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| | | Hello and welcome to Dividend Brief, the 2 times weekly newsletter focused on dividend investing. | Today we will look into General Motors, Walmart, and Pfizer 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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| | Apple's Starlink Update Sparks Huge Earning Opportunity | | Apple just secretly added Starlink satellite support to iPhones through iOS 18.3. | One of the biggest potential winners? Mode Mobile. | Mode's EarnPhone already reaches +45M users that have earned over $325M, and that's before global satellite coverage. With SpaceX eliminating "dead zones" worldwide, Mode's earning technology can now reach billions more. | Mode is now gearing up for a possible Nasdaq listing (ticker: MODE) but you can still invest in their pre-IPO offering at $0.26/share before their share price changes. | Invest before 5/1 price change. | *An intent to IPO is no guarantee that an actual IPO will occur. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.modemobile.com.
*The Deloitte rankings are based on submitted applications and public company database research. | | Automotive | General Motors Balances EV Ambitions with Labor Cuts at Detroit Facility | | General Motors (NYSE: GM) has implemented temporary layoffs for 200 workers at its all-electric Factory ZERO facility in Detroit. The decision comes as the automaker aligns its EV production with current market conditions. Factory ZERO, representing a $2.5 billion investment and housing more than 4,500 employees, serves as a core site for GM's multi-brand electric vehicle initiative. | Production at the plant includes lithium-based models such as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Hummer EV, as well as future models like the GMC Sierra Denali Edition 1 and Cadillac Escalade IQ2. In addition to vehicle assembly, the facility integrates battery modules and packs, reinforcing its role in GM's EV supply chain. | Last week, GM announced plans to increase the output of light-duty trucks at its Fort Wayne, Indiana, plant. The latest EV-related layoffs reflect a strategic response to shifting consumer demand, not a reaction to trade policy or tariffs. | The Detroit-based company continues to invest in electric vehicle technology but has scaled back on previously announced production goals. GM revised its 2024 EV output forecast from 300,000 units to 250,000 and delayed its Orion Assembly plant project until mid-2026. | Operations at Factory ZERO are expected to resume based on future demand indicators. Eligible employees impacted by the layoff may qualify for subpay and benefits under the existing GM-UAW national agreement. | General Motors remains committed to recalibrating its workforce and facilities to support long-term electrification targets while managing short-term market realities. |
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| | Consumer Goods | Walmart Maintains Growth Outlook Despite Heightened Tariff Environment | | Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has updated its full-year forecast as shifting global trade conditions influence operational and pricing strategies. The company anticipates net sales growth between 3% and 4%, adjusting for increased volatility and ongoing tariff developments. | Analysts gathered at Walmart's annual investor meeting in Dallas received new insight into how the company plans to manage current headwinds. Attendees reviewed strategic updates addressing supply chain resilience, pricing discipline, and domestic sourcing advantages. | Executives noted that two-thirds of Walmart's U.S. merchandise originates from domestic suppliers, providing insulation from some international trade exposure. Additional sourcing comes primarily from China and Mexico, areas currently affected by tariff escalations. | Walmart acknowledged increased day-to-day sales volatility as consumers react to pricing shifts and broader economic signals. Despite that, the company continues to expand essential product offerings and streamline store operations. | The retailer recently reaffirmed its commitment to scaling private-label brands and reducing overseas production dependency. Adjustments include trimming production footprints in tariff-sensitive regions to manage cost structures and preserve margin stability. | Walmart also reported that the U.S. division accounts for 70% of total company revenue, reinforcing the strategic benefit of its domestic focus during global trade disruption. |
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| | | | Pharmaceuticals | Pfizer Restructures R&D Footprint with San Diego Site Sale and Layoffs | | Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) has completed the sale of its research facility in San Diego, transferring ownership of the five-building campus to BioMed Realty for $255 million. This move follows the company's decision to lease a new location nearby as part of its operational streamlining efforts. | Executives previously used the 25-acre site for late-stage clinical work in oncology and HIV. Pfizer acquired the property in 2004, later selling part in 2012 while retaining core R&D buildings. Over the years, teams based at this facility contributed to developing cancer therapies, including Ibrance. | BioMed Realty, which owns several nearby properties, plans to repurpose the site for life sciences tenants. Pfizer, meanwhile, continues consolidating its research operations as part of its updated footprint strategy. | State filings confirm that 56 employees at the site will be laid off in early June. Pfizer has clarified that the staffing changes are unrelated to the property sale. The company focuses on simplifying internal operations and enhancing R&D efficiency across its global network. | Pfizer remains active in the region through its newly leased facility. Regulators have approved the transaction, allowing Pfizer to proceed with its ongoing reorganization. |
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| | Dividend Stocks Worth Watching | Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) is a double winner in today's markets: as a nuclear energy provider, among other carbon-free energy offerings, Constellation is positioned to capture market share as data centers and AI facilities increase power consumption. Second, as an energy stock, Constellation is mainly exempt from Trump's tariffs. | In other words, Constellation offers a defensive play in volatile markets alongside growth opportunities in the longer run. Constellation's current forward yield is 0.74%, but the stock's total yield is 2.23% when accounting for buybacks. | Eastern Company (NASDAQ:EML) is an industrial stock rapidly expanding its trucking component production segment. This means the Eastern Company is positioned to capture expanding U.S. road-based logistics chains likely resulting from reduced global trade. | Eastern Company's 2024 net income climbed 12% year-over-year, and the company pared down its debt (a smart move in today's macro climate). Its cash flow returned $2.7 million to shareholders as distributions and buybacks; its forward yield is 1.94%, and the total yield is just above 4%. | Utah Medical Products (NASDAQ:UTMD), may be small at a $175 million market cap, but the medical device manufacturer still offers a robust 2.3% forward yield with growth opportunities continuing. Utah Medical's disposable medical device offerings support blood collection, labor and delivery, and outpatient facilities, which means the company is positioned to generate solid recurring revenue. | Its obstetric segments are high-margin and have a global reach across more than 100 countries (though tariffs may damper further expansion). Utah Medical holds zero debt and consistently hikes its dividend. | | Dividend Increases | | | KOF grew its dividend payout to 88.39 cents per share, an increase of 17.75%. Its new forward yield is 3.5%. | STZ expanded its dividend payout to $1.02 per share, an increase of 1%. Its new forward yield is 2.2%. | CSWI improved its dividend payout to 27 cents per share, an increase of 12.5%. Its new forward yield is 0.36%. |
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| Dividend Decreases | | | | | TKC lowered its dividend payout to 11.96 cents per share, a cut of 46%. Its new dividend yield is 3.64%. | EC reduced its dividend payout to 48.58 cents per share, a cut of 37%. Its new dividend yield is 21.43%. | AVAL decreased its dividend payout to 1.05 cents per share, a cut of 5%. Its new dividend yield is 5.14%. |
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| | | | Upcoming Dividend Payers | TMI is going to pay 43 cents per share to all shareholders of record on 4/15/25 | MU is going to pay 12 cents per share to all shareholders of record on 4/15/25 | GNL is going to pay 19 cents per share to all shareholders of record on 4/16/25 | | Everything Else | Dividend stocks may be the only smart play in today's choppy market, according to Barron's. JPMorgan blew past earnings expectations and holds a strong balance sheet but warns that the future is uncertain. Coke's kosher offerings are gaining traction. Automotive companies like Ford will likely face $5,000+ in additional costs when tariffs take effect. American Giant, a major Walmart supplier, wrote the playbook on "Made in America" manufacturing.
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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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