July’s chart wrap‑up is out, and this month’s market structure is telling a surprisingly cohesive story. The S&P 500 continues to drift despite clear signs of strain in semis, long‑dated yields, and several global markets. Gold remains pinned between conflicting macro forces, while Bitcoin is struggling to find momentum in a drying liquidity environment. Tech is wrestling with the consequences of heavy AI capex, with several mega‑caps retesting long‑term levels rather than breaking higher. Financials are flashing early topping signals, and Canadian banks have surged so aggressively that the verticality itself becomes part of the analysis. Energy stands out as one of the most structurally consistent sectors, with multiple names forming classic continuation patterns that often precede multi‑cycle moves. Not advice — just a look at how July’s charts are shaping the broader narrative for long‑cycle investors. https://divistockchronicles.substack.com/p/july-2026-charts-wrap-upread more
As an engineer by training, I like to find permanent, high-quality solutions to challenges. One challenge all of us face is the need to pay for recurring expenses in life. One permanent solution to such recurring expenses is a diversified portfolio of high-quality dividend stocks. A sustainable (and growing) stream of dividend income can (eventually, after much hard work) help ensure the investor doesn't have to worry about such recurring expenses ever again. (Disc: Not investment advice.)
While it's only a 0.8% dividend increase, I am THRILLED that it's an increase. 🎉 The increase alone shows the Board has confidence in maintaining the ($1.25*4)/$95.53=5.2% starting qualified dividend yield. 💰 This, in turn, gives me confidence to add to my position. 😎 Thank you, Clorox, from this loyal, long-term shareholder. I'm excited about your Purell acquisition and your new ERP system. (Disc: I'm long $CLX. Not investment advice.) https://investors.thecloroxcompany.com/news/news-details/2026/Clorox-Increases-Quarterly-Dividend-to-1-25-Per-Share/default.aspx
Am I the only one that finds the "NAV erosion" discourse to be utterly stupid? CC fund investors talk about "oh this fund doesn't have any NAV erosion" and you look at the fund and it's some single stock CC ETF for a stock that's been performing well since the fund was launched. If you don't understand how these funds work, isn't it incredibly dumb to be invested in them? Before I invested into factor funds, I read books and academic articles about factor investing. Before I invested in a convertible arb fund, I read the textbook written by the fund manager on convertible arb. Why do "income investors" think it's okay to be so ignorant about the funds they invest in?
The S&P 500 income ladder 📊 $XSPI 15% $TSPY 14.2% $SPYI 12.2% $GPIX 7.9% $JEPI 7% Same index, five different paychecks Which one do you trust most? 👇read more
What it takes to earn $1,000/month💰 $CHPY ~ $30,000 $GOOW ~ $36,364 $TDAQ ~ $68,966 $QQQI ~ $83,916 $JEPQ ~ $94,488 $SPYI ~ $98,361 Same paycheck. Wildly different price of admission Which are you picking?read more
Some of my dividend income goals (By 2030) 💸 💰 $SPYI → $2,000/month $QQQI → $2,000/month $DIVO → $1,500/month $SCHD → $1,500/quarter $GPIX → $750/month $GPIQ → $750/month $7,500/month average from 6 funds😤🤑read more
For monthly income investors only🔥👇🔖 $500K in $QQQI → $71.5K/year $500K in $TSPY → $71K/year $500K in $IAUI → $62.5K/year $500K in $SPYI → $61K/year $500K in $QDVO → $55K/year $500K in $JEPQ → $55K/year What monthly payer if your top pick?read more
Hello everyone, Which dividend ETF you think will have a better performance in the next 10 years? I did hold VDY about 3 years ago and switched to SCHD ( currently holding around 350 shares) but i’ve been watching VDY and it’s doing so well. What’s your thoughts on this?
After all the trades and covered calls last week, this week was pretty quiet. Sometimes doing less is the right move. - Added $99 of new money to the Individual account. - Bought 6 shares of $BBDC at $8.34. - Received a $25.82 dividend from $CSWC in the Roth. - Reinvested part of that dividend into 1 additional share of CSWC at $23.76. That was it. The portfolio finished the week at approximately $48,900 between the Individual and Roth accounts. Now I’m content to collect dividends, let the covered calls work, and wait for the next opportunity. Not every week needs to be exciting. Sometimes the best move is simply letting the portfolio do its job.read more
Just bought 5k in $VICI ! maybe it’s because I live in Vegas, maybe it’s I’m a little bit tainted. It pays an amazing dividend and seeing the economy in Vegas starting to get back slowly to pre-Covid era…. I can only hope that this valuation proves a wonderful time to purchase this REIT! I know $VICI and Caesar’s are eyeing properties for a possible new nba team!
Its free fall caught my attention. I looked into the business, a cash generating machine trading at 13 PE, with 3.5%+ yield on cost paired with 10%+ yield growth. The company has shown that it still produces high profitability, and Ai was just a scare, it’s still the same great business. I believe it is still undervalued (not investment advice) and a worthy investment (also not advice). I hope everyone has a great summer, and a great investing year.
good morning everyone, Im looking for some good Monthly dividend stocks that are a long term feasibility, good Dividend earning per share, any tips well be much appreciated, Id also like to know how you decide to pick a dividend stock, and is it worth buying an American Dividend stock in a Tax free savings account?
The stock market just told you something important this earnings season. 85% of S&P 500 companies reporting have beaten analyst estimates — by an average upside surprise of 37%. That's not a market on the edge of recession. That's a market where fear is creating gaps between what businesses are actually doing and what the headlines are saying. The investors paying attention to earnings instead of macro noise are going to be very happy a year from now. $AMD$SOFI$MRVL$AMZN$GOOGL$CELH
I'm looking for some opinions from long-term Canadian dividend investors. I'm currently holding about $5,000 in XDIV and I'm debating whether it's worth switching that position into VDY. My goal is a balance of: - Long-term capital growth - Reliable and growing dividend income - A safer, "buy and hold for decades" Canadian dividend ETF For those who have owned either or both: - Which has given you the better total return over the long run? - Do you prefer VDY or XDIV, and why? - Is VDY's broader diversification worth giving up XDIV's quality-focused approach? - If you already had ~$5k invested in XDIV, would you switch to VDY today, or just keep XDIV? - Any regrets from making the switch either direction? I'm looking for real-world experiences and long-term perspectives rather than just the published yield numbers. Thanks!read more
The "Power of 3" Personal Finance Strategy: Building a Bulletproof 3-Year Core Living Expense Insurance The standard personal finance advice usually goes like this: “Save 3 to 6 months of living expenses in an emergency fund.” The people who advocate this have NO experience in hiring. I was a hiring manager/executive for 25 years for 3 corporations. I’ve read over 10,000 resumes, interviewed over 1,000’s of people, and hired hundreds. I’ve typically seen gaps in employment from 6 months, but usually longer, and many times up to 3 years was common not the exception. For a young professional early in an expanding economy, 6 months might be enough. But during an economic downturn—or for seasoned professionals, niche specialists, and older workers—a standard job hunt can EASILY stretch into 16, 24, or even 36 months. When a severe recession hits, 6 months of savings isn't a safety cushion; it's a countdown timer to FINANCIAL RUIN with way too little time on the clock. That is why I advocate for a strategy I call “The Power of 3”: Strive to secure up to 3 years of core living expense INSURANCE. Not having this INSURANCE can be catastrophic to your personal finances and retirement plan. I’ve seen this too many times. This is what desperation looks like. Insurance is how you sleep at night, knowing you and your loved ones are well covered. FINANCIAL RUIN is typically the result of loss of income over a longer time duration than anticipated and no longer able to meet financial obligations. No one expects to be in an accident but has car insurance. No one expects a fire but has house insurance. Unemployment is much more probable than either. Here is how the framework works, how to allocate it without suffering massive "cash drag," and how to strategically use credit both as a bridge and a wealth-building lever. --- Step 1: Calculate Your "Absolute Core" Expenses The Power of 3 does not ask you to hoard 3 years of your total current lifestyle spending. Sitting on that much cash would cripple your long-term investment growth. Instead, calculate your “Absolute Core Expenses”—your bare-bones survival budget: * Housing (Mortgage/Rent, Property Tax, Essential Utilities) * Basic Food & Household Essentials * Healthcare Premiums & Out-of-Pocket Minimums * Critical Insurance Premiums * Debt Servicing / Minimum Payments “Discretionary spending”—vacations, dining out, subscriptions, luxury shopping—is stripped out. If a crisis lasts two years, lifestyle cuts are inevitable. Knowing your exact core expense number gives you the real target for your 36-month runway. --- Step 2: Avoid "Cash Drag" with Tiered Liquidity Holding 3 years of expenses in cash seems like a bad idea because inflation constantly erodes purchasing power. To solve this, deploy a Tiered Liquidity Model: - Months 1 to 6 - Months 7 to 18 - Months 19 to 36 Tier 1: Ultra-Liquid (Months 1–6) * Where: High-Yield Savings Accounts (HYSA) or Money Market Funds. * Purpose: Instant availability for immediate expenses with zero capital risk. * Tier 2: Short-Term Yield (Months 7–18) * Where: Treasury Bill ladders (3, 6, 12-month) or Certificates of Deposit (CDs). * Purpose: Outpaces baseline cash yields, carries near-zero risk, and turns over regularly to provide rolling liquidity. * Tier 3: Conservative Capital (Months 19–36) * Where: Short-duration Treasuries, ultra-conservative intermediate bond funds, or high-quality dividend/yield vehicles. * Purpose: Generates higher yield during normal times. If a crisis extends into Year 2 or 3, you systematically draw down these funds to sustain your core living expenses. --- Step 3: Credit as an Interim Bridge (And Long-Term Lever) Building a 3-year reserve takes time—often several years. You don't wait until you have 36 months of cash to feel secure; you use “strategic credit as temporary scaffolding” while your primary reserves grow. 1. Credit as an Interim Bridge While you are in the early stages of building your 3-year cash pool (e.g., sitting at 3 to 6 months of real cash), pre-approved lines of credit—such as a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) or low-interest personal credit lines—act as a secondary layer of protection. * The Rule: You apply for credit lines “when your income and credit profile are strong”, long before you ever need them. If a sudden disruption occurs while your cash pile is small, credit buys you time while you cycle interest payments and preserve your liquidity. As your Tier 1–3 cash assets grow, your reliance on credit as a safety net naturally drops to zero. 2. Building Credit-Worthiness for Future Strategic Access Consistently managing lines of credit while building your emergency cash isn't just a backup plan—it builds elite “credit-worthiness”. Maintaining high credit limits, a low credit-utilization ratio, and a flawless payment history unlocks top-tier borrowing privileges when you actually “want” them later in life: * Favorable Mortgages & Refinancing: Prime rates on primary or secondary home purchases. * Investment Opportunities: The ability to move fast on distressed real estate or business investments during economic downturns, leveraging low-cost debt when others are shut out by banks. * Financial Flexibility: Unlocking prime-rate terms on auto, commercial, or personal financing. --- The Ultimate Goal: Financial Control & Power The "Power of 3" is ultimate financial resilience: 1. You eliminate fear: Knowing you can survive a 36-month economic storm without selling long-term stock portfolios at a market bottom changes your psychological relationship with risk. 2. You build scaffolding early: You leverage credit wisely to bridge the gap while building your reserves and establishing premier creditworthiness. 3. You transition to absolute independence: You systematically replace borrowed credit with real, yield-generating assets over time. By combining a bare-bones expense focus, a tiered liquidity structure, and strategic credit management, you don't just survive deep recessions—you navigate them on your own terms. You CAN have financial control, if you plan for it.read more
💰 Latest Distribution: $0.70497 per share For income investors, that’s another reminder of why $JEPQ continues to be one of the most talked-about covered call ETFs. 📅 Monthly distributions 💵 Double-digit yield potential (varies over time) 📈 Nasdaq-focused exposure Income isn’t guaranteed, and distributions can change from month to month but this is a notable payout. 👇 Do you own $JEPQ, or do you prefer another income ETF? read more
The last month has been one of the most volatile in a very long time. The Nasdaq had one of the worst losses since the Dotcom days. I’ve learned my lesson from the “lost decade” and 4 major stock market crashes and 2 real estate crashes, a global financial crisis and global pandemic and 3 American lead wars and can say without question we are living through a major secular bull market and this is going to be a rough ride. We hear that diversification is so important to wealth CREATION and PRESERVATION. Yes, concentration builds accelerated growth but you’re also competing with the smartest, richest and most equipped hedge funds that move the market at their discretion. But understanding what and how diversification works to grow and PROTECT your wealth is even more critical to STAYING IN THE GAME, and being able to jump at the next opportunity. I’ve been told by enough senior executives and CEO’s that I’m one of the most STRATEGIC people they have worked with. I always found their impression odd, given that strategy should be the basis of every intention. Strategy begins with answering all of the following questions: - What is your end game? - What is the playing field? - What are the obstacles? - What are your resources, tools, techniques, knowledge and information available? - What is the opportunity? - What are the risks? - What are all the options? - What are the factored % probabilities of success and failure? Now go figure out a comprehensive plan that incorporates all of the above that has the highest probability of achieving the end game. But have a complete PLAN. Move forward with your OFFENSIVE moves, but have a DEFENSIVE plan. What if your plan doesn’t work? And you might lose 10, 20, 30% or more of your entire portfolio? Don’t tell me, well I’m in it for the long term. It can literally take decades to make it back. It took 20 years for me to recover my losses on Celestica and Bombardier. Today, our plan includes for capturing (1) growth of the global, US and Canadian economies and therefore stocks. Our plan includes for (2) currency fluctuations especially USD and CAD and the swings between them and growing a USD cash pile. Most Canadian investors don’t realize how much of their recent wealth is actually a loss due to the erosion of the value of the Canadian dollar vs USD. Our plan includes for (3) yield, both directly through individually selected dividend stocks, and indirectly from broad market ETFs. Yield of course is income and cash flow and as much as possible sustainable, reliable, and GROWING income and cash flow regardless of market volatility. My annual yield is now 2.5x my core expenses (not including discretionary “lifestyle” expenses). Almost approaching my target of 3 times safety. (Tip: you can’t get there with covered call ETFs over the long term) Our plan has (4) a cash management strategy and four sources of income streams, diversifying and not be reliant on any single one to cover core living expenses, and continually build a cash pile of “dry powder” including trimming growth stocks on the way up to buy quality for growth, dividends and diversification on the way down. Currently we are at 20% cash and growing. A Plan, a Strategy, Diversified, and a Defensive one for the reversal of the market at any given time. Nothing wrong with being a “prepper” and being able to “play” both sides of the market swings (no I don’t mean shorting!). This “project” has been a work in progress since 1997 and “floated” since retiring in 2022, tested for success with financial planning and modeling software that suggests 100% success rate via Monte Carlo simulations and other tests to fund our life, but I don’t take that as something for granted. I stay vigilant to changes in the global economy, politics and how the market reacts. Interesting enough, in the last 6 months we have made virtually no trades. Just sitting tight and watching… read more
Benchmark lowered its price target on DoorDash Inc. (NASDAQ:DASH) to $270 from $285 while maintaining a Buy rating on the stock, according to a note released Monday. Shares currently trade at $201.69, roughly 29% below their 52-week high of $285.50, giving the company an $85.5 billion market cap. The firm said near-term margin and take-rate pressure largely reflects investment in network density, new verticals and global infrastructure ahead of monetization. Benchmark said a gross order value beat alone is insufficient to re-rate the shares. The firm’s second-quarter estimate for Marketplace gross order value and total revenue is 1% above and 2% below consensus, respectively, with adjusted EBITDA in line. The company is scheduled to report earnings Wednesday after market close. According to InvestingPro, net income is expected to grow this year, with analysts anticipating continued sales growth—the company posted 31% revenue growth over the last twelve months. These insights are among 15 ProTips available to subscribers. Benchmark’s third-quarter adjusted EBITDA estimate is 6% below consensus and reflects a 16 basis point quarter-over-quarter lift in adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of gross order value. The primary swing factor for third-quarter EBITDA remains gas program relief, with approximately $50 million embedded in second-quarter guidance. The firm said the more important catalysts are evidence that revenue take rate is near a floor and third-quarter guidance that preserves the second-half EBITDA build as advertising and services begin contributing to take rate and gross margin. In other recent news, DoorDash has been the focus of several analyst reports and developments. TD Cowen reiterated a Buy rating on DoorDash, setting a price target of $225, with expectations of a 36% year-over-year growth in gross order value for the second quarter. Citizens maintained its Market Outperform rating with a $250 price target, noting stable pricing trends despite minor price increases in certain grocery items. Additionally, Citizens highlighted the launch of DoorDash’s new reservation aggregation tool, Channel Connected by SevenRooms, which aims to improve restaurant reservations across multiple booking channels. In the competitive landscape, Wells Fargo’s survey reported that DoorDash increased its fees by 21% quarter-over-quarter while reducing product pricing by 4%, marking it as the highest-fee provider among third-party delivery services. Meanwhile, Bank of America analysts expressed optimism about DoorDash’s potential to outperform in the evolving artificial intelligence cycle. They noted that while internet companies are currently exceeding expectations, investor interest is shifting towards semiconductor and hardware sectors. These recent developments provide a comprehensive view of DoorDash’s current market positioning and strategic initiatives.read more
Been holding RS since Day 1 4 yrs ago. Alltime with the dividend payouts I'm actually up but I want to prioritize more growth right now as I'm in the building phase. I still want to earn a dividend but I'm willing to sacrifice 5 percent for more growth. Anybody know any good Covercall etfs that cover more real-estate and reits?
Nike Inc’s China operating margins should improve 200 basis points in fiscal 2027 to 24%, well above Wall Street’s forecast of roughly flat margins year-over-year, as the sportswear giant eliminates partner-operated online storefronts and exits discounted wholesale channels, Bernstein analysts said in a recent note.The margin gain comes at a steep revenue cost. Bernstein estimates the wholesale online channel, which it pegs at a high-teens percentage of Nike’s China business, represents a roughly $1 billion revenue hit as it is wound to zero over the coming quarters. The broker models a low-teens constant-currency decline for China in fiscal 2027, which translates to a 2-percentage-point drag on total company growth. Nike and its two largest China wholesale partners, Topsports and Pou Sheng, confirmed last week that partner-operated online storefronts will cease selling Nike product beginning January 2027. Starting from that date, Nike’s digital presence in China will be limited to its direct web and app channels and official flagship stores on platforms including Tmall, JD.com and Douyin. The move is designed to reduce gray-market resellers and deep discounting that management believes has eroded brand perception. Bernstein analysts described the goal as a shift toward "a more premium digital marketplace," language drawn from an open letter by Nike’s vice president and general manager for Greater China, Cathy Sparks, but cautioned that most lost wholesale sales are unlikely to be recovered. Customers shopping discounted product online are more likely to switch to a competitor brand than pay full price through Nike’s direct channels, the note said. Nike has lost market share in China every year since 2020, when it and other international brands collectively held 57% of the market. Nike’s individual share peaked at 27% that year and had fallen to 16% by 2025. Bernstein named Adidas as the biggest near-term beneficiary, noting partners like Topsports and Pou Sheng will need to replace lost Nike online volume and are likely to increase emphasis on Adidas, which is already growing at double-digit rates in China. Domestic brands Anta and Li Ning are also seen gaining at lower price points previously served through Nike’s heavy online discounting. Premium Western brands such as On and Hoka were described as largely unaffected given their limited wholesale distribution in the country. Bernstein cut its Nike price target to $68 from $72, derived from a 27 times multiple on its revised fiscal 2028 earnings-per-share estimate of $2.50, itself reduced from a prior $2.67. The firm cut its fiscal 2027 EPS estimate to $1.96 from $2.10. Nike was rated “outperform,” implying 58% upside from the July 28 closing price of $43.05. The broker projects mid-single-digit China growth in fiscal 2028, in line with the broader market.read more
European equities are at all-time highs, notwithstanding recent flare-ups in the Iran conflict. In a recent note, JPMorgan said that they are taking a constructive view of European equities, noting that earnings are picking up after three subdued years. Firm analysts say they don’t expect inflation expectations to be de-anchored, and this might be supportive of smaller ECB hikes than those already priced into the markets. JPMorgan thinks this is a good time to buy European equities for a variety of reasons. The analysts claim European stocks are by and large seeing improving earnings, are trading cheaper than their American peers, and are delivering higher shareholder returns. They also believe that an increasingly supportive regulatory environment is driving increasing M&A volumes, which have already been steadily rising since their low point in 2023. “Eurozone PMI, credit growth and earnings revisions are all on the uptrend, with CESI hitting a 2-year high. After an outperformance vs the US last year, of 7% in LC terms, total return, Eurozone equities are just about ahead again this year, at 12% vs 9%, respectively,” JPMorgan stated. While firm analysts think the latest Momentum unwind has been maturing, they still recommend the call for rotation and broadening into 2H, adding that AI likely will not be the only story in town. The investment bank anticipates a pickup in shareholder activism in Europe, as European equities broadly are undervalued, have identifiable governance, capital allocation, or operational value levers, and are not in financial distress. They often have resilient cash generation, but persistently face a valuation discount compared to U.S. peers. The analysts note that the sectors most frequently targeted for activism are Industrials, Consumer Discretionary and Tech, adding that campaign volumes are high in the U.K., Germany, and France specifically. They say that while the region has been constrained by a fragmented regulatory regime thus far, a newly proposed SRD III revision might likely prove to be the catalyst needed to accelerate activism there. While previously Business Strategy was the most important objective among activists, the new focus of interest is capital allocation, the analysts noted. And so growing demand for capital return to shareholders, share repurchases, and dividend distributions are becoming a more frequent post-campaign outcome. Countries like the U.K., France and Germany have a higher proportion of stocks that trade below book value compared to peers like the U.S. Accordingly, the European market contains many attractive targets for M&A. The analysts say this trend is even more salient given the surge in worldwide dealmaking and the increasing interest in the pursuit of scale and global relevance.read more
