dividend growth

STANLEY BLACK & DECKER INC. $98 remains a buy. This company (New York symbol SWK; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 154.0 million; Market cap: $15.1 billion; Dividend yield: 2.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stanleyblackanddecker.com) started up in 1843 and is now one of the world’s largest makers of hand and power tools for consumers....

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, many companies are now shifting their annual shareholder meetings away from physical locations to the Internet. Even after the current crisis ends, it’s likely many firms will continue these “virtual” meetings.


That’s good news for Broadridge investors, as it helps businesses better communicate with shareholders and count up proxy votes....

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $50 remains a buy. The company (New York symbol VZ; Income-Growth Dividend Portfolio, Utilities sector, Shares o/s: 4.1 billion; Market cap: $205.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.verizon.com) raised the dividend for its investors by 2.1% with the November 2019 payment....

TELUS CORP. $21 is a buy. This leading telecom company (Toronto symbol T; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 1.3 billion; Market cap: $27.3 billion; Dividend yield: 5.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.telus.com) rewarded its investors with a 3.6% increase to its quarterly dividend with the January 2020 payment....

As demand for their traditional products slows due to changing consumer tastes, Saputo and Molson are cutting their costs. Those savings will help them develop new products, and let them keep raising your dividends.


SAPUTO INC. $33 is still a hold. The company (Toronto symbol SAP; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 408.0 million; Market cap: $13.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.saputo.com) is a leading dairy producer....

The COVID-19 outbreak will slow the growth of these top insurance companies, particularly in Asia. The shock to their investment portfolios will also limit their earnings.


However, both firms should rebound quickly once the outbreak eases. That should also let them keep raising your dividends.


MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP....

The coronavirus has highlighted the importance of big technology companies to the overall economy as employees shift to working from home. That trend will likely continue after the crisis as businesses gain from higher employee productivity and satisfaction.


Here are two leading tech firms that are poised to profit from that trend, and reward you with higher dividends.


MICROSOFT CORP....

T. ROWE PRICE GROUP INC. $93 is a buy for the Financial sector portion of your portfolio. The company (Nasdaq symbol TROW; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 236.0 million; Market cap: $21.9 billion; Dividend yield: 3.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.troweprice.com) is a leading seller of mutual funds and wealth management services.


With the March 2020 payment, T....

These two REITs have recently completed multi-year restructuring plans that shifted their focus to much more promising properties. Moreover, both have held your distributions steady during their restructuring, and we feel they’re poised to add to your income following the current COVID-19 crisis.


H&R REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST $8.46 is a buy. Through your units in this REIT (Toronto symbol HR.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Units outstanding: 286.7 million; Market cap: $2.4 billion; Dividend yield: 16.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.hr-reit.com) you tap income from 455 properties: 33 office buildings, 311 retail developments, 87 industrial buildings and 24 residential properties....

Stock prices have dropped sharply in anticipation of a much wider spread of the coronavirus, and the deep economic setback that could result from its spread. That could happen—no one can predict the future. However, most sharp market downturns are temporary. Due to modern medicine and technology, the coronavirus impact is unlikely to get so big that it brings on a long-lasting stock-market decline.


Our advice is that if your stock holdings made sense for you a few weeks ago, in light of your investment goals, financial circumstances and temperament, then you should hang on to them.


You should also continue to follow our three-pronged Successful Investor strategy: Invest mainly in established companies; spread your money out across the five main economic sectors; and downplay or avoid stocks that are in the broker/media limelight.


But most important—with yields on many stocks currently so much higher than before the COVID-19 tumult and with many companies cutting their dividends—income investors need to pay close attention to our Dividend Sustainability Ratings.


In this, your latest issue of Dividend Advisor, you’ll also find several high-yielding stocks we recommend for new buying....