One of the enduring beauties of investing on Wall Street lies in the diversity of strategies available to foster wealth. Among the throng, few have commanded as much reverence over the last fifty years as the humble dividend stocks. Emitting a portion of their earnings to shareholders, these companies stand as bastions of profitability, hewn from a bedrock of time-tested resilience, the kind that promises enduring returns.
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Yet, beyond mere lip service, The Power of Dividends: Past, Present, and Future, laid bare a staggering revelation. Over the sweeping arc of half a century (1973-2023), dividend stocks strode forth with an average annual return that eclipsed their non-paying brethren by a factor of more than double — 9.17% versus 4.27%.
However, as the sage saying goes, where there is light, there lurks shadow. Not all dividend stocks stand on equal footing. Hovering on the fringes are the ultra-high-yield darlings, with yields dwarfing that of the S&P 500 by at least fourfold, beckoning unsuspecting investors towards a siren call that can sometimes lead to perilous cliffs.
In the midst of this peril, hope shines bright for discerning eyes. Echoing from the revered halls of Wall Street are proclamations of two ultra-high-yield dividend stocks set to bestow upon investors total returns, including their dividends, of up to a staggering 92% within the next year.
Ford Motor Company: Reaching for the Stars with a 92% Total Return
Galumphing onto the scene is the venerated Ford Motor Company, the automotive juggernaut that has reigned supreme in the annals of vehicular history. In the prognostication of Bank of America‘s John Murphy lies a vision of Ford ascending to $20 per share, a summit crowned with a $0.60 base annual payout, currently yielding a sumptuous 5.6%, promising investors a bountiful 92% total return in the coming year.
Facing trifling squalls in recent quarters, with warranty issues casting a shadow over profitability, and the flicker of electric vehicle (EV) demand casting uncertain shadows, Ford grapples with adversity. Yet, amid these headwinds, a flicker of hope remains.
With the prowess to adjust its expenditures to meet the rhythms of demand, Ford unveiled its capacity for fiscal dexterity. A delay of a $12 billion EV injection heralds ample room for nimbleness. In addition, the steadfast roar of Ford’s internal combustion-engine segment continues to resound. Emblematic of this is the F-Series pickup, reigning supreme as the illustrious best-seller in the U.S. for 47 uninterrupted years, a titan of its kind.
Bolstering this triumvirate of strengths lies Ford’s ascendant quality control measures. Gliding effortlessly up the ramparts of improvement, Ford shines brightly in J.D. Power’s 2024 U.S. Initial Quality Study, a testament to their tautened internal reins.
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Pfizer: A Golden Harvest of a 60% Total Return
Emerging from the crucible of the pharmaceutical pantheon is none other than Pfizer, the stentorian entity that stands as a sentinel in the domain of healthcare. Through the foresight of Cantor Fitzgerald’s Louise Chen, Pfizer’s stock meanders toward $45, enveloped by a $1.68 base annual bestowal, crafting a 5.8% yield, suggesting a robust 60% total return over the ensuing twelve-month epoch.
Yet, Pfizer’s stock stumbles upon the rocks, its blockbusting COVID-19 drugs, Comirnaty and Paxlovid, witnessing a descent. Spiraling from a zenith of over $56 billion in tandem revenue during 2022, these two elixirs flag to a pallid $8.5 billion vista this year.