividend stocks, here are three to know in the market now.
Top Dividend Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] Ahead Of November 2021
- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL)
- Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO)
- AbbVie Inc. (NYSE: ABBV)
Apple Inc.
Apple is a multinational technology that specializes in consumer electronics and online services. The company is one of the biggest tech companies in the world and also most valuable. Its next-generation products are used by billions. In fact, it continues to lead the world in innovation with its line of premium products that include the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook among others. With that, AAPL stock currently trades at $149.44 as of 10:30 a.m. ET.
Most recently, it announced its latest MacBook Pro, which features the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. It offers amazing performance with industry-leading power efficiency. With massive gains in CPU and GPU performance, it has one of the biggest generational leaps for its MacBook line of laptops. The company also announced its third-generation AirPods that feature spatial audio and deliver a wide number of new and advanced features. This includes new drivers for richer detail and computational audio to bring new breakthrough experiences. Ultimately, this new generation MacBooks could appeal to new markets and customer base.
The company also declared a dividend of $0.22 per share in July. The company will be announcing its fourth-quarter financials on October 28, 2021. Ahead of its financials, the company seems to have had an amazing year so far, reaching new all-time highs and posting record quarters. For instance, in its third-quarter financials, Apple reported a revenue of $81.4 billion, up by 36% year-over-year. It also posted a quarterly earnings per diluted share of $1.30. Impressively, it also saw new revenue records in each of its geographic segments and also double-digit growth in each of its new product categories. Considering the above, is AAPL stock worth investing in right now?
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Coca-Cola Company
Another name to know amongst dividend stocks now would be the Coca-Cola Company. By and large, Coca-Cola does not need much of an introduction. This would be the case as most would be familiar with the company’s vast array of beverages. The likes of which are readily available in over 200 countries and territories worldwide. As Coca-Cola continues to cater to the beverage wants of consumers across the globe, investors could be eyeing KO stock as well. The company’s latest dividend of $0.42 a share was announced back in July.
Now, KO stock currently trades at $54.39 a share as of 10:30 a.m. ET. If anything, Coca-Cola does not seem to have plans to slow down anytime soon. For starters, the company’s ongoing partnership with UPM, a Finnish forest industry firm, appears to be breaking new ground. In an exclusive interview with Packaging Europe earlier today, Coca-Cola unveiled the first prototype of its 100% plant-based plastic bottle. According to Coca-Cola senior director for environmental policy, Ben Jordan, the “critical next step” in this process would be scaling this tech across the wider industry. Given the growing need for more environmentally sustainable practices globally, Coca-Cola appears to be getting a head start on the competition with this.
Additionally, the company is also hard at work expanding its operations globally. In particular, Coca-Cola is reportedly looking to go public with its “Coca-Cola Beverages Africa” bottling division next year. Based on Bloomberg’s sources, the company is looking at an $8.1 billion valuation for the initial public offering. Given all of this, would you consider KO stock a buy?
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AbbVie Inc.
Next, we have AbbVie, a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes advanced therapies that have an impact on millions of lives. With over 48,000 employees worldwide, it focuses on finding new ways to address the world’s most serious health issues. It concentrates on a core set of therapeutic areas like immunology, oncology, and virology among others. ABBV stock currently trades at $107.49 as of 10:30 a.m. ET.
Last month, the company announced that its board of directors have declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.30 per share. The cash dividend will be payable on November 15, 2021, to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 15, 2021. Since the company’s inception in 2013, it has increased its dividend by 225%.
Last week, the company announced that the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human USE (CHMP) recommended the approval of risankizumab for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in the EU. “Many patients with psoriatic arthritis experience uncontrolled skin and joint symptoms despite the availability of existing therapies. For this reason, it is important to have multiple treatment options available for physicians to effectively manage their patients’ condition,” said Thomas Hudson, senior vice president, research and development, AbbVie. “The CHMP’s recommendation to approve risankizumab in psoriatic arthritis is an important step in bringing treatment to more patients in need.” With this piece of information, will you buy ABBV stock?
