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Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR): Among the Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in Now
Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR): Among the Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in Now

Yahoo

time10-05-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (CFR): Among the Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in Now

We recently published a list of the 12 Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) stands against other mid-cap dividend aristocrats. There's a common misunderstanding that dividend payouts are mostly limited to large-cap companies, but mid-cap firms are often just as generous—and notably stable—when it comes to dividends. Recently, mid-cap dividend stocks, which had fallen out of favor, are making a comeback and drawing renewed interest from investment strategists. The MidCap Dividend Aristocrats Index, which includes 53 mid-sized companies that have raised their dividends for at least 15 consecutive years, has declined just 1.2% year-to-date through May 5. In comparison, the broader market has dropped 3.7% over the same period. Notably, these mid-cap companies generate about 82% of their revenue from within the US, significantly higher than the roughly 60% average for broader market firms and 53% for those in the Nasdaq Composite, based on data from S&P Dow Jones Indices and FactSet as of April 30. READ ALSO: Alongside investors, analysts are also recommending that income portfolios include mid-cap companies. According to Simeon Hyman, global investment strategist at ProShares, these stocks can help cushion downside risk amid current market volatility. He noted that this is particularly relevant for investors whose portfolios are heavily weighted toward large-cap growth names like the 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants. Hyman emphasized the importance of diversifying equity exposure across a wider range of asset classes to help manage risk in today's environment. Analysts are leaning toward mid-cap dividend stocks largely because they appear undervalued. As of April 30, the MidCap Dividend Aristocrats Index had a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.87, which is significantly lower than the P/E ratios of the broader market and the Nasdaq. Larry Adam, chief investment officer at Raymond James, made the following comment about this: 'Now is the time for bargain-hunting since midcap dividend stocks are trading at historically low valuations relative to large-cap stocks. They could be the sweet spot for investors when you consider they are more insulated from tariff exposure and are expected to outpace the earnings growth of large-caps this year.' According to analysts, instead of picking individual mid-cap dividend stocks, investors should consider exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as an alternative. These funds offer tax efficiency and diversification across multiple industries and typically come with low expense ratios. For instance, the WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend ETF (DON), which manages $3.47 billion in assets, posted a year-to-date return of -6.47% through April 30, with a 12-month return of 4.72% and a 12-month yield of 2.54%. Its expense ratio stands at 0.38%. Meanwhile, the ProShares S&P MidCap Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL), with $1.69 billion in assets, returned -1.88% so far this year, delivered a 6.96% one-year return, and yields 2.60% over 12 months. Its expense ratio is 0.40%, according to Morningstar Direct. Though both ETFs are showing negative returns for the year, their dividend payouts help cushion losses. Financial advisers often recommend reinvesting those dividends rather than withdrawing the cash, as this approach can build wealth over time by acquiring more shares while prices remain subdued. A customer tapping their debit card at an ATM, making a secure transaction. For this list, we scanned the holdings of MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats, which tracks the performance of mid-sized companies within the MidCap 400 index that have maintained a consistent track record of increasing dividends annually for at least 15 years. From the index, we picked 12 dividend stocks that have garnered the most attention from hedge fund investors by the conclusion of Q4 2024, using data from Insider Monkey's database. The stocks are ranked according to the number of hedge funds having stakes in them. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17 Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) is a Texas-based financial holding company that offers commercial and consumer banking services to its customers. As of March 31, the company has approximately $52 billion in assets. In its latest earnings report, it stated that it expects to open its 199th branch in the Fort Worth area within the next month, followed by the milestone 200th Frost location in Pflugerville, just north of Austin. With these additions, the company noted that it will have grown its total number of locations by over 50% since initiating its organic expansion strategy in December 2018. The stock has surged by over 17% in the past 12 months. In the first quarter of 2025, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) reported revenue of $560.4 million, which showed a 7.2% growth from the same period last year. The revenue also surpassed analysts' consensus by $18.8 million. Its net interest income came in at $416.2 million, compared with $390 million in the prior-year period. The company's total assets also grew to $41.6 billion, from $40.7 billion in Q1 2024. On May 1, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. (NYSE:CFR) declared a 5.3% hike in its quarterly dividend to $1.00 per share. This marked the company's 32nd consecutive year of dividend growth, which makes CFR one of the best dividend stocks on our list. The stock has a dividend yield of 3.23%, as of May 5. Overall, CFR ranks 12th on our list of the best mid-cap dividend aristocrats to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of CFR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than CFR but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

Is UGI Corporation (UGI) the Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrat to Invest in Now?
Is UGI Corporation (UGI) the Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrat to Invest in Now?

Yahoo

time09-05-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

Is UGI Corporation (UGI) the Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrat to Invest in Now?

We recently published a list of the 12 Best Mid-Cap Dividend Aristocrats to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI) stands against other mid-cap dividend aristocrats. There's a common misunderstanding that dividend payouts are mostly limited to large-cap companies, but mid-cap firms are often just as generous—and notably stable—when it comes to dividends. Recently, mid-cap dividend stocks, which had fallen out of favor, are making a comeback and drawing renewed interest from investment strategists. The MidCap Dividend Aristocrats Index, which includes 53 mid-sized companies that have raised their dividends for at least 15 consecutive years, has declined just 1.2% year-to-date through May 5. In comparison, the broader market has dropped 3.7% over the same period. Notably, these mid-cap companies generate about 82% of their revenue from within the US, significantly higher than the roughly 60% average for broader market firms and 53% for those in the Nasdaq Composite, based on data from S&P Dow Jones Indices and FactSet as of April 30. READ ALSO: Alongside investors, analysts are also recommending that income portfolios include mid-cap companies. According to Simeon Hyman, global investment strategist at ProShares, these stocks can help cushion downside risk amid current market volatility. He noted that this is particularly relevant for investors whose portfolios are heavily weighted toward large-cap growth names like the 'Magnificent Seven' tech giants. Hyman emphasized the importance of diversifying equity exposure across a wider range of asset classes to help manage risk in today's environment. Analysts are leaning toward mid-cap dividend stocks largely because they appear undervalued. As of April 30, the MidCap Dividend Aristocrats Index had a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 17.87, which is significantly lower than the P/E ratios of the broader market and the Nasdaq. Larry Adam, chief investment officer at Raymond James, made the following comment about this: 'Now is the time for bargain-hunting since midcap dividend stocks are trading at historically low valuations relative to large-cap stocks. They could be the sweet spot for investors when you consider they are more insulated from tariff exposure and are expected to outpace the earnings growth of large-caps this year.' According to analysts, instead of picking individual mid-cap dividend stocks, investors should consider exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as an alternative. These funds offer tax efficiency and diversification across multiple industries and typically come with low expense ratios. For instance, the WisdomTree U.S. MidCap Dividend ETF (DON), which manages $3.47 billion in assets, posted a year-to-date return of -6.47% through April 30, with a 12-month return of 4.72% and a 12-month yield of 2.54%. Its expense ratio stands at 0.38%. Meanwhile, the ProShares S&P MidCap Dividend Aristocrats ETF (REGL), with $1.69 billion in assets, returned -1.88% so far this year, delivered a 6.96% one-year return, and yields 2.60% over 12 months. Its expense ratio is 0.40%, according to Morningstar Direct. Though both ETFs are showing negative returns for the year, their dividend payouts help cushion losses. Financial advisers often recommend reinvesting those dividends rather than withdrawing the cash, as this approach can build wealth over time by acquiring more shares while prices remain subdued. A view of the skyline from an electricity pylon, to show the ubiquity of the companies energy products. For this list, we scanned the holdings of MidCap 400 Dividend Aristocrats, which tracks the performance of mid-sized companies within the MidCap 400 index that have maintained a consistent track record of increasing dividends annually for at least 15 years. From the index, we picked 12 dividend stocks that have garnered the most attention from hedge fund investors by the conclusion of Q4 2024, using data from Insider Monkey's database. The stocks are ranked according to the number of hedge funds having stakes in them. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (). Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 27 UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI) is an American diversified energy company with operations spanning natural gas utilities, midstream and marketing, international LPG, and AmeriGas has seen its stock lag due to weakness in its propane business. The stock is outperforming the broader market this year by a wide margin, surging by over 18% since the start of 2025. In the past 12 months, it has delivered a 37.6% return to shareholders. Since its acquisition, AmeriGas has seen a significant drop in performance, with EBITDA falling from $584 million in 2019 to $320 million in 2024, and profit margins narrowing from 21.8% to 14.1%. Retail gallon sales have declined by 30%, a trend attributed to operational setbacks, subpar customer service, and unusually warm weather. These ongoing issues have led UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI) to record $850 million in goodwill impairments over the past two years, effectively eliminating nearly half of the original goodwill tied to the acquisition. Despite these setbacks, the stock has recovered, delivering a return of over 15% since the beginning of 2025. In the first quarter of fiscal 2025, UGI Corporation (NYSE:UGI) reported revenue of $2.03 billion, representing a 4.29% decline from the same quarter the previous year and falling short of analyst expectations by $617 million. Nonetheless, the company maintained a solid financial position, ending December 2024 with $1.5 billion in available liquidity. It is one of the best dividend stocks on our list as the company has been making regular dividend payments to shareholders for the past 140 years. Currently, it offers a quarterly dividend of $0.375 per share for a dividend yield of 4.47%, as of May 5. Overall, UGI ranks 5th on our list of the best mid-cap dividend aristocrats to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of UGI as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than UGI but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the . READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at . Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

'Buy gold, ask questions later'. Octa broker comments on Trump's first 100 days in office
'Buy gold, ask questions later'. Octa broker comments on Trump's first 100 days in office

Zawya

time08-05-2025

  • Business
  • Zawya

'Buy gold, ask questions later'. Octa broker comments on Trump's first 100 days in office

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 8 May 2025 - Donald Trump's rise to the U.S. presidency was marked by a series of bold and unconventional policy proposals that many pundits deemed radical at the time. Given the length of the campaign and the public nature of his platform, one would think that the market had plenty of time to prepare and price in the potential policy shifts well in advance. However, it turned out that investors were caught off guard by the extent of the upheaval that ensued. Indeed, the first 100 days of Donald Trump's presidency were characterised by extreme volatility and uncertainty for the global financial markets. In this article, Octa broker reviews Trump's policies and analyses their consequences for the global financial markets. Donald Trump assumed office on 20 January 2025, and market volatility has been rising ever since. Some of Trump's initiatives, particularly his aggressive trade policies, have sent shockwaves through equities, currencies, and commodities, leaving retail forex traders scrambling to adjust. Meanwhile, larger investors struggled to adapt to the rapid pace of proposed reforms and their far-reaching consequences. Overall, the first 100 days of President Trump saw heightened risk aversion and widespread uncertainty, which resulted in sharp fluctuations in asset prices and currency exchange rates as traders reacted to every policy announcement, tweet, and speech from President Trump and his new administration. Below is a list of just a few of the notable days that shook the markets. Major currencies' performance since Donald Trump took office Major market-moving events 20 January. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) dropped by more than 1.20% after news surfaced that the new administration will not immediately impose trade tariffs, prompting a rally in the currencies of some U.S. trading partners: notably, the Mexican peso (MXN), the Euro (EUR) and the Canadian dollar (CAD). It should be noted that prior to the sharp decline, the greenback had been rising almost uninterruptedly since September 2024, almost reaching a three-year high ahead of Trump's inauguration as the market assumed that higher tariffs would spur inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve (Fed) to pursue a more hawkish monetary policy. 1–3 February. In the future, historians may label 1 February as the official start of a global trade war. On this day, Donald Trump imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with an additional 10% tariff on China. The market's reaction was highly negative. U.S. stock futures slumped in early Asian trading on Monday, 3 February, with Nasdaq futures down 2.35% and S&P 500 futures 1.8% lower. U.S. oil prices jumped more than $2, while gasoline futures jumped more than 3%. Meanwhile, the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso weakened substantially, with USDCAD surging past the 1.47900 mark, a 22-year high, and USDMXN touching a 3-year high as economists warned that both countries were at risk of recession once the tariffs kick in. Later that day, Trump agreed to delay 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a month after both countries agreed to take tougher measures to combat migration. 3–5 March. This is when the market began to seriously worry about the health of the global economy and a risk-off sentiment became evident. As fresh 25% tariffs on most imports from Mexico and Canada, along with the 20% tariffs on Chinese goods, were scheduled to take effect on 4 March, investors started to sell-off the greenback and flock into gold (XAUUSD) as well as into alternative safe-haven currencies, such as the Swiss franc (CHF) and the Japanese yen (JPY). In just three trading sessions (from 3–5 March), DXY plunged by more than 3% while the gold price gained more than 2%. 6 March. Donald Trump signed an executive order establishing a U.S. cryptocurrency reserve. However, it was unclear how exactly this reserve would work and just how much it would differ from Bitcoin holdings already in place. Many crypto enthusiasts were disappointed, which triggered a five-day downturn in BTCUSD, culminating in Bitcoin briefly dipping below the crucial $80,000 level on 10 March. 2 April. The trade war entered the next stage when Trump unveiled his long-promised 'reciprocal' tariffs strategy, essentially imposing import duties on more than a hundred countries. The market route began with equity markets losing billions of dollars in valuation. S&P 500 lost more than 11% in just two days, while DXY dropped to a fresh six-month low. 9–11 April. Trade war drama continued to unfold. Financial markets were stunned by President Trump's abrupt reversal on tariffs. Duties on trading partners, which had taken effect less than 24 hours prior, were largely rolled back as the President announced a 90-day freeze on the reciprocal tariffs. However, a 10% blanket tariff was still applied to most nations. In contrast, the trade conflict with China escalated sharply. Following China's 84% retaliatory tariff on U.S. goods, the U.S. increased tariffs on Chinese imports to 125%. This, combined with existing duties, brought the total U.S. tariff burden on Chinese imports to 145%. Kar Yong Ang, a financial market analyst at Octa broker, comments: 'I will remember that day for a long time. Traders were stunned by Trump's sudden U-turn on trade policy and really struggled to make sense of it all. A knee-jerk reaction was to simply buy gold and ask questions later.' Apart from country-based tariffs, Trump also introduced additional import tariffs on aluminium and steel and ordered a probe into duties on copper imports. Overall, his aggressive trade policies have fueled speculation about the global recession, which explains why gold has been one of the best-performing assets since Trump took office. Kar Yong Ang comments: 'We are dealing with a rather unusual situation. Even a global depression is not out of the question as tariffs may disrupt supply chains, hurting global output while also contributing to stronger inflationary pressure. This will certainly complicate monetary policy decisions. If I were to describe Trump's first 100 days in just two words, it would be "run for safety".' Indeed, Trump's recent public criticism of Jerome Powell, the Fed's Chairman, added more fuel to the fire of nervous investor sentiment. Overall, the full effect of Trump's policies is yet to materialise, but the potential impact on global trade and the macroeconomy is substantial. The IMF, citing escalating trade tensions, downgraded its 2025 global growth forecast to 2.8% and warned of potential stock market crashes and a 7% contraction in the world economy should trade wars persist. Although Scott Bessent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, hinted at de-escalating U.S.-China trade tensions, it is clear that investors should still get used to living in a period of heightened volatility and uncertainty. Kar Yong Ang has this advice for an average retail trader: 'Focus more on short-term trades with tight stop-losses as opposed to long-term position-trading, cut exposure to U.S. equities, diversify into gold and other safe-haven currencies like Swiss franc and most importantly, keep your mind clear and be ready to quickly switch from one position to another'. ___ Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an offer to engage in any investment activity. It does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation, or individual needs. Any action you take based on this content is at your sole discretion and risk. Octa and its affiliates accept no liability for any losses or consequences resulting from reliance on this material. Trading involves risks and may not be suitable for all investors. Use your expertise wisely and evaluate all associated risks before making an investment decision. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Availability of products and services may vary by jurisdiction. Please ensure compliance with your local laws before accessing them. Hashtag: #Octa The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Octa Octa is an international CFD broker that has been providing online trading services worldwide since 2011. It offers commission-free access to financial markets and various services used by clients from 180 countries who have opened more than 52 million trading accounts. To help its clients reach their investment goals, Octa offers free educational webinars, articles, and analytical tools. The company is involved in a comprehensive network of charitable and humanitarian initiatives, including the improvement of educational infrastructure and short-notice relief projects supporting local communities. In Southeast Asia, Octa received the 'Best Trading Platform Malaysia 2024' and the 'Most Reliable Broker Asia 2023' awards from Brands and Business Magazine and International Global Forex Awards, respectively. Octa

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