| Retail Giant Partners With Swedish Icon to Keep 5.84% Yields Flowing |
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| This week's dividend landscape is packed with opportunity as many big brands make bold strategic moves to stay ahead.
With yields nearing 6% and several dividend hikes on the board, it's a busy week for income seekers looking for both stability and growth.
We've cut through the noise to bring you the most important updates – here's what you need to know. |
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| | | | Stocks to Watch (Sponsored) | | | Storm clouds are building after a record-breaking year on Wall Street. | Investors are on edge, as inflation picks up and economic pressures mount.
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| | Banking | JPMorgan Teams Up With Coinbase to Launch Crypto-Linked Credit Card Features | | JPMorgan (NYSE: JPM) is expanding its presence in digital assets through a new partnership with Coinbase, which will enable Chase credit card users to fund crypto wallets and redeem rewards in stablecoins. Beginning in late 2025, customers will be able to link their bank accounts to Coinbase and convert card points into USDC, a dollar-pegged digital token widely used for payments and trading. | For long-term holders, this move signals JPMorgan's calculated entry into consumer-facing crypto infrastructure. By keeping control of the rails and limiting exposure to volatility, the bank is positioning itself to capture more engagement through digital transactions without straying from core financial services. It also extends the Chase ecosystem into an area where younger and tech-savvy users are already active. | Those exploring a stake in JPMorgan may view this as a step toward future-proofing its payments strategy. With stablecoins gaining traction and regulatory clarity improving, this integration demonstrates how a legacy institution can meet the rising demand for low-cost, instant payments without compromising on compliance or scalability. | This isn't merely a crypto experiment; it showcases a powerhouse of banking meticulously crafting order within a rapidly evolving market. JPMorgan is laying the groundwork for the future of finance, positioning itself at the forefront of the next wave of financial activity. | JPM currently trades at $289 and pays a dividend of $5.60 per share, a yield of 1.94%. |
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| | Pharma | Merck Cuts $3B in Costs to Prepare for Keytruda Patent Expiry | | Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) has launched a sweeping $3 billion cost-reduction program as it prepares for the eventual loss of exclusivity on its flagship cancer drug, Keytruda. The restructuring will target sales, administrative, and R&D overhead, as well as cuts to real estate and other fixed costs. | The company aims to complete the initiative by the end of 2027, the year before Keytruda faces U.S. patent expiration and potential price reductions under federal policy. For existing shareholders, the move signals that Merck is proactively positioning for a post-Keytruda business model. | While Keytruda remains a major revenue driver, the company appears focused on reallocating resources now, rather than reacting later. This decision to reinvest savings in pipeline development and product launches demonstrates that Merck is attempting to preserve future cash flow while protecting its core therapeutic areas. | Those monitoring the stock for potential entry may view this as a turning point in Merck's capital strategy. As the drug lifecycle reaches a critical phase, the company is transitioning into a cost-disciplined mode while continuing to support innovation. The longer-term outcome depends on how effectively Merck balances internal cuts with the need to deliver new products at scale. | MRK currently trades at $78 and pays a dividend of $3.24 per share, a yield of 4.13%. |
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| | Asset Management | BlackRock Launches Actively Managed Infrastructure ETF to Tap Long-Term Global Demand | | BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) has launched a new actively managed ETF focused on global infrastructure, expanding its reach into a category projected to see significant long-term growth. | The new fund, BILT, targets 50–60 publicly listed infrastructure companies across transportation, utilities, construction, and energy-linked sectors. It joins BlackRock's $10 billion suite of infrastructure ETFs and is backed by the firm's Global Real Assets Securities team. | For existing shareholders, this launch reflects BlackRock's strategy of packaging long-duration themes into scalable, publicly traded vehicles. Infrastructure remains underrepresented in traditional equity indices, despite being tied to secular drivers such as digital connectivity, energy security, and logistics expansion. | With $183 billion already under management across private infrastructure assets, this move brings a new level of accessibility to BlackRock's platform while expanding its ETF fee base. Those considering BlackRock as a new investment opportunity may view this as a signal of product innovation aligned with the rising demand from both institutions and retail investors. | The company is positioning BILT to meet interest in infrastructure exposure without the complexity of private markets. It offers a familiar structure, an ETF with a global mandate and active selection, giving it a differentiated footprint within the firm's offerings. | BlackRock has an annual dividend of $21 per share, with a yield of 1.91% |
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| | Dividend Stocks Worth Watching | JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM) offers a solid 1.89% yield on a quarterly $1.40 dividend. The financial services firm is a solid choice for dividend investors with 15 years of consecutive payment increases and low volatility. | This week, CEO and Chairman Jamie Dimon cut the ribbon on the bank's 1000th new branch in seven years. The expansion program means there are now 5,000 JPM branches across the USA, with plans to open 500 additional locations within the next two years.
The bank expects its new locations to contribute approximately $160 billion in incremental deposits, with at least one Chase branch located within an accessible drive of 75% of the population. | Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) is a solid consumer retail stock with an attractive 5.84% yield. Despite the trials and tribulations the retail sector has faced in recent years, BBY has lifted its dividend payment each year for the last 22 years. | The retailer has announced a new partnership with IKEA, which will see the Swedish furniture maker trialing mini showrooms in select Best Buy locations.
Ten locations in Texas and Florida will have a 1,000-square-foot Ikea store created with kitchens and laundry room layouts sitting next to Best Buy's home appliances. | Macy's (NYSE: M) offers an attractive 5.78% yield well above the sector average. The retailer has just announced a new collaboration with Abercrombie Kids, which will see the label added to the Macy's roster.
This addition is part of a strategic plan to cash in on 'back-to-school' shopping while also reinvigorating the retail roster as it strives to stay relevant and boost foot traffic. | | Dividend Increases | | | BWA has boosted its dividend payout to 17 cents per share, an increase of 54.55%. Its new yield is 1.97%. | STE has lifted its dividend payout to 63 cents per share, an increase of 10.53%. Its new yield is 1.1%. | CLX has bumped up its dividend payout to $1.22 per share, an increase of 1.64%. Its new yield is 3.93%. |
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| Dividend Decreases | | | | | WLK has reduced its dividend payout to 47 cents per share, a drop of 10.21%. Its new yield is 2.37%. | DEA has cut its dividend payout to 45 cents per share, a decrease of 32.08%. Its new yield is 8.12%. | AZN has slashed its dividend payout to 50 cents per share, a cut of 50.97%. Its new yield is 2.0%. |
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| | | | Upcoming Dividend Payers | UVV's ex-dividend date for the forthcoming 82 cents payout is 08/04/25. | PNC's ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.70 payout is 08/05/25. | LOW's ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.20 payout is 08/06/25. | | Everything Else | Lowes says it will open new stores in Texas and Arizona this year, with five to 10 new store openings planned for 2026. Hawkins' stock has recorded a new all-time high of $166.43 after the company delivered a strong Q2 earnings report, including 6% revenue growth. Wingstop's trial of a new digital kitchen display system has reduced ticket times by 40%, improved accuracy, and boosted sales. Wells Fargo will appoint CEO Charlie Scharf as chairman and will give him a one-time special equity grant of $30 million in restricted share rights and stock options.
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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
DividendBrief.com |
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