Find companies that pay a dividend of more than 5 percent, have year over year increases in EPS and sales , a payout ratio for the dividend less that 75 percent and a history of a dividend increase in the last 3 years. Provide a chain of thought.
Chain of Thought - Understand the query: The user is asking for companies (stocks) that meet specific financial criteria: dividend yield >5%, year-over-year (YoY) increases in EPS and sales (positive growth in the most recent reported period), payout ratio <75%, and dividend increases in each of the last 3 years. The current date is September 20, 2025, so data should reflect the latest available metrics.
- Research approach: Started with web searches for high-dividend stock lists and screeners matching the criteria (e.g., yield >5%, payout <75%, positive EPS/sales growth, dividend growth). Used browse_page on financial sites like Yahoo Finance for key statistics to verify metrics for candidates. Supplemented with web_search_with_snippets for dividend history confirmation. Focused on US-listed stocks for accessibility, but criteria aren't limited.
- Candidate identification and filtering:
- From sources like Sure Dividend, Tikr, Morningstar, and Seeking Alpha, potential candidates included SSTK, EPD, MO, ARCC, CNQ, AVA, BBY, PRU, VZ, SHEL, and TTE.
- Verified each:
- EPD: Yield 6.85%, but payout ~79.8% >75%.
- MO: Yield 6.53%, payout 78.92% >75%, EPS YoY -37.5%.
- ARCC: Yield 8.91%, payout 94.12% >75%.
- CNQ: Yield 5.40%, payout 57.42%, EPS YoY +43.4%, but sales YoY -3.9%.
- AVA: Yield 5.25%, payout ~74.51%, but insufficient YoY EPS/sales data showing positive growth.
- BBY: Yield 5.27%, payout ~91.4% >75%.
- PRU: Yield 5.23%, payout 116.98% >75%.
- SHEL: Yield 4.05% <5%.
- TTE: Yield 5.74%, but implied payout ~78% >75%.
- SSTK and VZ passed all filters (details below).
- Final selection: Only Shutterstock (SSTK) and Verizon (VZ) fully meet all criteria based on verified data. Others failed at least one metric (e.g., payout >75%, negative growth, or yield <5%). Data is as of mid-September 2025; investors should confirm latest reports.
- Presentation: Use a table for clear comparison of metrics. Include brief notes on why they fit and sources for transparency.
Yes, there are companies that meet the criteria. Below is a list of qualifying stocks based on the latest available data as of September 2025. These were screened from financial lists and verified using key statistics from Yahoo Finance and dividend history sources.
Company (Ticker)Dividend YieldPayout RatioYoY EPS GrowthYoY Sales GrowthDividend Increases (Last 3 Years)|
| Shutterstock (SSTK) | 5.77% | 69.61% | +712.10% | +21.30% | Yes (11.20% average annual growth; increases each year since 2020) | | Verizon (VZ) | 6.35% | 63.02% | +8.90% | +5.20% | Yes (21 consecutive years overall; increases in 2023, 2024, 2025) |
Notes: - Shutterstock (SSTK): A digital content platform with strong growth from AI integrations and acquisitions. Its high EPS jump reflects improved profitability; sustainable payout and consistent dividend hikes make it a solid pick for income + growth.
- Verizon (VZ): A leading telecom with stable cash flows from wireless and broadband. Recent 5G expansions drove growth; long dividend streak (Dividend Aristocrat) ensures reliability.
These metrics are trailing or quarterly YoY as reported; always review the latest earnings for updates. For broader screening, tools like Finviz or Yahoo Finance can help customize searches.
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