Financial Services Company Bumps Dividend by 37.5%

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Today we will look into Merck & Co., Kroger Co., and BlackRock Inc. highlight a few dividend stocks worth watching as well as share companies that are about to pay a dividend in the next few days.

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Pharmaceuticals

Merck Accelerates Cardiovascular Pipeline with $2B Licensing Agreement

Merck & Co. (NYSE: MRK) has secured global rights to develop and commercialize a new heart disease drug through a licensing agreement with Jiangsu Hengrui Pharmaceuticals. The deal marks another strategic step by the U.S.-based pharmaceutical giant to expand its presence in the cardiovascular market.

Under the agreement, Merck will take over the development, manufacturing, and global sales of HRS-5346, an investigational oral therapy targeting cholesterol and fat buildup in the bloodstream. Hengrui will retain rights for Greater China. The drug is currently undergoing mid-stage clinical trials in China.

Designed to address key risk factors for cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack and stroke, HRS-5346 belongs to a promising class of compounds aimed at limiting harmful plaque formation. Merck will make an initial upfront payment and issue future milestone payments and royalties based on regulatory progress and commercial performance.

This move continues Merck’s pattern of pursuing high-potential licensing opportunities in collaboration with Chinese biotech firms. The company has recently signed multiple agreements to expand its pipeline across obesity, oncology, and cardiovascular medicine.

The global demand for innovative treatments targeting heart disease remains strong, and Merck’s latest partnership focuses on broadening access to next-generation therapies. Pending customary conditions, the agreement is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.

Retail

Kroger Pushes Back as Merger Dispute with Albertsons Escalates

Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) has filed a countersuit against Albertsons following the breakdown of their proposed merger, marking a new chapter in one of the retail industry’s most high-profile standoffs.

The legal move comes after Albertsons terminated the $25 billion merger deal and initiated its lawsuit, alleging breach of contract. Kroger’s latest filing disputes those claims and argues that it invested significant time and resources to meet regulatory requirements before the agreement fell apart.

According to Kroger, internal decisions made by Albertsons during the antitrust review period undercut the companies’ shared efforts to secure regulatory approval. The company stated that its counterclaim seeks to recover losses tied to the failed deal and emphasized that the termination fee and other damages sought by Albertsons are unwarranted.

Leadership changes at both companies occurred during the regulatory review timeline. Kroger announced a CEO resignation, while Albertsons disclosed a leadership transition.

Kroger alleges that Albertsons shifted attention to alternative legal strategies instead of focusing on closing the transaction. The grocer maintains that it remained committed to pursuing the merger until the deal was blocked by the courts.

While both companies continue to operate independently, the dispute has drawn attention across the retail and regulatory landscape due to its scale and potential impact on industry competition.

Kroger’s legal response underscores its position in defending its strategy and the resources it committed toward what would have been one of the largest grocery mergers in U.S. history.

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Financial Services

New BlackRock-Emirates NBD Deal Opens Door to Private Credit in UAE

BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) has formed a strategic alliance with Dubai’s Emirates NBD to broaden access to private market investments in the United Arab Emirates. The collaboration will create a new investment platform to meet regional wealth management clients' growing demand for alternative asset classes.

Emirates NBD and BlackRock signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop and launch the platform jointly. The initial focus will include private credit and multi-alternative strategies, allowing local investors to diversify beyond traditional public market assets.

Private markets have gained popularity among investors looking for higher yields and differentiated exposure. These asset classes often come with extended lock-up periods but are increasingly considered valuable tools for portfolio diversification, especially in a high-rate environment.

Emirates NBD’s clients will access BlackRock’s global alternative investment infrastructure through this agreement. The firm manages over $450 billion in alternative assets, reflecting years of expansion across private equity, infrastructure, and private credit.

BlackRock continues to increase its global footprint by forming regional partnerships that align with the rising demand for customized investment solutions. The UAE platform aims to offer institutional-grade access and reporting tailored for the region’s regulatory and investor landscape.

This partnership further signals BlackRock’s commitment to scaling its alternative investment business, especially in fast-growing international markets. As investors seek broader exposure in dynamic economies, the new platform will act as a gateway to private opportunities with global reach.

BBVA grew its dividend payout to 44 cents per share, an increase of 37.5%. Its new forward yield is 5.17%.

CRT expanded its dividend payout to 15 per share, an increase of 243%. Its new forward yield is 16%. 

YRD improved its dividend payout to 22 cents per share, an increase of 10%. Its new forward yield is 2.6%.

VR lowered its dividend payout to 34 cents per share, a cut of 15%. Its new dividend yield is 15.8%.

LFT reduced its dividend payout to 8 cents per share, a cut of 11%. Its new dividend yield is 11.4%.

PRT decreased its dividend payout to 4 cents per share, a cut of 44%. Its new dividend yield is 10%.

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Everything Else

• Coca-Cola may see its stock slip in the coming weeks as the Dividend Aristocrat issued a 10,000-can recall on March 24th based on contamination concerns. 

• Fresh Del Monte announced an expansion into avocado oil production as health-conscious consumers eschew seed oils. The move could boost the company’s 4.11% forward yield as it explores new markets.

• AT&T, a longstanding dividend favorite, is also expanding its scope following acquisition talks surrounding Lumen Technologies’ fiber-optic business segment. 

• Dollar Tree took the opposite tact this week by scaling down operations as it announced a planned sale of its Family Dollar brand to private equity.

• GameStop plans to use its whopping $4.8 billion cash balance to kickstart a new Bitcoin investment, perhaps planning to follow in MicroStrategy’s footsteps.