3 Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now and Hold Forever

The article recommends three blue-chip dividend stocks for long-term passive income: Realty Income (O), a REIT with monthly dividends and 31 years of consecutive increases; S&P Global (SPGI), a Dividend King with 53 years of dividend growth and dominant market position in credit ratings; and Aflac (AFL), a specialty insurer with 44 consecutive years of dividend increases and strong growth prospects.

06/23/2026, 1:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Five Below Down 12% Post Earnings—Is the Selloff Overdone?

Five Below stock fell over 12% despite reporting strong Q1 2026 earnings with $1.29B revenue (beating $1.23B expectations) and $2.22 EPS (beating $1.77 expectations). The selloff was driven by management's cautious guidance for the second half due to consumer health concerns and tariff uncertainties, despite raising full-year guidance. Analysts remain divided on the stock's outlook, with some viewing the decline as overdone given oversold technical levels, while valuation concerns persist at 30x earnings.

06/05/2026, 11:29 AM • Investing

Why Dollar Tree Stock Surged This Week

Dollar Tree stock surged over 20% after reporting strong Q1 fiscal 2026 results, with net sales rising 7.2% to $5 billion, comparable store sales growth of 3.5%, and adjusted operating income jumping 22%. The company opened 113 new stores and projects continued growth with plans to open 325 net new stores in fiscal 2026 and full-year earnings per share of $6.70 to $7.10.

05/31/2026, 8:11 PM • The Motley Fool

Stock Market Today, May 28: Tech Stocks Rise as Snowflake Surges After $6 Billion Amazon Deal and Strong Earnings

Tech stocks led market gains on May 28, 2026, with Snowflake surging 38% following strong Q1 earnings and a $6 billion Amazon partnership. The S&P 500 rose 0.49% while the Nasdaq gained 0.65%. Consumer stocks also performed well with Dollar Tree, Best Buy, and Hormel posting significant gains after earnings reports, signaling economic resilience. Synopsys declined 9% despite beating earnings expectations.

05/28/2026, 2:06 PM • The Motley Fool

S&P 500 Hits Record Highs, Snowflake Jumps 37% On AI Boom: Stock Market Today

U.S. stocks reached record highs on Thursday following geopolitical news of a ceasefire extension. The S&P 500 advanced 0.5% to 7,557.85, driven by an AI software spending spree. Snowflake surged 37% after beating earnings estimates and announcing a $6 billion AWS partnership expansion. Other notable gainers included Best Buy (+18%), Dollar Tree (+17%), and Agilent Technologies (+17%). However, mixed economic data showed headline PCE inflation at 3.8% while core PCE and consumer spending remained subdued, prompting hawkish Fed commentary.

05/28/2026, 12:58 PM • Benzinga

Dollar Tree Says Economic Anxiety Is Driving More Bargain Hunting

Dollar Tree stock surged 17.98% Thursday after reporting first-quarter earnings of $1.74 per share, beating analyst estimates of $1.55. The discount retailer posted revenue of $4.98 billion with 3.5% comparable-store sales growth. Management attributed strong performance to economic anxiety driving bargain hunting, though executives noted consumers remain cautious due to fuel costs, tariffs, and macroeconomic pressures. The company raised its fiscal 2026 earnings guidance to $6.70-$7.10 per share.

05/28/2026, 11:41 AM • Benzinga

Stock Market: Will S&P 500 Open Up Or Down Today?

The S&P 500 closed at a record 7,520.36 on Wednesday with a marginal 0.02% gain. Polymarket traders are leaning bearish ahead of Thursday's crucial PCE inflation reading, with a 55% probability of a lower open. Oil prices rose 2% to $90/barrel following U.S. military strikes in Iran. Despite geopolitical concerns, the market remains supported by AI enthusiasm and strong corporate earnings.

05/28/2026, 4:22 AM • Benzinga

If Wirth Is Right About a 1970s-Style Oil Crisis, These Retail Stocks Could Take the Biggest Hit This Summer.

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth warns that the current energy market resembles the 1970s oil crisis due to Middle East geopolitical conflicts. High oil prices could trigger a global recession, particularly impacting retailers selling discretionary and luxury items. Consumers may shift to discount retailers, while luxury brands and non-essential retailers face significant headwinds.

05/25/2026, 9:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Gas Prices Have a 21% Approval Rating and Midterms Are Coming. Here's What That Means for Retail Investors.

With only 21% approval of President Trump's handling of gas prices and rising inflation concerns stemming from Middle East conflict, consumers are shifting spending habits toward budget-friendly retailers. Low-price retailers like Walmart and Dollar Tree are well-positioned to benefit from this consumer trend toward value shopping.

05/23/2026, 9:15 PM • The Motley Fool

EXCLUSIVE: Can Walmart And Dollar Tree Ride The 'Trade Down' Wave As War-Driven Price Shock Hits Americans?

An Iran war-driven oil shock is pushing gasoline prices above $100/barrel, with fuel costs surging 27-34%. This is expected to accelerate a 'trade down' trend where higher-income consumers shift to value retailers like Walmart and Dollar Tree, though lower-income core customers may spend more cautiously. Walmart has already demonstrated strong positioning with Q4 revenue of $190.7B and 4.6% comparable sales growth, while Dollar Tree reports accelerated trade-down from six-figure earners. However, risks remain from potential stock market declines affecting higher-income consumer sentiment.

03/24/2026, 10:01 AM • Benzinga

How the Risk/Reward Calculation Is Changing for Discount Retail

Discount retailers Dollar General and Dollar Tree reported strong Q4 earnings but face headwinds from economic pressures. Dollar General's stock fell 9% post-earnings due to weak forward guidance and pressure on lower-income customers, while Dollar Tree showed more promise with its multi-price strategy and cleaner balance sheet, though both face challenges from inflation, oil prices, and tariffs.

03/19/2026, 2:05 PM • Investing

Dollar Tree Planted the Seeds for Triple-Digit Gains in Q4

Dollar Tree reported strong Q4 2025 results with 9% revenue growth and 5% comparable sales, driven by store remodels and a 6.3% increase in ticket average. The company trades at attractive valuations (10X 2030 consensus earnings) with significant upside potential of 100-400%. However, cautious forward guidance and institutional selling in early 2026 are creating near-term headwinds, with short interest at 6% presenting additional pressure.

03/17/2026, 4:50 AM • Investing

Luxury to Budget Retail: What Upcoming Earnings Say About the State of Consumers

Upcoming retail earnings reveal divergent consumer spending patterns across luxury and budget segments. William Sonoma and Lululemon face headwinds with declining sales and earnings, while Dollar Tree shows resilience despite revenue pressure. Darden Restaurants and Carnival demonstrate moderate growth, with Carnival benefiting from strong cruise demand and delivering significant earnings surprises.

03/16/2026, 5:05 PM • Investing

Dollar Tree Annual Forecast Points To Steady Growth

Dollar Tree reported Q4 adjusted EPS of $2.56, beating consensus estimates, with quarterly sales of $5.45 billion nearly in line with expectations. The company opened 402 new stores and converted 2,400 to its multi-price format. For fiscal 2026, Dollar Tree forecasts adjusted earnings of $6.50-$6.90 per share and sales of $20.5-$20.7 billion, indicating steady growth driven by pricing initiatives and lower freight costs, though partially offset by higher tariffs.

03/16/2026, 11:05 AM • Benzinga

The Oil Spike Is Hitting the Markets. Here's What Investors Are Watching Next.

Geopolitical conflict in the Middle East is driving oil prices higher and creating market volatility. However, long-term investors should recognize that energy price spikes are temporary and historically revert to normal levels. Rather than chasing energy stocks during the spike, investors should prepare for potential recessions and market downturns by building watchlists of quality stocks to purchase at discounted prices.

03/11/2026, 11:15 PM • The Motley Fool