stocks

 Identifying the top 10 dividend stocks for 2025 involves focusing on companies with sustainable payouts, strong fundamentals, and attractive yields, based on recent analyses from reputable sources. The following list prioritizes stocks with consistent dividend growth, reasonable payout ratios, and resilience in uncertain markets, as highlighted in various financial publications. Note that dividend yields and stock performance are based on data up to May 2025, and investors should conduct further research to align with their financial goals.

1. ExxonMobil (XOM)
   • Sector: Energy
   • Dividend Yield: ~3.5% (based on recent analyses)
   • Why: A Dividend Aristocrat with over 25 years of consecutive dividend increases, ExxonMobil benefits from a strong balance sheet and a focus on oil and gas, which supports long-term dividend sustainability. It’s trading below its fair value, offering growth potential.
2. Philip Morris International (PM)
   • Sector: Consumer Goods
   • Dividend Yield: ~3.2%
   • Why: Known for transitioning to smoke-free products, Philip Morris reported robust Q1 2025 results, with a 10% organic revenue increase. Its consistent $5.40 annual dividend and growth in products like Zyn make it a stable income choice.
3. Texas Instruments (TXN)
   • Sector: Technology
   • Dividend Yield: ~3.3%
   • Why: With 21 years of dividend increases, Texas Instruments offers a sustainable payout with a strong position in analog and embedded chips. Analysts note its early recovery from inventory corrections, signaling growth potential.
4. Coca-Cola (KO)
   • Sector: Consumer Staples
   • Dividend Yield: ~2.9%
   • Why: A Dividend King with 63 years of consecutive dividend increases, Coca-Cola provides recession-resistant stability. Its 5% dividend hike in 2025 and 20% stock price rise over the past year make it a reliable pick.
5. Verizon Communications (VZ)
   • Sector: Communication Services
   • Dividend Yield: ~6.2%
   • Why: As the largest U.S. wireless provider, Verizon generates consistent cash flow from 150 million customers, supporting its high yield. Despite high debt, lower interest rates in 2025 could ease growth costs.
6. Realty Income (O)
   • Sector: Real Estate (REIT)
   • Dividend Yield: ~5.0%
   • Why: Known as “O Stock,” this REIT has paid 635 consecutive monthly dividends and increased payouts 120 times over 55 years. Its focus on stable rental income makes it a top pick for passive income.
7. AbbVie (ABBV)
   • Sector: Healthcare
   • Dividend Yield: ~4.3%
   • Why: A Dividend King with a strong pharmaceutical portfolio, AbbVie is poised for single-digit growth through the decade. Its high yield and consistent dividend growth appeal to income-focused investors.
8. Medtronic (MDT)
   • Sector: Healthcare
   • Dividend Yield: ~3.2%
   • Why: With over 10 years of dividend increases, Medtronic’s advancements in medical devices, like the Hugo robotic surgery system, signal long-term growth. Its 4% stock rise in 2025 adds to its appeal.
9. PepsiCo (PEP)
   • Sector: Consumer Staples
   • Dividend Yield: ~3.0%
   • Why: A Dividend Aristocrat with a long history of payout growth, PepsiCo’s diversified portfolio in snacks and beverages ensures stability. It’s frequently cited as a foundational dividend stock.
10. Ares Capital (ARCC)
    • Sector: Financials (BDC)
    • Dividend Yield: ~8.7%
    • Why: As a business development company, Ares Capital offers financing to middle-market firms, delivering a high yield backed by strong cash flows. Analysts favor it for its 2025 outlook.

Key Considerations:

• Dividend Sustainability: Stocks were selected based on payout ratios (ideally 40%-60%), positive earnings growth, and cash flow stability to ensure dividends are sustainable.
• Market Context: High-yield stocks (>4%) like Verizon and Ares Capital require scrutiny for debt or sector risks, while lower-yield stocks like Coca-Cola offer stability.
• Diversification: The list spans multiple sectors (energy, healthcare, consumer staples, technology, real estate, financials) to reduce portfolio risk.
• Dividend Aristocrats/Kings: Stocks like ExxonMobil, Coca-Cola, and AbbVie are Aristocrats (25+ years of increases) or Kings (50+ years), signaling reliability.

Sources:

• Morningstar, Forbes, NerdWallet, Seeking Alpha, CNBC, and Nasdaq analyses for yield, performance, and fundamentals.
• X posts from

  @Dividend_Dollar

  ,

  @DividendDude_X

  , and

  @dividendology

  for sentiment on popular dividend stocks.

Notes:

• Yields are approximate and based on data from April-May 2025; they may fluctuate with stock prices.
• Investors should verify current yields, payout ratios, and company performance before investing, as market conditions change.
• For broader exposure, consider ETFs like the ProShares S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL), which tracks 69 Aristocrats.

This list provides a starting point, but individual risk tolerance and portfolio goals should guide investment decisions. Always consult a financial advisor for personalized advice.

Disclaimer: Grok is not a financial adviser; please consult one. Don't share information that can identify you.

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Asking for your help ....... #mcre1

 Henry McClure, a Topeka real estate broker and developer, is running for mayor in the August 5, 2025, Primary Election. Here are three reasons, based on available information, why he could be a strong candidate for Mayor of Topeka, Kansas:

1. Commitment to Reducing Bureaucracy and Increasing Transparency: McClure has expressed frustration with the city's bureaucratic processes, stating, "I believe we have a bureaucracy within the city, and I think bureaucrats run the city and the people don’t have a voice." He pledges to enhance transparency in city dealings and streamline government operations, which could lead to more efficient and accountable governance. His focus on eliminating conflicts of interest, such as his intention to retire his real estate license to avoid ethical issues, further underscores his dedication to fair and open leadership.
2. Advocacy for Citizen Involvement: McClure emphasizes greater citizen participation in city governance, proposing the establishment of a citizens' commission and collaboration with the Metropolitan Planning Commission to ensure residents have a say in day-to-day city operations. He believes this approach would evaluate and improve how the city functions, fostering a more inclusive and responsive government that aligns with the needs of Topeka’s residents.
3. Extensive Real Estate and Economic Development Experience: With 44 years of experience in real estate, including shopping mall redevelopment and mixed-use projects, McClure brings a wealth of expertise to economic development. He advocates for private-sector-driven solutions, such as using tax incentives like Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to attract development without relying heavily on taxpayer funds. His background equips him to address Topeka’s development needs, potentially boosting retail and infrastructure growth while tackling issues like affordable housing.

These reasons highlight McClure’s potential to lead Topeka with a focus on transparency, community engagement, and economic growth. However, voters should also consider his previous electoral loss in the 2024 Shawnee County Commission race and any concerns about potential conflicts of interest due to his real estate background, which he has addressed by committing to retire his license.

The Quotes of Steven Wright:

 The Wit and Wisdom of Steven Wright: A Study in Absurdity

Steven Wright, the deadpan comedian known for his surreal one-liners, has a knack for twisting the mundane into the absurd, delivering profound insights wrapped in irony and humor. His quotes, often delivered in a monotone drawl, challenge conventional thinking, exposing the quirks of human logic and the paradoxes of everyday life. This essay explores the brilliance of Wright’s humor through a selection of his iconic quotes, revealing how they blend wit, philosophy, and social commentary into bite-sized bursts of absurdity.

Wright’s humor thrives on subverting expectations, often poking fun at the contradictions inherent in societal norms and human behavior. Take his quip, “I’d kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.” The irony is immediate: the Nobel Peace Prize, a symbol of nonviolence, is juxtaposed with the violent act of killing, highlighting the absurdity of pursuing peace through aggression. Similarly, “99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name” flips the stereotype of the unethical lawyer into a mathematical joke, implying that the entire profession is comically flawed. These lines don’t just amuse; they invite us to question the systems and labels we take for granted.

His observations often lean into the statistical and scientific, but with a twist that defies logic. “82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot” is a self-referential gem, undermining the authority of data while winking at its arbitrary precision. Likewise, “Half the people you know are below average” is a tautology dressed as a revelation, poking fun at our obsession with quantifying human worth. Wright’s pseudo-scientific musings, like “What’s the speed of dark?” or “How do you tell when you’re out of invisible ink?” push logic to its breaking point, forcing us to confront the limits of rational thought through playful absurdity.

Wright’s humor also captures the human condition with a mix of cynicism and empathy. “A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good” personifies morality as a nagging pain, revealing the tension between desire and guilt. Meanwhile, “A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory” suggests that self-awareness is a burden, and forgetfulness a dubious escape. These lines resonate because they articulate universal truths about guilt, memory, and self-deception, all while maintaining a light, ironic touch.

The comedian’s take on ambition and effort is equally sharp. “Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy” and “Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now” celebrate idleness as a rational choice, skewering society’s worship of productivity. Yet, there’s a deeper layer: Wright hints at the fleeting nature of rewards, whether earned through toil or avoidance. His fatalistic humor shines in “If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried,” a line that embraces failure as a performance to be erased rather than a lesson to be learned.

Wright’s surrealism often borders on the philosophical, as seen in “I intend to live forever ... So far, so good.” The optimism is undercut by the acknowledgment of mortality, blending hope with inevitability. Similarly, “Experience is something you don’t get until just after you need it” captures the cruel timing of life’s lessons, while “A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking” critiques our tendency to settle for easy answers. These quotes reveal Wright’s ability to distill complex ideas into deceptively simple observations.

His humor also thrives on vivid imagery and unexpected analogies. “Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t get sucked into jet engines” deflates the grandeur of inspirational metaphors, favoring the scrappy survival of the underdog. “The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it” transforms a mundane medical experience into a universal law of discomfort, while “The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread” elevates a kitchen frustration into a comedic principle of physics.

Perhaps most striking is Wright’s ability to blend the absurd with the profound, as in “If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?” The question is both a physics puzzle and a meditation on perspective, challenging us to imagine a reality where our tools might outpace their purpose. Similarly, “If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?” critiques consumerism while poking fun at the artificiality of social status, even in the world of dolls.

Steven Wright’s quotes are more than just jokes; they’re miniature thought experiments that expose the absurdities of language, logic, and human behavior. His humor is a reminder that life’s contradictions are best met with a wry smile and a willingness to question everything. As he muses, “If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.” In Wright’s world, perfection is suspect, and the overlooked detail is where the real comedy—and truth—lies. Through his lens, we learn to laugh at the chaos of existence, finding wisdom in the wonderfully weird.+

The Quotes of Steven Wright:

1 - I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

2 - Borrow money from pessimists -- they don't expect it back.

3 - Half the people you know are below average.

4 - 99% of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5 - 82.7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.

6 - A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.

7 - A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

8 - If you want the rainbow, you got to put up with the rain.

9 - All those who believe in psycho kinesis, raise my hand.

10 - The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

11 - I almost had a psychic girlfriend, ..... But she left me before we met.

12 - OK, so what's the speed of dark?

13 - How do you tell when you're out of invisible ink?

14 - If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

15 - Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

16 - When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

17 - Ambition is a poor excuse for not having enough sense to be lazy.

18 - Hard work pays off in the future; laziness pays off now.

19 - I intend to live forever ... So far, so good.

20 - If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?

21 - Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

22 - What happens if you get scared half to death twice?

23 - My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."

24 - Why do psychics have to ask you for your name

25 - If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

26 - A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.

27 - Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

28 - The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.

29 - To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.

30 - The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.

31 - The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.

32 - The colder the x-ray table, the more of your body is required to be on it.

33 - Everyone has a photographic memory; some just don't have film.

34 - If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

35 - If your car could travel at the speed of light, would your headlights work?

Sunday 08-25-2024 Gods

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