Energy Giant’s Record Production Fuels 6% Yield

Hello and welcome to Dividend Brief, the 2 times weekly newsletter focused on dividend investing.

Today we will look into Bank of America, Caterpillar, and Starbucks, highlight a few dividend stocks worth watching as well as share companies that are about to pay a dividend in the next few days.

Trading Methods (Sponsored)

Bitcoin Skimming: A Game-Changer for Investors

Bitcoin’s ups and downs have made and lost fortunes. But what if there was a way to outperform BTC—without ever buying it?

Hedge fund titan Larry Benedict has revealed a new approach called "Bitcoin Skimming," a strategy that has outpaced Bitcoin’s returns by as much as 22-to-1.

With the SEC’s latest decision set to shake up crypto markets, now is the perfect time to discover how this works.

Click here to see the full details before this opportunity disappears.

Retail

Walmart Expands Last-Mile Strategy With New Drone Delivery Launch

Walmart (NYSE: WMT) has officially introduced drone-powered grocery delivery across parts of Texas through a new partnership with Zipline. The launch expands Walmart’s last-mile capabilities as it continues optimizing convenience services in competitive regions.

Zipline’s aircraft will handle short-distance deliveries of up to 10 miles, covering select areas within the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. The drones operate using a tethered system that lowers items directly to designated drop zones, including driveways and backyards.

Mesquite, Texas, became the first city in the state to go live with the service. In the coming months, Walmart will add more serviceable areas, including the Seattle-Tacoma region. Walmart previously tested the model in Arkansas and is now moving toward scaled deployment through this collaboration.

The drones accommodate lightweight grocery orders under eight pounds, targeting quick-fill use cases such as over-the-counter medication, small household items, and food staples. Walmart+ members can access drone deliveries for free during a promotional period, while non-members pay a flat fee.

Zipline’s drone system can fly in challenging weather conditions and reach speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Walmart expects the new delivery layer to reduce fulfillment pressure during peak hours and support its broader omnichannel strategy.

Asset Management

BlackRock Moves Into Australia’s Storage Market with StoreLocal Deal

BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) has acquired StoreLocal, one of Australia’s largest self-storage platforms, marking a significant step in its global expansion strategy. The deal adds more than 30 operational sites to BlackRock’s real estate portfolio, providing the firm with a substantial footprint in the Australian self-storage sector.

Headquartered in Brisbane, StoreLocal operates across key urban centers. BlackRock plans to enhance the platform’s growth through operational upgrades and capital improvements while maintaining the existing management team. The company cited strong urbanization trends and rising demand for flexible storage solutions as drivers behind the deal.

This acquisition aligns with BlackRock’s broader strategy to invest in income-generating tangible assets. The firm continues to increase exposure to sectors that offer stable, long-term returns and resist cyclical volatility. With this move, BlackRock reinforces its position in alternative real estate and adds geographic diversification to its holdings.

Global investors have shown rising interest in self-storage due to its low vacancy rates and consistent demand. BlackRock’s latest acquisition underscores its confidence in the sector’s fundamentals and the long-term growth potential of Australia’s urban corridors.

The StoreLocal deal also supports BlackRock’s strategic goal of scaling logistics and storage investments in mature and emerging markets. As part of its real estate investment strategy, the firm actively targets assets that complement evolving consumer behavior and infrastructure trends.

Radical Vision (Sponsored)

Elon’s Boldest Move Yet

Every investor in America is trying to figure out what Musk will do in Washington, D.C., in the coming weeks.

One Boston-based think tank – who has studied Elon’s work for decades – is stepping forward to share what they’ve found.

They believe his TRUE plan is far more radical than anyone realizes. It could change the way you live, work, get paid, and collect Social Security…

...AND could make more people rich than all of Elon's previous ventures – PUT TOGETHER.

Full story here.

Beverage

Coca-Cola Relaunches BodyArmor in Bid to Regain Ground in Sports Drink Market

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has unveiled a full-scale refresh of its BodyArmor brand, including new packaging, an updated logo, and a nationwide advertising campaign. The brand overhaul follows a $760 million write-down in 2023, reflecting slower-than-expected growth since the company acquired BodyArmor for $5.6 billion in 2021.

BodyArmor remains the third-largest sports drink in the U.S., behind PepsiCo’s Gatorade and Coca-Cola’s Powerade. Executives now aim to reposition BodyArmor with a more apparent identity and broader appeal, targeting health-conscious consumers with new zero-sugar and rapid hydration variants.

Coca-Cola has increased marketing investment to boost brand awareness. To promote the relaunch, it is partnering with athletes like NFL quarterback Joe Burrow and WNBA star Sabrina Ionescu. The campaign will debut during the NHL playoffs.

Sales performance in the sports drink category has shifted as competition intensifies. Emerging brands backed by influencers and athletes have chipped away at traditional leaders. Coca-Cola is responding by refining its portfolio and clarifying the difference between BodyArmor and Powerade.

Product extensions have shown early success. The sugar-free and rapid hydration lines surpassed $100 million in sales within a year, thanks to Coca-Cola’s extensive distribution network.

SNY increased its dividend payout to $2.21 per share, a 8.5% rise. Its new forward yield is 4.35%.

WINA expanded its dividend payout to 96 cents per share, a 6.6% increase. Its new forward yield is 1.12%. 

SON improved its dividend payout to 53 cents per share, an increase of 1.0%. Its new forward yield is 4.83%.

HDFC lowered its dividend payout to 69.6 cents per share, a cut of 0.2%. Its new dividend yield is 0.97%.

NTIC reduced its dividend payout to one cent per share, a cut of 85.7%. Its new dividend yield is 0.6%.

DEA decreased its dividend payout to 18 cents per share, a cut of 32.1%. Its new dividend yield is 8.82%.

Tech Titans & Politics (Sponsored)

Elon Strikes Back

You may already sense that the tide is turning against Elon Musk and DOGE.

Just this week, President Trump promised to buy a Tesla to help support Musk in the face of a boycott against his company.

But according to one research group, with connections to the Pentagon and the U.S. government, Elon's preparing to strike back in a much bigger way in the days ahead.

Full story here...

Everything Else

• Walmart’s Sam's Club is moving away from employee-powered checkout systems by leaning into self-scanning and AI verification.

• Snap-On stock suffered this week as tariffs and reduced demand weighed heavily on the dividend stock’s near-term prospects. 

• Famed activist firm Elliott Management just opened a position in Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, igniting hope for its long-suffering shareholders.

• Remote work debates, DEI disputes, and executive drama led to a blowout during a Harley-Davidson CEO search process. 

• TD Bank is facing further financial scrutiny following its guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering last year and the subsequent $3.1 billion fine.