3 High-Yielding Dividend Stocks That Retirees Can Rely on for Recurring Income

The article recommends three dividend stocks suitable for retirees: Verizon Communications (6.1% yield, 20 consecutive years of dividend increases), Home Depot (3.1% yield, tripled dividends over a decade despite recent economic headwinds), and Duke Energy (3.5% yield, stable utility business with consistent dividend growth). All three stocks offer above-average yields compared to the S&P 500 average of 1.1% and have demonstrated commitment to growing shareholder returns.

05/18/2026, 12:30 PM • The Motley Fool

This Vanguard ETF Could Be a Better Safe-Haven Investment Than Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver

The article argues that the Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) offers a more stable and reliable safe-haven investment compared to Bitcoin, gold, and silver. Utility stocks provide steady dividend income with lower volatility (beta of 0.59), a low expense ratio of 0.09%, and a 2.5% dividend yield—more than double the S&P 500 average. The fund has gained approximately 5% year-to-date plus dividends.

05/13/2026, 9:30 AM • The Motley Fool

Duke Energy announces dividend payments to shareholders

Duke Energy declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.065 per share on common stock, payable June 16, 2026. The company also declared a dividend on Series A preferred stock of $359.375 per share. Duke Energy has maintained consecutive annual dividend payments for 100 years.

05/07/2026, 2:00 PM • Benzinga

3 Multi-Energy Stocks to Consider for Powering the Future

The article recommends three diversified multi-energy companies as potential long-term investments to meet growing power demands, particularly from AI. Enbridge and Duke Energy are positioned as stable, income-focused options with strong dividend histories, while NextEra Energy offers more aggressive growth potential. All three companies operate across multiple energy sources including natural gas, nuclear, solar, and battery storage.

05/01/2026, 5:16 AM • The Motley Fool

The Crowd Is Dumping Vistra. Here's Why I'd Be Buying the Stock Down 25%.

Vistra, a major independent power producer, has declined 25% from its 52-week high amid regulatory concerns about electricity price caps and potential scrutiny of data center deals. However, the author views this dip as a buying opportunity, citing the company's strong nuclear capacity, long-term power purchase agreements with tech giants, and planned acquisition of Cogentrix Energy to meet growing AI data center electricity demand.

04/18/2026, 10:10 AM • The Motley Fool

Electric, Natural Gas and Combination Utilities See Customer Experience Gains Stall as Billing Friction Reemerges

Customer Effort scores for US utilities declined by one point year-over-year to 722, signaling a setback driven primarily by billing and payment friction. Despite the overall decline, 31 utilities were recognized as 'Easiest to Do Business With,' with leading practices including improved bill transparency and customer support programs. The decline reflects affordability pressures and the need for utilities to better communicate billing information and provide payment flexibility.

04/16/2026, 10:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

US Utility Spending To Hit $1.4 Trillion By 2030 As AI, Data Centers Drive Demand— Rate Hikes Ahead?

U.S. investor-owned utilities plan to spend $1.4 trillion on capital projects through 2030, a 21% increase driven primarily by AI and data center expansion. This surge in spending is expected to lead to future rate increase requests, with utilities already seeking $31 billion in rate hikes in 2025 alone. The top 5 utilities account for over half of planned capital expenditures.

04/15/2026, 8:26 AM • Benzinga

Kalshi Now Places the Odds of a Recession in 2026 at 28%. 2 ETFs to Buy to Hedge Your Downside.

Recession odds for 2026 have risen to 28% according to prediction market Kalshi, up from below 20% in February due to poor economic data and geopolitical tensions. The article recommends two defensive ETFs—consumer staples and utilities—as hedges against potential economic downturns, as these sectors are more resilient during recessions.

04/02/2026, 2:38 PM • The Motley Fool

6 Surprising Stocks Affected by High Oil Prices

Rising oil prices due to Middle East geopolitical conflict are rippling through the economy beyond the energy sector. Travel companies like Carnival and JetBlue face higher fuel costs, shipping companies UPS and FedEx are implementing fuel surcharges, and consumer staples makers like Procter & Gamble and Conagra will see increased ingredient and packaging costs. Companies are expected to pass these rising costs to consumers through price increases and shrinkflation.

03/22/2026, 7:15 PM • The Motley Fool

The Ultimate Dividend Growth Stock to Buy With $1,000 Right Now

Equinix (EQIX), a data center REIT, is highlighted as an attractive dividend growth stock with 11 consecutive years of per-share payment growth and 10% dividend increases in both the last and current year. The company benefits from the AI data center industry's projected 27% annualized growth through 2035, while its REIT structure allows it to distribute most profits to shareholders tax-efficiently.

03/15/2026, 9:07 AM • The Motley Fool

How to Protect Your Portfolio From Jamie Dimon's "Skunk in a Party"

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon warns that inflation could be a "skunk in a party" if it persists longer than expected, particularly due to geopolitical risks like the Iran conflict potentially disrupting oil supplies. While Dimon expects the Iran war to have limited inflationary impact if short-lived, he cautions investors are too complacent about inflation risks. The article recommends utility stocks, particularly the Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF, as a hedge against potential sustained inflation and higher energy prices.

03/09/2026, 11:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Jobs Crash, War Flares: Smart Money Hides In These Stocks

With February's weak jobs report (92,000 jobs lost, 4.4% unemployment), Middle East tensions, and AI concerns, investors are rotating into defensive stocks and sectors. Recommended plays include healthcare, utilities, consumer staples, energy majors, defense contractors, and high-quality AI infrastructure leaders that offer stable cash flows and pricing power.

03/06/2026, 4:01 PM • Benzinga

4 Dividend Stocks to Double Up On Right Now

As AI-driven demand boosts energy and utility stocks, four dividend-paying companies offer attractive opportunities for growth and income investors. Duke Energy, Enbridge, Enterprise Product Partners, and EOG Resources are highlighted as solid income stocks with strong fundamentals and consistent dividend histories.

02/25/2026, 6:17 PM • The Motley Fool

Waller Signals Tight Fed Vote On March Interest Rates

Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller stated that the March interest rate decision is a coin flip, dependent on February's labor market report. Previously advocating for rate cuts due to weak labor markets, Waller's shift reflects stronger-than-expected January job growth of 130,000. The CME Fed Watch tool shows a 96.1% probability of rates holding steady in March, with potential cuts in June and December. Key economic data releases on March 6 and 11 will influence the decision.

02/25/2026, 12:29 PM • Benzinga

From a Dividend King to FinTech, These 3 Large Caps Just Reported

Three major companies reported earnings this week with mixed results. Coca-Cola beat EPS expectations but missed on revenue, guiding for 4-5% organic revenue growth in 2026. Robinhood surpassed EPS estimates but fell short on quarterly revenue, though annual revenue grew 52% YOY, with strong potential from its new prediction markets initiative. Duke Energy beat on both top and bottom lines with a $16 billion increase to its five-year capital plan and extended 5-7% long-term EPS growth guidance through 2030.

02/13/2026, 9:20 AM • Investing