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Los Angeles Times
3 minutes ago
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
The Gamble House opens servants quarters to tours, adds art installation: L.A. arts and culture this weekend
When looking at a majestic residence like the 1908 Gamble House — a Craftsman crown jewel of Pasadena — its easy to romanticize the lives of its owners. Luxury and wealth radiate from its graceful, low-slung eaves, sloping lawns and wide porches. But the idea of class is baked into its architecture, with a series of rooms built to be occupied by the domestic servants who toiled day and night to keep the house running for its privileged inhabitants, the heirs to the Proctor & Gamble fortune. Through Aug. 17, those rooms are open for tours with the addition of a compelling art installation by Karen Schwenkmeyer and Lisa Mann titled 'Dirty Laundry,' which examines the heartache, disappointments and perseverance of domestic laborers in the early 20th century by printing their words on tea towels and sheets hung in the Gamble House's drying yard, and stitching them into a pillowcase in one of the small staff bedrooms. 'What I mind is the awful loneliness,' reads the pillowcase on austere wooden twin bed. 'Many times, many nights I went to bed and cried myself sick.' A sculpture constructed of Ivory soap, mops and scrub brushes takes up residence in the staff bathroom. The soap, one of Procter & Gamble's bestselling products, was marketed as 99.44% pure, and the sculpture is a meditation on 'who is pure and who is not,' explained Mann during an opening reception for the installation, adding that she and Schwenkmeyer approached the lavatory as 'a place of resistance and empowerment.' The goal of the installation, say Schwenkmeyer and Mann, was to bring to light the 'emotional and psychological toll of being on-call every day of the week.' A tea towel blowing in the warm Southern California air puts it more plainly: 'I hope someday will come when I don't have to work so hard … I do hate to get up in the morning. I am so tired.' Domestic staff in many of the country's most rarefied households was made up of immigrants who came to America looking for a better life only to find themselves stuck in the same classist , low-wage systems they had fled in the first place, the artists explan. 'Servants in the United States 'were haunted by a confused and imperfect phantom of equality,' which promised perfect parity at one moment but then suddenly shouted a reminder that some people are more equal than others,' reads a bedsheet quoting from a book about Americans and their servants by Daniel E. Sutherland, which greets visitors upon entrance to the yard. Thinking of these words and imagining the lives of the many men, women and children who devoted their lives to caring for wealthy people is a potent way to walk through the beautiful rooms inside the Gamble House. We may not call domestic laborers servants anymore, but the way we choose to treat those who tend to our many needs — to see them and respect them, or not — speaks volumes of who we are as a society. I'm arts and culture writer Jessica Gelt, rethinking all my assumptions about a bar of soap. Here's this weeks art news. Some Like It HotThis musical adaptation of Billy Wilder's 1959 film comedy about two musicians who go on the run disguised as women after witnessing a mob hit in prohibition-era Chicago brings a contemporary sensibility to the 1930s shenanigans. The Broadway production won four Tony Awards in Aug. 17. Hollywood Pantages Theatre, 6233 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Robert Altman's America: A Centennial ReviewUCLA Film and Television Archive celebrates the late filmmaker's 100th birthday with a 13-film series that kicks off with 1976's 'Nashville,' which melds politics with country music and features a large ensemble including Ned Beatty, Karen Black, Ronee Blakley, Keith Carradine, Geraldine Chaplin, Shelley Duvall, Barbara Harris, Lily Tomlin and dozens more.7:30 p.m. Friday; series continues through Sept. 26. Billy Wilder Theater, UCLA Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. Adrian QuesadaDe Los, The Times' platform for all things Latinidad, co-hosts a free concert by the Grammy-winning musician and Oscar-nominated songwriter. Best known for his work in the bands Grupo Fantasma and Black Pumas, Quesada's latest album, 'Boleros Psicodélicos II,' is 'a 12-track sonic field trip through Quesada's Latin American influences — and a testament to teamwork,' wrote Carlos De Loera in a recent De Los profile.6 p.m. Saturday. Grand Performances, 350 S. Grand Ave., downtown L.A. Roswell That Ends WellThe Actors' Gang turns the Bard on his ear in this year's Shakespeare in the Park production, an adaptation of 'All's Well That Ends Well' where outer space meets the Wild West in the form of a determined cowgirl with big dreams and a four-armed alien king.11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, through Aug. 24. Admission is free, reservations highly suggested. Media Park, 9070 W. Venice Blvd., Culver City. Hong Kong Cinema Classics The American Cinematheque and Beyond Fest, in partnership with Shout! Studios and GKIDS, present a retrospective of seminal films, many of which are rarely screened. Genre master John Woo will appear with his films 'Hard Boiled' (7 p.m. Saturday), a triple feature of the 'A Better Tomorrow' trilogy (11 a.m. Sunday) and 'The Killer' (7 p.m. Sunday). The monthlong series also includes films by stalwart action directors Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam and Ching Siu-tung.7 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. Sunday; 7 p.m. Sunday. Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Blvd. Complications in ColorA new exhibition marks the 100th birthday of Claremont artist Karl Benjamin (1925-2012), a painter and leader in the 1950s hard-edge abstraction painting movement. In his review of the 2007 survey of the painter's work, Times art critic Christopher Knight wrote, 'Benjamin emerges as a colorist of great wit and inventiveness.' The current exhibition also features the work of fellow abstractionists Florence Arnold, June Harwood, Rachel Lachowicz and Terry O' p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays; noon-7 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 16. Claremont Lewis Museum of Art, 200 W. First St., Claremont. Gustavo Dudamel returnsThe maestro is back at the Bowl next week and makes the most of it. On Tuesday, he conducts the L.A. Phil as Ravel meets Ellington with a little help from star Korean pianist Seong-Jin Cho. Two nights later, Dudamel's back leading the orchestra in works by Korngold (Featuring violinist Vilde Frang) and Mahler. Dudamel completes this brief concert run Aug. 8-9, conducting John Williams' crowd-favorite 'Jurassic Park' score over a live screening of the summer and Ravel. 8 p.m. Tuesday; Mahler and Korgold, 8 p.m. Thursday. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N Highland Ave. Philanthropist Wallis Annenberg — whose name became synonymous with arts and culture in Los Angeles — died earlier this week of complications from lung cancer at the age of 86. The wealthy patron was memorialized in tributes for her commitment to making art accessible to people from all walks of life, as well as for her friendship and love of animals. Annenberg was the daughter of publishing magnate Walter Annenberg, who made his fortune, in part, by selling TV Guide, among other publications, to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. For the last 16 years of her life, Wallis served as chairwoman of the board, president and chief executive of her family's Annenberg Foundation. Only July 23, Congressman Bob Onder introduced the Make Entertainment Great Again Act, which proposed that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts be renamed the Donald J. Trump Center for Performing Arts. NPR reported that the bill is likely a long shot. 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' starring Cynthia Erivo as Jesus and Adam Lambert as Judas , opens tonight at the Hollywood Bowl for a sold-out, three-night run. I spent last Saturday at a rehearsal dishing with Josh Gad on the sidelines while watching Lambert strut his stuff and tearing up over Phillipa Soo's performance of 'I Don't Know How to Love Him.' Read my behind-the-scenes story of how the musical came together and why the casting is so important in this era of political turmoil and change. (Gad, who was to play King Herod, had to drop out of the show Wednesday, after contracting COVID.) The Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a variety of special programs and events. In August, the museum is holding a Saturday afternoon film series titled, 'Cinematic Touchstones 1975,' which features four movies that made a lasting impact on the culture 50 years ago. The stellar lineup consists of 'Mahogany,' 'Escape to Witch Mountain,' 'Grey Gardens' and 'Barry Lyndon.' Admission to the theater is free with general admission to the museum. For schedule and additional details, click here. The Santa Ynez Chumash Museum and Cultural Center opened in May in the tiny Santa Barbara County town on 3.5 acres of land planted with native blooms, trees, grasses and shrubs. Times staff writer Jeanette Marantos paid a recent visit and reported back on the high-tech interactive displays that bring the past to life and highlight the continuing importance of the tribe and its lasting impact on the area. The nonprofit organization Tierra Del Sol, which champions professional development through arts education for people with disabilities, will stage its inaugural fashion show in West Hollywood on Sept. 27. The show will showcase hand-crafted designs from eight developmentally disabled artists working out of the organization's Sunland and Upland studios. After the runway show, the creations will remain at Tierra del Sol's Gallery, located at 7414 Santa Monica Blvd., for a six-week exhibition, ending Nov. 1. — Jessica Gelt There is nothing as soul-soothing as a hot bowl of pho — and that's pho sure! The Times Food section has created a list of 11 great spots to eat your fill.
RTÉ News
9 hours ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Europe wakes up to Trump's new tariff reality
As US President Donald Trump's new tariff regime clicks into gear, producers around Europe are feeling the impact, some holding back shipments, others hiking sticker prices or taking a hit to margins. Some fear they will not survive at all. The US will impose a 15% tariff on most European exports from today, part of a wider barrage of levies set to redraw global trade. While down from even more elevated threatened rates, the tariffs are the highest since the 1930s. "Companies are waking up to the fact that we're dealing with an historically higher tariff rate," said International Chamber of Commerce Deputy Secretary General Andrew Wilson. "It's difficult to see that moving unless there are catastrophic consequences of the US economy," he said. He added the chamber was seeing shipment delays and companies reassessing supply chain strategies. Trading with the United States was now "hellishly more difficult." "The complexity of doing business with the US has gone to levels nobody could have imagined," he said. 'Tarrifs hurt the Americans, they hurt us' In Germany's Moselle Valley, winemaker Johannes Selbach said tariffs were damaging for the industry on both sides of the Atlantic. They had been hoping for zero-for-zero tariffs, but face 15% for now, with sector specific talks ongoing. "The tariffs hurt the Americans and they hurt us," Selbach said in a warehouse surrounded by crates of wine with "USA" written on them in black letters. "Thousands of families who produce wine in Europe and thousands of families in the importing, wholesaling, retailing, restaurant business in the US are dependent on the flow from both sides," he said, adding jobs and profits would be hit. Different sectors face varying degrees of pain. Higher-end luxury brands have more pricing power to adapt to the tariffs. Big companies can swallow some margin loss or shift some production into the United States, though often not all of it. Even big consumer firms like Procter & Gamble have flagged US price hikes to deal with the tariff impact. Adidas said it could increase prices. Reuters' global tariff tracker shows at least 99 out of nearly 300 companies monitored have announced price hikes in response to the trade war, most from Europe. Mr Trump has said the tariffs are a response to persistent US trade imbalances and declining US manufacturing power, and that the moves will bring jobs and investment to the nation. 'We cannot relocate champagne vines' Diverging US tariffs globally remain a challenge, however, with big manufacturing centers like Mexico, Canada, India and Vietnam having higher rates than others like South Korea or Europe. Smaller players often can't make quick changes to production and supply chains. Hugo Drappier, a champagne maker who runs his own firm Champagne Drappier, pointed out that the bubbly beverage could only be produced in a particular region of France. "It's an industry that employs a lot of workers who can't be relocated, precisely because the work is done here. We don't have the option of relocating champagne vines elsewhere in the world," he said. He said some orders had been held up due to tariff uncertainty, though he retained hopes that trade talks were becoming more positive, with the 15% rate better than previous threats of 30%. Laurent Cohen, CEO of family-owned perfumery Corania, based in a northern suburb of French city Marseille, is scouring for new markets and ways to maintain business in the United States, which accounts for a quarter of sales. That may mean a hit to margins and higher US prices, he said. "I praise the fact that we are no longer in a state of uncertainty," he said, referring to the US trade deal. "But with 15% customs duty on our products - which are affordable perfume products - we will now have to show immense ingenuity to keep on going in the US market."
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
India's sibling CXOs: Two sides of the same coin
Earlier this week, when the world was cheering Shailesh Jejurikar's appointment as CEO of Procter & Gamble, I found myself thinking not just about another Indian at the helm of a global powerhouse—but about his brother, Rajesh Jejurikar. Shailesh and Rajesh Jejurikar (HT) In a country rightly proud of its rising tide of global CEOs, from Sundar Pichai to Satya Nadella, Shailesh's elevation is yet another proud moment. But if you really want to understand the Indian brand of leadership, you'd do well to look a little closer home, at Rajesh Jejurikar, the calm, self-effacing Executive Director and CEO of the Auto and Farm Sector at Mahindra & Mahindra. Rajesh doesn't chase headlines. He builds legacies. He's the kind of leader who prefers the quiet of a shopfloor in Nashik to the glare of a boardroom in Mumbai. He spends as much time with engineers tinkering on next-gen EVs as he does with dealer partners in small-town India. And when credit is handed out, he's the first to redirect it to the team. I recall a conversation with one of the Indian auto industry's doyens and Mahindra's top former leaders, Dr Pawan Goenka, now Chairman of IN-SPACe, who offered a telling anecdote. 'When I was made President of the Auto business way back in 2003,' Goenka told me, 'Rajesh was in serious contention. I was leading R&D, he was heading marketing. The Scorpio's success was built equally on both. Maybe I got the role simply because I was 50 and he was 40.' It's classic Rajesh: talented without being territorial, dedicated without being demanding. His journey at Mahindra spans more than two decades, marked by product milestones, global forays, and a resurgence of the brand's SUV dominance. And yet, when I messaged him on Wednesday to congratulate him on his brother's big moment, Rajesh replied with characteristic grace accepting all the good wishes on behalf of his family and wishing the best to his brother. Shy. Humble. Gracious. At a time when leadership is often equated with visibility, charisma, and personal branding, there exists a quieter, steadier form of influence – one rooted in purpose, resilience, and trust. These are leaders who build institutions without needing applause, who shape industries through thoughtful decisions rather than public declarations. Often overshadowed by more high-profile siblings or peers, their power lies in consistency, empathy, and a deep belief in the collective over the individual. Later that evening, we spoke. I asked what the two brothers have in common. 'We both call our parents daily. It's a habit we never skip. We weren't academic toppers, but we loved sports. I did athletics, he played serious cricket. We both enjoy reading, partying, and living a balanced life.' He added, 'We're practical, not theoretical. We cut to the core of problems. But Shailesh is more structured. I go with intuition. Having lived in India longer, I'm more at ease with ambiguity. He likes structure.' There's something about Indian siblings. Maybe it's the shared values, the grounding in middle-class aspiration, or just the magic of complementary strengths. Over the years, we've seen this quiet symphony of sibling success play out in boardrooms. Take Ajay and Vindi Banga. Ajay, the World Bank President and former Mastercard chairman, is a master of strategic inclusion and global diplomacy. Vindi led Hindustan Unilever's India and global businesses with a razor-sharp focus and environmental vision. One brings charisma, the other discipline. Together, they reflect two faces of excellence. Or Indra Nooyi and Chandrika Tandon. Indra, the formidable former CEO of PepsiCo, is admired for her strategic mind and social conscience. Chandrika, her sister, is a McKinsey veteran turned Grammy-nominated artist and philanthropist. Steel and soul, in equal measure. Then you have the Kurian twins, Thomas, CEO of Google Cloud, and George, CEO of NetApp. Thomas is the change agent, George the anchor. One disrupts, the other delivers. Both are rooted in intellectual rigor and quiet determination. But perhaps no sibling trio embodies understated excellence quite like the Natarajan brothers. N. Chandrasekaran (Chandra), the Chairman of Tata Sons, rose from intern to CEO of TCS before becoming the first non-family professional to lead the Tata Group. His career is defined by focus, operational brilliance, and the ability to lead both turnaround stories and transformational acquisitions. N. Ganapathy Subramaniam (NGS), Chandra's elder brother, served as COO of TCS, steering one of the world's largest IT companies with vision, stability, and deep trust among clients. Their eldest brother, N. Srinivasan, is Group Finance Director at the Murugappa Group, widely respected for his integrity, financial stewardship, and people-first approach. What binds the three together? Perseverance, humility, and a shared sense of purpose. Their rural upbringing in Tamil Nadu, grounded in hard work and simplicity, has shaped their leadership styles, which are empathetic, collaborative, and quietly effective. Their personal style could be very different though. One might walk into a meeting casually savoring a mango, turning its taste into conversation; the other could spend an entire interview revealing nothing yet saying everything. And sometimes the brothers' bonhomie also plays out at the intersection of business and policy. Take the Rajan brothers: Raghuram Rajan, former RBI Governor and global economic thinker, and Mukund Rajan, who once helmed brand and ethics at Tata Sons. Both brought intellect and integrity to their respective domains, policy and enterprise, while embodying different public personas: one global, vocal, and reformist; the other methodical, thoughtful, and mission-driven. 'Raghuram has written extensively—articles, books—and he's known for sticking to his convictions. I think what I admire most is his willingness to stand up for what he believes, even if it goes against conventional wisdom,' said Mukund Rajan. 'Like his early warnings about the financial crisis—he stood alone in a room and raised concerns. That takes courage. He believes in objectivity and truth. You can explain or rationalize it, but you can't change it. For me, that commitment to authenticity has shaped my career. I stayed with the Tata Group because of their ethical values. When I became the Chief Ethics Officer, it felt like a validation that I had chosen the right path—just like Raghuram had.' Then there's the Kant brothers. Amitabh Kant, India's former Niti Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa, is best known for his role in architecting Make in India and Startup India. His brother, Ravi Kant, played a pivotal role as Managing Director of Tata Motors, where he championed the Nano and helped globalise the company's footprint through acquisition of Jaguar and Land Rover. Both are visionary institution-builders. One in public policy, the other in corporate strategy. Their shared DNA: passion for impact, articulation of big ideas, and fearless execution. What sets such people apart, according to those who've worked closely with them, is a deep-rooted hunger to grow and an exceptional ability to learn and adapt. In Shailesh's case, he never shied away from new challenges. Whether it meant moving across continents or shifting roles and sectors. From India to Kenya, Singapore to the U.S., and back again, he embraced change with openness and resolve. That kind of professional mobility, his brother says, builds perspective and character. Paired with a strong learning muscle and an instinct for execution, it's what enables leaders to thrive in uncertain times. Many also point to a defining trait often seen in Indian professionals in global companies: a mix of ambition, work ethic, and the ability to figure things out, qualities that consistently set them apart. 'Shailesh is a keen learner… He has a remarkable ability to relate with people and take them along with his ideas,' said KR Subramanian, Operating Partner, The Convergence Foundation. Subramanian and Shailesh joined P&G as management trainees on the same day and worked alongside each other for many years. They shared an apartment as bachelors and have remained friends. Their sons graduated together from Harvard—one studied law, the other business administration. Shailesh is proof that what feels out of reach may be possible for young Indian professionals, Subramanian added. For Ajay Banga of the World Bank, it has all been about serendipity. 'Vindi is more thoughtful and I am a little bit more impulsive but at the end of the day, both of us value serendipity – both at our careers and at our personal lives. One of the things that both of us feel very happy about is that Serendipity has taken us places,' Ajay Banga said in a podcast hosted by SOIL Institute of Management. 'You overthink jobs and think you want to be in a position in a certain number of years. By the time you reach there, you realise the entire structure has changed. Overplanning your career based on today's structure is the worst thing you can do,' he added. And the best life hack? Be born second. 'One really good piece of work is to be born second. Life is 50% luck and my luck was having him (Vindi) there before me.' So, as we cheer for Shailesh Jejurikar, and rightfully so, let's also raise a quiet toast to the other brothers and sisters who stand just off stage, shaping the future of Indian and global businesses with empathy, integrity, and excellence. Because in the end, leadership isn't always loud. Sometimes, it just shows up, gets the job done, and lets others shine. Amrit Raj is a former Mint journalist and the author of Indian Icon: A Cult Called Royal Enfield. He is the Chief Marketing Officer at Zetwerk, a manufacturing company.
NBC News
17 hours ago
- Business
- NBC News
Some companies held off on price hikes as Trump delayed tariffs. That ends soon.
Companies behind the best-known brands are sounding the alarm: Prices are going up. Hershey, Procter & Gamble and Mondelēz have said price adjustments will soon start showing up on store shelves. For shoppers, that could mean higher prices for popular items like Bounty paper towels, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Clif Bars. Numerous companies told analysts and investors on recent earnings calls that higher tariffs are going to hike costs. In many cases, that will translate to higher prices for consumers. Concerns about inflation persist even though price growth has come down considerably from its heights during the Biden Thursday, the Federal Reserve's favorite inflation gauge climbed more than expected. The personal consumption expenditures price index, a measure of consumer spending on goods and services, rose 2.6% from a year ago. Analysts were expecting a rise of 2.5%. Experts have warned that elevated tariffs would mean higher prices on consumers, but President Donald Trump's delays mean some of the most expansive and aggressive tariffs have yet to be implemented. That changes Friday, when Trump's reworked global tariffs take effect after he suspended them in mid-April. Some are as high as 50% for countries like Brazil, while others are 15% to 30% for the European Union and countries like South Korea, Japan and India. Proceeds from tariffs that Trump has already implemented are indeed bringing in additional revenue to the U.S. Treasury. In June, $27.2 billion landed into its coffers. In May, it was $22.8 billion. And Trump and his administiration have stressed that tariffs can bring jobs back to the U.S. while generating revenue that can pay down the U.S. debt or end up in taxpayers' pockets. "President Trump's tariff policies have drawn historic investments and opened up global markets for U.S. businesses," Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick posted Wednesday on X. Trump has also announced deals with a handful of major U.S. trading partners including South Korea, Pakistan, the E.U., Indonesia, the Philippines and Japan, though details of some of the deals remain largely unknown.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Wall Street's Greatest Dividend Stock Hasn't Been This Cheap in Over a Decade -- but Are Investors Paying Attention?
Key Points Over the previous 51 years (1973-2024), dividend stocks have more than doubled the average annual return of non-payers. Just over one dozen publicly traded companies have paid a consecutive dividend for at least 100 years. A little known water utility has delivered a dividend to its investors for 209 straight years, and its stock hasn't been this cheap since the early 2010s. 10 stocks we like better than York Water › With thousands of publicly traded companies and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to choose from, there are a lot of ways to grow your wealth on Wall Street. Though there isn't a one-size-fits-all blueprint, buying and holding high-quality dividend stocks has often been a strategy that leads to significant wealth creation. Companies that pay a regular dividend to their shareholders typically have a few things in common: They're almost always profitable on a recurring basis. They're usually time-tested and have demonstrated their ability to navigate an economic downturn. They're capable of providing transparent long-term growth outlooks. But if there's one characteristic about dividend stocks that investors absolutely love, it's their long-term outperformance. In The Power of Dividends: Past, Present, and Future, the analysts at Hartford Funds, in collaboration with Ned Davis Research, compared the performance of dividend stocks to non-payers over a 51-year period (1973-2024). What they found was a massive outperformance, with the income stocks delivering an annualized return of 9.2% versus a modest annualized return of just 4.31% for the non-payers. Right now, what's arguably Wall Street's greatest dividend stock is trading at its biggest discount in more than a decade -- and chances are good that you've never heard of this company before. Say hello to York Water (NASDAQ: YORW). Separating the dividend payers from truly special income stocks Based on data from stock and ETF screeners, there are thousands of securities that potentially offer their shareholders a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual dividend. This includes roughly 80% of the 500 companies that comprise the benchmark S&P 500. But among this haystack are a few needles that truly stand out on Wall Street. For example, there are currently more than 50 public companies that qualify as Dividend Kings. These are businesses that have increased their base annual payout for at least 50 consecutive years. Some brand-name examples include Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), which have respectively increased their dividends for 68 straight years and 63 consecutive years. Dividend Kings commonly provide basic need goods and services, such as consumer health products in the case of P&G and beverages for Coca-Cola. But there's another even rarer crop of dividend payers. Just over one dozen publicly traded companies have continuously paid a dividend for 100 or more years. The aforementioned Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola happen to be two of these businesses, with 2025 representing P&G's 135th consecutive year of payouts to its shareholders and Coca-Cola logging its 105th straight year. Contained within this extremely elite list of dividend payers is under-the-radar water utility York Water, which services just four counties and 57 municipalities as a water and wastewater provider in South-Central Pennsylvania. York has been paying a continuous dividend since James Madison, America's fourth president, was in the White House. York's 209-year streak (since 1816) of doling out dividends to its investors is a clean 60 years longer than Stanley Black & Decker, which has the second-longest streak of continuous payouts of any public company. York Water may not be a familiar name to more than 99% of investors, but it's undeniably special within the dividend arena. York Water stock hasn't been this cheap in well over a decade Though providing water and wastewater services to more than 212,000 people isn't as exciting as the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), York Water nevertheless brings its own unique competitive advantages to the table. To start with the obvious, if you own or rent a home, you'll need water and wastewater services. Since most utilities operate as monopolies or duopolies in the areas they service, there's virtually no concern about other companies siphoning away their customers. The remarkably high costs of getting water and wastewater infrastructure into place leads to steady and predictable operating cash flow for York year after year. To build on this point, York Water is also a regulated water utility. This is a fancy way of saying that it can't pass along rate hikes to its customers without the go-ahead from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PPUC). While this might sound like a nuisance, it's actually fantastic news. Regulated utilities avoid the unpredictability that can come with wholesale markets, which further adds to the steadiness of its sales and cash flow. In late May, York Water filed an application with the PPUC for a rate increase, with the premise being that it's spent $145 million on various infrastructure investments since its last approved rate hike in 2022. If approved, the company's annual sales would climb by more than $24 million, representing an approximate 32% increase. In addition to relying on the occasional rate increase to grow its revenue, York's management team hasn't shied away from making bolt-on acquisitions. With the company's cash flow highly predictable, management can confidently expand its reach without adversely impacting profitability. Best of all, York Water stock hasn't been this cheap since the early 2010s. It's valued at approximately 1.9 times book value, which is its lowest premium to book since the summer of 2010. What's more, the $1.58 per share analysts expect the company to earn in 2026 places its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio at 19.4. It's been at least 10 years since York Water sported a forward P/E ratio below 20. Wall Street's greatest dividend stock is on sale -- but are investors paying attention? Should you buy stock in York Water right now? Before you buy stock in York Water, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and York Water wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $630,291!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,075,791!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,039% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 29, 2025 Sean Williams has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Wall Street's Greatest Dividend Stock Hasn't Been This Cheap in Over a Decade -- but Are Investors Paying Attention? was originally published by The Motley Fool 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
