Should You Own Walmart for Its Dividend King Status or Costco for Its Special Dividend? Here's the Answer.

Walmart and Costco are both recession-resistant businesses that reward shareholders with dividends. Walmart is a Dividend King with 53 consecutive years of dividend increases and a 0.8% yield, offering greater consistency. Costco pays a 0.6% quarterly dividend plus special dividends every few years, but these special payouts are unpredictable. For income-focused investors seeking reliability, Walmart is the better choice.

08/11/2026, 6:30 AM • The Motley Fool

3 Reasons to Buy and Hold This Dividend King (and 1 Reason Not To)

Walmart is presented as a compelling buy-and-hold investment due to its 53-year dividend increase streak, dominant market position with 5,215 U.S. stores, and strong e-commerce growth (26% YoY). However, the stock offers a low dividend yield of 0.86%, making it less attractive for income-focused investors. Despite recent 16% decline from May's peak due to consumer pressure concerns and capital spending, analysts remain bullish with a consensus price target of $139.84.

08/09/2026, 7:25 AM • The Motley Fool

My 3 Favorite Value Stocks to Buy Right Now

The article identifies Amazon, Target, and Nvidia as undervalued stocks despite recent market strength. Amazon's P/E ratio of 22 remains below the S&P 500 average despite strong earnings growth of 244% YoY. Target has recovered from years of decline under new leadership with improving sales and a 55-year dividend growth streak. Nvidia, while up 1,800% since 2022, still offers value given its 855% revenue growth and dominant 75% market share in AI accelerators.

08/09/2026, 4:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Home Depot Has Raised Its Dividend for 17 Consecutive Years and Reports Earnings Aug. 18. Is It the Smarter Dow Stock to Buy Over Walmart?

Home Depot and Walmart are compared as investment options. Home Depot has underperformed over five years (5% gain) due to cyclical pressures from higher interest rates and inflation, but maintains a strong dividend history with 157 consecutive quarters of payments and a higher yield of 2.67%. Walmart has outperformed significantly (130% gain over five years) with stronger fundamentals, diversified revenue streams from e-commerce and advertising, and a Dividend King status with 53 consecutive years of increases. Home Depot trades at a cheaper valuation (P/E of 24.8 vs. Walmart's 39.3), making it the better choice for dividend-focused investors despite Walmart's superior overall performance.

08/08/2026, 5:20 PM • The Motley Fool

Trump Tariff Refunds Just Topped $100 Billion, and These Companies Are Receiving Some of the Largest Checks

The Trump administration is issuing over $166 billion in tariff refunds after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated tariffs imposed under the IEEPA in February 2026. Major companies like Apple ($2.19B), Walmart ($2.4B expected), and Amazon ($600M) are receiving substantial refunds that boost earnings. However, new tariffs imposed via Section 301 of the Trade Act may reignite inflationary pressures in coming quarters.

08/07/2026, 6:06 PM • The Motley Fool

Constellation Signed 920 Megawatts of New Power Deals, Including a Walmart PPA. Here's What It Means for CEG Stock.

Constellation Energy secured 920 megawatts of long-term power purchase agreements in Q2, including a major 176 MW contract with Walmart spanning two 15-year terms. The company also made significant progress on its Microsoft deal with NRC approval for the Crane Clean Energy Center. Constellation projects 20% annualized earnings growth through 2029, with additional upside from future contracts.

08/07/2026, 12:25 PM • The Motley Fool

2026 Holiday Shopping Will Be Driven by AI-Powered Discovery, According to Optimove Insights Report

A new Holiday Shopping Report 2026 reveals that AI tools are now integral to holiday shopping, with 72% of consumers using ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini for product discovery and gift recommendations. Despite strong trust in AI recommendations, data privacy concerns remain a barrier. The report also shows strong holiday spending intent, with 55% planning to spend more than last year, though consumers still favor familiar brands and major retailers like Amazon (81%), Walmart (71%), and Target (58%).

08/05/2026, 10:54 AM • GlobeNewswire

3 Robotics and Automation Stocks to Buy in August

The industrial robotics market is projected to grow from $65 billion to $344 billion by 2036, driven by AI and automation advancements. Three stocks offer different exposure to this growth: Rockwell Automation provides the control systems, Ouster offers LiDAR perception technology, and Symbotic delivers warehouse automation solutions backed by Walmart.

08/05/2026, 7:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Why Big Tech's AI Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy for Power

AI data centers are rapidly expanding and require 200 gigawatts of electricity by 2030, but utility companies cannot keep pace. Bloom Energy's hydrogen fuel cell technology is emerging as a solution, offering faster deployment, water-free operation, and quieter performance compared to traditional generators. The company secured a major expansion with Oracle (2.8 gigawatts) and is seeing strong revenue growth driven by customers like Honda, AT&T, and Walmart.

08/05/2026, 4:37 AM • The Motley Fool

I've Been Wrong About Target's Stock for 5 Months. Here's Why I'm Finally Changing My Mind.

After predicting Target's stock would stagnate, analyst Leo Sun reverses his stance as the retailer demonstrates a strong turnaround. Target's comparable sales grew 5.6% in Q1 FY2026, store traffic increased 4.4%, and the company raised full-year guidance. With improving margins, new product categories, and a new CEO driving efficiency, Target trades at an attractive 18x forward earnings with a 3.1% dividend yield.

08/04/2026, 2:25 PM • The Motley Fool

Micron Technology Stock Is Plummeting, but Here's Why I'm Not Buying the Dip

Micron Technology stock has fallen 32% from its June high amid concerns about the sustainability of AI infrastructure spending. While the company shows strong financial results and trades at a discount valuation, rising hardware costs are forcing companies to cap AI usage and shift to cheaper models, potentially reducing demand for memory chips. The author avoids buying the dip due to uncertainty around future earnings sustainability.

08/02/2026, 1:25 PM • The Motley Fool

Plug Power vs. Occidental Petroleum: Which Energy Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

The article compares two energy stocks with contrasting profiles: Plug Power, a speculative hydrogen pioneer burning cash while pursuing green hydrogen technology, and Occidental Petroleum, a profitable oil giant generating billions in free cash flow. Despite Plug Power's long-term potential in decarbonization, the author recommends Occidental Petroleum for 2026 due to its profitability, strong cash generation, and operational efficiency, while acknowledging commodity price volatility risks.

08/02/2026, 8:30 AM • The Motley Fool

A Supreme Court Ruling Against Trump's Tariffs Could Trigger Up to $175 Billion in Refunds, a Potential Tailwind for Import-Heavy Retailers

The Supreme Court ruled that President Trump's tariffs under the IEEPA exceeded congressional authority, potentially triggering up to $175 billion in refunds to U.S. businesses. Import-heavy retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Target could benefit from stronger cash flow and improved margins, though the actual impact will vary by company based on how they handled tariff costs. However, additional tariffs under other trade authorities remain in place, and legal proceedings could delay payments.

07/31/2026, 4:30 PM • The Motley Fool

Which Consumer Staples ETF Is the Better Buy: Fidelity's FSTA or iShares' IYK?

Fidelity's FSTA ETF offers a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.08% compared to iShares' IYK at 0.38%, while delivering stronger five-year returns ($1,401 vs $1,370 on $1,000 invested). FSTA holds 104 stocks with pure consumer staples focus, whereas IYK holds 53 stocks with broader diversification including healthcare and basic materials. For most long-term investors, FSTA's lower costs and better performance make it the more practical choice, though IYK appeals to those seeking higher dividend yield (2.5% vs 2.2%) and sector diversification.

07/31/2026, 10:01 AM • The Motley Fool

Realty Income Reports Earnings Aug. 5. Here's How Much $15,000 Invested Pays Annually.

Realty Income, a REIT focused on brick-and-mortar retail properties, is set to report Q2 earnings on Aug. 5 with expected 7% revenue growth. The company is known for its consistent monthly dividend payments (nearly $750 annually on a $15,000 investment at current 5% yield) and 31 consecutive years of dividend increases. The company is also expanding into data centers, which could accelerate future dividend growth.

07/31/2026, 5:20 AM • The Motley Fool