Últimas noticias sobre Ares Capital (NASDAQ:ARCC) Bolsa

Ares Capital

Ares Capital Corp is a United States-based closed-ended specialty finance company. Its investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The company focuses on investing primarily in first lien senior secured loans (including unitranche loans, which are loans that combine both senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first lien position) and second lien senior secured loans. In addition to senior secured loans, the company also invests in subordinated loans and preferred equity, it also makes common equity investments.

Ares Capital Corporation - Closed End Fund

Ares Capital Corp

In the preceding three months, 8 analysts have released ratings for Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>), presenting a wide array of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">7</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">5</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $22.94, a high estimate of $24.50, and a low estimate of $21.00. Experiencing a 0.52% decline, the current average is now lower than the previous average price target of $23.06. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1745532052_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Breaking Down Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Examination</h2>
A comprehensive examination of how financial experts perceive Ares Capital is derived from recent analyst actions. The following is a detailed summary of key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
&#x7C; Analyst &#x7C; Analyst Firm &#x7C; Action Taken &#x7C; Rating &#x7C;Current Price Target&#x7C; Prior Price Target &#x7C; 
&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;-----------------------&#x7C;---------------&#x7C;---------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C; 
&#x7C;Melissa Wedel &#x7C;JP Morgan &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $22.00&#x7C;$24.50 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Doug Harter &#x7C;UBS &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Neutral &#x7C; $21.00&#x7C;$22.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Paul Johnson &#x7C;Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods&#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Outperform &#x7C; $22.00&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Kenneth Lee &#x7C;RBC Capital &#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Outperform &#x7C; $24.00&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Paul Johnson &#x7C;Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods&#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Outperform &#x7C; $23.00&#x7C;$22.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Finian O'Shea &#x7C;Wells Fargo &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $23.00&#x7C;$24.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Melissa Wedel &#x7C;JP Morgan &#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $24.50&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Timothy O'Shea &#x7C;Wells Fargo &#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $24.00&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C;
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Responding to changing market dynamics and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their response to recent developments related to Ares Capital. This offers insight into analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Providing a comprehensive analysis, analysts offer qualitative assessments, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings reflect expectations for the relative performance of Ares Capital compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Ares Capital's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into Ares Capital's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARCC/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Ares Capital analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Delving into Ares Capital's Background</h2>
Ares Capital Corp is a United States-based closed-ended specialty finance company. Its investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The company focuses on investing primarily in first lien senior secured loans (including unitranche loans, which are loans that combine both senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first lien position) and second lien senior secured loans. In addition to senior secured loans, the company also invests in subordinated loans and preferred equity, it also makes common equity investments.
<h3>Ares Capital: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Falling below industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization reflects a reduced size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as growth expectations or operational capacity.
Decline in Revenue: Over the 3M period, Ares Capital faced challenges, resulting in a decline of approximately -11.49% in revenue growth as of 31 December, 2024. This signifies a reduction in the company's top-line earnings. In comparison to its industry peers, the company trails behind with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Financials sector.
Net Margin: Ares Capital's net margin is impressive, surpassing industry averages. With a net margin of 90.84%, the company demonstrates strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Ares Capital's ROE falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently using equity capital. With an ROE of 2.73%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): Ares Capital's ROA is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 1.29%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: The company maintains a balanced debt approach with a debt-to-equity ratio below industry norms, standing at 1.03.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: Simplified</h2>
Within the domain of banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their work involves attending company conference calls and meetings, researching company financial statements, and communicating with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Analyst Ratings

ARCC

Where Ares Capital Stands With Analysts

JP Morgan analyst Melissa Wedel maintains Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $24.5 to $22.

News

Price Target

JP Morgan Maintains Overweight on Ares Capital, Lowers Price Target to $22

In today's unpredictable market, investors seeking high yields need to balance risk and reward carefully. With rising volatility, inflation concerns, and fluctuating interest rates, a well-diversified portfolio is crucial to sustaining durable income.
For income-focused <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44709542/investors-just-poured-3m-into-this-whatsapp-job-app-for-hispanic-immigrants-and-its-already-helping-800-find-work">investors</a>, especially those nearing, or in retirement, capital preservation and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43897884/dividend-investor-making-5-000-per-month-with-632-000-reveals-portfolio-it-takes-time-but-its-doable">dividend</a> sustainability are just as important as yield. A mix of low-volatility assets, tax-efficient strategies, and recession-resistant sectors can help counter market turbulence while delivering consistent cash flow.
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<li>Can you guess how many retire with a $5,000,000 nest egg? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/5mil-nest-egg-adv">The percentage may shock you</a>.</li>
</ul>
Reddit has witnessed this balance struggle in a post an investor has created. The 50-year-old poster has spent years building a high-yield portfolio in a brokerage account, but now his main goal is reliable monthly income without sacrificing the principal.
The investor is open to various asset classes such as stocks, bonds, real estate investment trusts, closed-end funds, and/or business development companies but wants to avoid yield traps and foreign stocks due to tax complications.
&#8220;I need durable income. [Ford Motor Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/f#NYSE">F</a>)] is a no, it's a yield trap and has been for years. [Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schd#NYSE">SCHD</a>)] and [Schwab U.S. REIT ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schh#NYSE">SCHH</a>)] are great funds, but the yield is too low. I own SCHD in my growth portfolio but continue to sell some every year as I convert to income. Also want to diversify away from options. They are great for income but tend to fluctuate as supply/demand does in down markets,&#8221; he said.
His questions to Reddit investors are what high-yield – over 8% – stocks, ETFs, or funds can sustain payouts long-term, whether there are low-risk business development companies or closed-end funds that won't cut dividends in a downturn, and how can he further diversify beyond his current holdings.
Trending: The secret weapon in billionaire investor portfolios that you almost certainly don't own yet. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">See which asset class has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 (1995-2024) – and with near-zero correlation.</a>
Redditors have offered a mix of ETF recommendations, individual stock picks, and broader portfolio strategies, so let&#8217;s dive into those.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Investor Seeks 8% or More High-Yield Holdings For Durable Income – Reddit Suggests Assets</h2>
Focus on High-Quality BDCs and CEFs for Steady Income
Several commenters recommended business development companies and closed-end funds as core holdings for high, sustainable yields.
&#8220;Two closed-end funds that I like a lot are [Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eoi#NYSE">EOI</a>)] and [Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eos#NYSE">EOS</a>)]. They have been around since 2005, have mostly favorable tax treatment on their distributions, and have had better total returns than [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)​] and [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>)​],&#8221; a commenter suggested.
Without adding anything else, this Redditor shared several assets for the investor to research: &#8220;[Ares Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arcc#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>)], [Blue Owl Capital Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/obdc#NYSE">OBDC</a>)], [Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bxsl#NYSE">BXSL</a>)], [Capital Southwest Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cswc#NASDAQ">CSWC</a>)], [Hercules Capital (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/htgc#NYSE">HTGC</a>)], [Barings BDC (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bbdc#NYSE">BBDC</a>)], [Bain Capital Specialty Finance (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bcsf#NYSE">BCSF</a>)], [Fidus Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fdus#NASDAQ">FDUS</a>)], [Carlyle Secured Lending (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cgbd#NASDAQ">CGBD</a>)], [Sixth Street Specialty Lending (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tslx#NYSE">TSLX</a>)].&#8221;
&#8220;On the same boat (53 years old). Started late but trying to catch up with high-yield stocks. My stocks are: [Ares Capital Corp. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arcc#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>)], [Main Street Capital Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/main#NYSE">MAIN</a>)​], OBDC, HTGC, [Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/o#NYSE">O</a>)], [VICI Properties (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vici#NYSE">VICI</a>)], [Altria Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mo#NYSE">MO</a>)], and [British American Tobacco (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bti#NYSE">BTI</a>)]. The last two are the best performers so far,&#8221; a Reddit user wrote.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
Consider Covered-Call ETFs for Tax-Efficient Monthly Income
Given the poster&#8217;s preference for tax-efficient income, several commenters highlighted covered-call ETFs as strong options.
&#8220;[Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/kbwy#NASDAQ">KBWY</a>)], [VanEck Mortgage REIT Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mort#NYSE">MORT</a>)], [NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqqi#NASDAQ">QQQI</a>)], JEPQ, [Goldman Sachs Nasdaq-100 Core Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gpiq#NYSE">GPIQ</a>)], [NEOS S&amp;P 500 High Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spyi#NYSE">SPYI</a>)], JEPI, [Goldman Sachs S&amp;P 500 Core Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gpix#NASDAQ">GPIX</a>)], and [NEOS Russell 2000 High Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iwmi#NASDAQ">IWMI</a>)] are a few. They will probably stay lower during the current volatile cycle, but should do well long term I would think,&#8221; a commenter recommended.
A user mentioned a real estate investment trust option, noting that it pays around 9.5% yield and has a 0.50% expense ratio.
&#8220;Aside from the covered call funds like JEPQ, QQQI, [TappAlpha SPY Growth &amp; Daily Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/tspy#NASDAQ">TSPY</a>)], and the like, there&#8217;s a [real estate investment trust] ETF from Hoya Capital called [Hoya Capital High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/riet#NYSE">RIET</a>)] with a 0.50% expense ratio that pays about a 9.5% yield and seems pretty steady.&#8221;
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Image: Shutterstock

Small Cap

Personal Finance

BBDC

BCSF

BXSL

CGBD

CSWC

FDUS

GPIQ

GPIX

HTGC

NEOS ETF Trust NEOS Russell 2000 High Income ETF

IWMI

JEPI

JEPQ

Powershares Kbw Premium Yield Equity Reit Portfolio

KBWY

MAIN

MORT

OBDC

QQQI

RIET

SCHD

SCHH

SPYI

TSLX

TSPY

VICI

50-Year-Old Investor Craves 8%+ Yield, Snubs Ford, Chases Durable Dividends – 'I Am Willing To Consider Anything' For Monthly Income

Ares Capital's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NYSE">ARCC</a>) short percent of float has fallen 8.43% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 15.54 million shares sold short, which is 2.28% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.48 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>Ares Capital Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1745251223_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for Ares Capital has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing Ares Capital's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a>, Ares Capital's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 3.59%, which means the company has less short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=short-interest&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

Trading Ideas

Is Ares Capital Gaining or Losing Market Support?

Building wealth through <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44804226/can-you-live-off-dividends-investor-pulls-500-month-from-178k-portfolio-i-feel-more-comfortable-this-way-with-these-6-stock-picks">dividends</a> isn&#8217;t an overnight success, but rather work that requires relentless discipline, patience, consistency, and the power of compounding. While many chase quick gains, the real magic happens when investors commit to a long-term <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43901059/ray-dalios-holy-grail-investment-strategy-why-10-15-diversified-investments-could-make-you-a-fortune">strategy</a>, reinvesting dividends and steadily growing their portfolios over decades.
One investor&#8217;s recent milestone proves just that: a $1 million portfolio generating $4,000 a month in passive income, all starting from humble beginnings of just $50 a month.
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The investor, who is nearly 40 years old, shared on Reddit that he began his journey at 20 but only started taking investing seriously in his mid-20s. His early contributions were modest, around $20 to $50 a month, but over time, he increased his monthly investments to an average of $300, and now invests approximately $2,000 to $2,500 monthly.
Despite market volatility, he said he&#8217;s focused on the long game: &#8220;It's hard to see my portfolio plummeting, but I then remember myself I'm playing a long game. I'm not in a hurry, the administration will change and markets will become green eventually. They did in the past every single time.&#8221;
The investor's portfolio consists of a mix of ETFs, real estate investment trusts, and blue-chip dividend stocks. Let&#8217;s take a closer look at each holding, why investors favor them, and their current dividend yields.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">A $1 Million Portfolio Generating $4,000 a Month Dividend Income–Redditor Shares Top Holdings</h2>
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF
Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) is a fan favorite among dividend investors because it tracks a high-quality index of U.S. companies with strong, consistent dividend payouts. It focuses on companies with solid fundamentals like high return on equity, low debt, and consistent growth. SCHD pays investors around 4.05% in dividend yield annually.
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEPI#NYSE">JEPI</a>)​ offers an attractive yield by combining blue-chip U.S. equities with an options overlay strategy that generates extra income. It's especially loved by retirees and income seekers who want stability and high cash flow without taking massive risks. JEPI generates around 7.88% in annual dividend yield.
Realty Income Corporation
Realty Income Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>) is a real estate investment trust that owns commercial real estate leased to big, stable tenants like Walgreens and FedEx. It has a legendary track record of paying monthly dividends for over 25 years straight. O is beloved by income investors for its predictability and real estate-backed stability and pays approximately 5,68% in dividends per year.
Ares Capital Corporation
Ares Capital Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) is a business development company that lends to and invests in middle-market companies, earning high interest in return. Investors love ARCC for its high yield and consistent income, even if it comes with slightly higher risk. ARCC generates around 9,49% in dividends per year.
Public Storage
Public Storage (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PSA#NYSE">PSA</a>) is the king of the self-storage real estate investment trusts, operating thousands of storage facilities across the U.S. PSA it's a favorite among long-term real estate investors because of its stable cash flow, low overhead, and high margins. The company pays investors approximately 4,13% in dividend income annually.
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SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust
SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) is the original S&amp;P 500 ETF, offering diversification across 500 of the biggest U.S. companies. It's not known for high yield, but investors hold it for long-term growth and market exposure. SPY generates approximately 1.33% in annual dividend yield.
Altria Group
Altria Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MO#NYSE">MO</a>) offers a sky-high yield and stable cash flow from its tobacco empire. Despite regulatory headwinds, it continues to generate enormous profits and share them with investors. Some also speculate on growth via its cannabis and nicotine-alternative investments. MO pays 7,06% in dividend income per year.
PepsiCo
PepsiCo (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PEP#NASDAQ">PEP</a>) owns massive snack brands like Doritos, Quaker, and Lay's. Its diversified business model makes it recession-resistant, and it's a dividend aristocrat with over 50 years of dividend growth. Investors love its global reach, brand strength, and reliable, growing dividend payouts, which are now around 3,76% per year.
Johnson &amp; Johnson
Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) is a healthcare titan with business lines in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products. It has one of the longest dividend growth streaks and is considered ultra-defensive. JNJ is a go-to for investors wanting both stability and a safe, growing income stream through dividends, which now sit at around 3.14% per year.
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VZ#NYSE">VZ</a>) provides essential telecom services, with a massive nationwide infrastructure and millions of customers. While growth is slow, its cash flows are enormous, and it pays a very generous dividend. VZ pays investors around 6,08% in dividends.
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Image: Shutterstock

From $50 A Month To $1M Portfolio — Investor Shares Top 10 Holdings, Says 'Finally Reached $1M!' Thanks To Relentless Discipline

UBS analyst Doug Harter maintains Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) with a Neutral and lowers the price target from $22 to $21.

UBS Maintains Neutral on Ares Capital, Lowers Price Target to $21

Dividend stocks are gaining attention as investors crave certainty and downsize protection following market volatility triggered by President Donald Trump's tariff announcement on April 2. Dividend stocks have proven their resilience in the past. The S&amp;P 500 High Dividend Index outperformed the S&amp;P 500 in the dot-com bubble and COVID-19 market crash, according to an <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/documents/education/education-the-importance-of-dividends.pdf">S&amp;P Global</a> research report.
Earlier this month, a dividend investor <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dividends/comments/1jqucki/account_update_6000month/">shared</a> his portfolio and income details on r/Dividends — a Reddit discussion board with over 700,000 followers. The portfolio screenshots shared by the investor on the social platform showed his monthly dividend income stood at $6,027.
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The investor said he had been waiting to buy stocks on a pullback, and his chance finally came following the recent market selloff.
"What a bloody day today but it did hit the price target I have been waiting for. Now that I reached $6,000, now I am going to use this money to start buying more VOO and discounted tech stocks like Google, Amazon Microsoft, Broadcom, etc."
The investor said dividend investing is not a "get rich quick" scheme and it took him 20 years to reach this income milestone. He urged investors to "keep grinding until we don't have to."
"As long as you are consistent with your investment, you will also get there," he added.
Trending: It&#8217;s no wonder Jeff Bezos holds over $250 million in art — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/masterworks">this alternative asset has outpaced the S&amp;P 500 since 1995, delivering an average annual return of 11.4%. Here&#8217;s how everyday investors are getting started.</a>
The investor's portfolio had a total worth of about $1.1 million. Let's take a look at some of his biggest holdings.
Enterprise Products Partners
Number of Shares: 5,357
Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EPD#NYSE">EPD</a>) was the biggest holding of the investor, accounting for about 16% of his total portfolio. He had 5,357 shares of the energy company, according to the portfolio screenshots he shared on Reddit. The stock has a dividend yield of over 7%.
JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF&nbsp;
Number of Shares: 2,648
The Redditor earning $6,000 a month in dividends had a $146,000 stake in JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEPI#NYSE">JEPI</a>). The fund invests in some of the most notable large-cap U.S. stocks and generates income by selling call options.&nbsp; Visa (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), Mastercard (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MA#NYSE">MA</a>), Southern Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SO#NYSE">SO</a>) and Progressive Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>) are among the fund's top holdings.
Ares Capital
Number of Shares: 2,501
Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) a business development company, was one of the top stocks in the investor&#8217;s portfolio. The stock has a dividend yield of over 9%.
Blackstone Secured Lending
Number of Shares: 2,501
Blackstone Secured Lending (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BXSL#NYSE">BXSL</a>) is a business development company mainly investing in private U.S. companies&#8217; first-lien senior secured debt. The company has a dividend yield of about 11%. The stock is down 14% so far this year.
See Also: Hasbro, MGM, and Skechers trust this AI marketing firm — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/rad-intel">invest pre-IPO from $0.60 per share now</a>.
Realty Income
Number of Shares: 850
Realty Income (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>) is one of the most popular monthly dividend stocks among Redditors. The REIT has a dividend yield of 5.8%. Last month, Realty Income raised its dividend by 0.2%.&nbsp;
Medical Properties
Number of Shares: 6,769
Medical Properties (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MPW#NYSE">MPW</a>) is an Alabama-based REIT focused on hospital facilities. It has a dividend yield of about 6%. The investor had 6,769 shares of the company in his portfolio. The stock is up 32% over the past year.
Enbridge
Number of Shares: 761
Canadian energy infrastructure company Enbridge Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ENB#NYSE">ENB</a>) has a dividend yield of 6.2%. The company has consistently <a href="https://www.enbridge.com/media-center/news/details?id=123836&amp;lang=en">raised</a> its dividends for about three decades now.
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF
Number of Shares: 662
The investor had 662 JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEPQ#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>) shares in his portfolio. JEPQ is a high-yield covered call ETF that distributes monthly dividend income. The ETF invests in Nasdaq companies and generates extra income by selling call options. It yields about 10%.
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Dividend Investor Making $6,000/Month Shares Portfolio; Bought More on Recent 'Bloody Day' Selloff — 'Keep Grinding Until We Don't Have To'

WIIM

ALLY

ARES

CADE

EWBC

FITB

HBAN

HOMB

HSBC

IBKR

NDAQ

NTRS

RITM

SCHW

SOFI

SPGI

TROW

VOYA

ZION

Shares of banks and financial services companies are trading lower as stocks pull back after surging Wednesday following President Trump's tariff pause announcement.

ACGL

COLB

DBRG

FULT

FUTU

UPST

Shares of banks and financial services companies are trading higher amid an overall market surge following President Trump's decision to implement a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China.

Across the recent three months, 6 analysts have shared their insights on Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>), expressing a variety of opinions spanning from bullish to bearish.
The table below summarizes their recent ratings, showcasing the evolving sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th align="right">Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th align="right">Indifferent</th>
<th align="right">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th align="right">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">6</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">1</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">2</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">3</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
<td align="right">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts have recently evaluated Ares Capital and provided 12-month price targets. The average target is $23.42, accompanied by a high estimate of $24.50 and a low estimate of $22.00. Observing a 1.83% increase, the current average has risen from the previous average price target of $23.00. 
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1744142441_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
The analysis of recent analyst actions sheds light on the perception of Ares Capital by financial experts. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
&#x7C; Analyst &#x7C; Analyst Firm &#x7C; Action Taken &#x7C; Rating &#x7C;Current Price Target&#x7C; Prior Price Target &#x7C; 
&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;-----------------------&#x7C;---------------&#x7C;---------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C;--------------------&#x7C; 
&#x7C;Paul Johnson &#x7C;Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods&#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Outperform &#x7C; $22.00&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Kenneth Lee &#x7C;RBC Capital &#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Outperform &#x7C; $24.00&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Paul Johnson &#x7C;Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods&#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Outperform &#x7C; $23.00&#x7C;$22.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Finian O'Shea &#x7C;Wells Fargo &#x7C;Lowers &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $23.00&#x7C;$24.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Melissa Wedel &#x7C;JP Morgan &#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $24.50&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C; 
&#x7C;Timothy O'Shea &#x7C;Wells Fargo &#x7C;Raises &#x7C;Overweight &#x7C; $24.00&#x7C;$23.00 &#x7C;
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: In response to dynamic market conditions and company performance, analysts update their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise', or 'Lower' their stance, it signifies their reaction to recent developments related to Ares Capital. This insight gives a snapshot of analysts' perspectives on the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Offering a comprehensive view, analysts assess stocks qualitatively, spanning from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Ares Capital compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts navigate through adjustments in price targets, providing estimates for Ares Capital's future value. Comparing current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
Understanding these analyst evaluations alongside key financial indicators can offer valuable insights into Ares Capital's market standing. Stay informed and make well-considered decisions with our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ARCC/analyst-ratings?adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=analyst-ratings&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Stay up to date on Ares Capital analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>Unveiling the Story Behind Ares Capital</h2>
Ares Capital Corp is a United States-based closed-ended specialty finance company. Its investment objective is to generate both current income and capital appreciation through debt and equity investments. The company focuses on investing primarily in first lien senior secured loans (including unitranche loans, which are loans that combine both senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first lien position) and second lien senior secured loans. In addition to senior secured loans, the company also invests in subordinated loans and preferred equity, it also makes common equity investments.
<h3>Ares Capital: Financial Performance Dissected</h3>
Market Capitalization Perspectives: The company's market capitalization falls below industry averages, signaling a relatively smaller size compared to peers. This positioning may be influenced by factors such as perceived growth potential or operational scale.
Revenue Growth: Ares Capital's revenue growth over a period of 3M has faced challenges. As of 31 December, 2024, the company experienced a revenue decline of approximately -11.49%. This indicates a decrease in the company's top-line earnings. When compared to others in the Financials sector, the company faces challenges, achieving a growth rate lower than the average among peers.
Net Margin: Ares Capital's financial strength is reflected in its exceptional net margin, which exceeds industry averages. With a remarkable net margin of 90.84%, the company showcases strong profitability and effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Ares Capital's ROE is below industry standards, pointing towards difficulties in efficiently utilizing equity capital. With an ROE of 2.73%, the company may encounter challenges in delivering satisfactory returns for shareholders.
Return on Assets (ROA): The company's ROA is below industry benchmarks, signaling potential difficulties in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 1.29%, the company may need to address challenges in generating satisfactory returns from its assets.
Debt Management: Ares Capital's debt-to-equity ratio is below the industry average at 1.03, reflecting a lower dependency on debt financing and a more conservative financial approach.
<h2>Analyst Ratings: What Are They?</h2>
Analysts work in banking and financial systems and typically specialize in reporting for stocks or defined sectors. Analysts may attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish "analyst ratings" for stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter.
Some analysts publish their predictions for metrics such as growth estimates, earnings, and revenue to provide additional guidance with their ratings. When using analyst ratings, it is important to keep in mind that stock and sector analysts are also human and are only offering their opinions to investors.
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This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Deep Dive Into Ares Capital Stock: Analyst Perspectives (6 Ratings)

Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Paul Johnson maintains Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) with a Outperform and lowers the price target from $23 to $22.

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Maintains Outperform on Ares Capital, Lowers Price Target to $22

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$50.0K</td>
<td>262</td>
<td>4.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>RKT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$22.20</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>101</td>
<td>538</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>COIN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$185.00</td>
<td>$25.4K</td>
<td>688</td>
<td>527</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>V</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$140.00</td>
<td>$36.0K</td>
<td>106</td>
<td>370</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$230.00</td>
<td>$34.1K</td>
<td>3.8K</td>
<td>309</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARCC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$41.6K</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>289</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALLY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$27.6K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>173</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MET</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$65.00</td>
<td>$79.0K</td>
<td>491</td>
<td>103</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>FUTU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$110.00</td>
<td>$31.2K</td>
<td>417</td>
<td>18</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NU</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$26.7K</td>
<td>604</td>
<td>5</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 10 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $32.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $50.0K, with a price of $500.0 per contract. There were 262 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4044 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For RKT (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RKT#NYSE">RKT</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 165 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 31 contract(s) at a $22.20 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $900.0 per contract. There were 101 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 538 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For COIN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 10 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 117 contract(s) at a $185.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.4K, with a price of $219.0 per contract. There were 688 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 527 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For V (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 648 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 2 contract(s) at a $140.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $36.0K, with a price of $18020.0 per contract. There were 106 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 370 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we observe a call option trade with bearish sentiment. It expires in 74 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 34 contract(s) at a $230.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.1K, with a price of $1005.0 per contract. There were 3803 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 309 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding ARCC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 165 day(s) on September 19, 2025. Parties traded 85 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 9 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $41.6K, with a price of $490.0 per contract. There were 0 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 289 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ALLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALLY#NYSE">ALLY</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 284 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $35.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.6K, with a price of $690.0 per contract. There were 1108 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 173 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MET (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MET#NYSE">MET</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 347 day(s) on March 20, 2026. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $65.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $79.0K, with a price of $790.0 per contract. There were 491 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 103 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For FUTU (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUTU#NASDAQ">FUTU</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 10 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 10 contract(s) at a $110.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.2K, with a price of $3120.0 per contract. There were 417 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 18 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NU (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NU#NYSE">NU</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 39 day(s) on May 16, 2025. Parties traded 50 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.7K, with a price of $535.0 per contract. There were 604 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 5 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

COIN

HOOD

10 Financials Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

The US government's tariff plans are continuing to hammer the stock market as investors navigate market volatility and brace for the impact of new duties on imports. Dividend stocks are expected to gain popularity in this backdrop. BNY Investments said in a recent <a href="https://www.bny.com/assets/investments/im/documents/manual/perspectives/newton-why-dividends-are-set-to-shine.pdf">report</a> that dividend stocks are expected to shine this year amid the potential for an inflation rebound and ongoing tariff uncertainties.
About a month ago, someone asked income investors on r/Dividends — a Reddit discussion board with more than 680,000 followers — whether anyone was living comfortably off dividends and how long it took them to reach that milestone. The question received an overwhelming response, with many Redditors sharing impressive income reports and portfolios.&nbsp;
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An investor said he started off from $4,000 a month in dividends and reached about $20,000 to $30,000 monthly income.
"I have comfortably lived off distributions for about 10 years now. But I started at about 4k a month now I get 20-30k a month," he said.
The investor said he had exposure to fixed-rate investments to offset volatility that comes from interest rate volatility.
"The only bad part with income investing is the constant rebalancing, and you have to cut losers and feed winners Sometimes this results are more taxes than you would like, but you gotta have a strategy. I usually only deploy margin during bear market."
The investor said he invested in REITs during the 2008 bear market as he believed the industry would rebound sooner or later.
&nbsp;"I made a fortune in 2008 off REITs, I am 100% a bear market investor Whenever things get bad, that's when I break the money printer out."
Trending: If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/arrived-private-credit-fund">7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it</a>?
Let's take a look at some of the top stocks and funds in the investor's portfolio.
Roundhill S&amp;P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF
Roundhill S&amp;P 500 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF (CBOE: XDTE) generates income by selling call options on the S&amp;P 500 that expire on the same day, known as 0DTE options. The ETF is suitable for those looking to generate short-term income by focusing on daily market movements.
Roundhill Small Cap 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF&nbsp;
The Roundhill Small Cap 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF (CBOE: RDTE) generates income by holding small-cap stocks and selling call options with zero expiration days.&nbsp;
Roundhill Innov-100 0DTE Covered Call ETF&nbsp;
Roundhill Innov-100 0DTE Covered Call ETF (CBOE: QDTE) generates income via a zero-day-to-expiration options strategy on the Roundhill Innovate Index. This strategy involves selling call options that expire the same day.&nbsp;
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF
JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEPQ#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>) is a high-yield covered call ETF that distributes monthly dividend income. The ETF invests in Nasdaq companies and generates extra income by selling call options.&nbsp;
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Ares Capital Corporation&nbsp;
Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) is a business development company with a dividend yield of over 8%. Last month, Raymond James <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4404455-ares-capital-cut-to-market-perform-at-raymond-james-on-valuation">downgraded</a> the stock to Market Perform from Outperform, citing valuation. The stock has gained about 9% over the past year.&nbsp;
Main Street Capital Corp
Texas-based business development company Main Street Capital (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MAIN#NYSE">MAIN</a>) is a monthly dividend stock. Over the past 12 months, the stock is up 22%.&nbsp;
Blue Owl Capital&nbsp;
Blue Owl Capital Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OBDC#NYSE">OBDC</a>) is a business development company with a dividend yield of 11%. Last month, the company <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/news/4410513-blue-owl-capital-corp_-q4-total-investment-income-slips-missing-consensus">posted</a> fourth-quarter results which showed its net investment income in the period fell short of Wall Street estimates.
Putnam BDC Income ETF&nbsp;
The Putnam BDC Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PBDC#NYSE">PBDC</a>) provides investors exposure to business development companies. PBDC yields about 9%.
Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF&nbsp;
The Invesco KBW Premium Yield Equity REIT ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBWY#NASDAQ">KBWY</a>) provides exposure to small- and mid-cap US REITs. Some of the top holdings of the fund include Global Net Lease (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GNL#NYSE">GNL</a>),&nbsp; Site Centers (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SITC#NYSE">SITC</a>), Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BDN#NYSE">BDN</a>), and Community Healthcare Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHCT#NYSE">CHCT</a>), among others.&nbsp;
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CHCT

PBDC

QDTE

Roundhill ETF Trust Roundhill Small Cap 0DTE Covered Call Strategy ETF

RDTE

SITC

XDTE

Investor Making Up To $30,000 a Month In Dividends Shares His Top 9 Stocks - 'I'm A Bear Market Investor'

Many dream of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/24/11/41781968/suze-orman-says-if-youre-rich-like-her-then-you-can-retire-early-but-if-you-only-have-2-million-">retiring early</a>, but making it a reality requires careful planning, especially when you want to rely on investment income.
For those who aim to leave the workforce ahead of schedule, a dividend-oriented portfolio is a great strategy as it provides a steady cash flow. Balancing the yield and risk is crucial, though, to enjoy the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44390125/stock-market-timer-with-130k-cash-reserve-debates-nvda-investment-should-i-do-it-differently-or-stick-to-his-high-stakes-plan">investment</a>.
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</ul>
One Reddit user, an investor with a $640,000 portfolio, is encountering this issue as he plans to retire in five years or less. Heavily invested in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>) with smaller positions in Amplify CWP Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIVO#NYSE">DIVO</a>), Amplify CWP International Enhanced Dividend Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IDVO#NYSE">IDVO</a>), and Amplify CWP Growth &amp; Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QDVO#NYSE">QDVO</a>), the poster&#8217;s portfolio generates $27,162 in annual dividend income.
His goal is to build a portfolio that provides inflation-beating dividend growth, but he&#8217;s wondering whether he diversified enough, whether he should introduce bonds when nearing retirement, and whether the current allocation can generate $75,000 per year.
&#8220;I try to live modestly. I live in a small house. No mortgage. No debt. <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/dividends/comments/1ji8lcd/comment/mjeufff/?utm_source=share&amp;utm_medium=web3x&amp;utm_name=web3xcss&amp;utm_term=1&amp;utm_content=share_button">My current nominal expenses are about $45,000 per year.</a> I'm thinking about diversifying into [Schwab International Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schy#NYSE">SCHY</a>)] to get a little more international exposure,&#8221; he wrote.
Trending: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>
The Reddit community weighed in, offering advice and insights, so let&#8217;s analyze the suggestions below.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Can The Current $640,000 Portfolio Generate $75,000 Per Year in Dividends? Reddit Debates</h2>
Increase Yield with Higher-Paying ETFs And Stocks
Several users suggested adding higher-yielding assets to boost income, mainly since the investor&#8217;s 4.24% yield may not cover his $75,000 target.
&#8220;Try getting more yield exposure. [Broadcom (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/avgo#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)], [Nike (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nke#NYSE">NKE</a>)], [Visa (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/v#NYSE">V</a>)], [The Home Depot (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hd#NYSE">HD</a>)]–all have high 5-year [compound annual growth rate]. Yield: [MPLX LP (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mplx#NYSE">MPLX</a>)], [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>)], [Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gof#NYSE">GOF</a>)], [Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arcc#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>)​], [VICI Properties (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vici#NYSE">VICI</a>)], [PIMCO Dynamic Income Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pdi#NYSE">PDI</a>)],&#8221; a suggestion reads.
A Redditor advised the investor to allocate two parts of the portfolio to a covered call ETF and a high-yield fund since they pay well and the gains are great.
&#8220;Add JEPQ and [Goldman Sachs S&amp;P 500 Core Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gpix#NASDAQ">GPIX</a>)]. You will have good gains from those and they pay a lot.&#8221;
A commenter suggested Ares Dynamic Credit Allocation Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARDC#NYSE">ARDC</a>), a business development company because it offers nearly double the yield of SCHD.
&#8220;ARDC is a monthly payer, now at a good entry point at $14.14-ish with a 9.9% dividend, currently paying $0.1125/share monthly. Just went x-dividend. I hold 5,000 shares of ARCC (for several years) and 5,000 shares of ARDC (a more recent position),&#8221; he said.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Focus on Dividend Growth and Compounding
Many Redditors suggested that dividend growth stocks and ETFs are ideal for long-term retirement income, with many sharing what they do to ensure compounding growth for their portfolios.
&#8220;A well-diversified dividend portfolio with a disciplined reinvestment rate should be easily able to weather most storms. And you become a net buyer of shares every year, not a seller. That $640,000 could easily and safely do 8.5% gross and provide a 25% reinvestment rate and still net $40,000/year. I&#8217;m living it,&#8221; a Reddit user said.
&#8220;Nice and consistent portfolio. SCHD, DIVO, and IDVO are very consistent in growth and dividends. Don't know much about QDVO, but I am sure if it's similar to DIVO it's a good pick. I like your portfolio!&#8221; another commenter wrote.
A retiree shared that his income from dividend-focused shares continued to pour even during market corrections and that he&#8217;s reinvesting part of his distributions, growing his wealth year after year.
&#8220;My dividend income didn&#8217;t miss a beat during corrections in 2022, etc. Since I retired 15 years ago, I never sold shares except to rebalance. I reinvest part of my distributions during dips, like now, resulting in my portfolio being over twice what it was when I retired,&#8221; he said.
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</ul>

ARDC

AVGO

DIVO

IDVO

MPLX

Amplify ETF Trust Amplify CWP Growth & Income ETF

QDVO

SCHY

Investor With $640K Portfolio Aims For Early Retirement – 'Hoping To Retire In 5 Years Or Less' But Faces Tough Choices – Reddit Weights In

Retirement should be a time of financial peace, not stress; yet, for many soon-to-be retirees, the transition from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/08/40147003/rich-dad-poor-dad-author-robert-kiyosaki-sees-wealth-accumulation-in-market-declines-markets-are-cra">wealth accumulation</a> to income generation can be challenging.
The pressure to restructure the portfolio, ensuring it generates sufficient <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44461718/high-income-earner-with-3000-monthly-to-invest-faces-big-decision-i-definitely-want-to-diversify-beyond-ai-and-dividends">income</a> to live comfortably, is immense, more so when market volatility looms. For those with low-risk tolerance, the task is even more daunting because the wrong move could mean returning to work or cutting back on living expenses drastically.
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A Redditor has shared in a post that he&#8217;s faced with this exact challenge. With just eight months until retirement, the investor, a 62-year-old, has $400,000 to invest and is looking for maximal monthly dividend income with minimal risk.
Although this income won&#8217;t be his primary retirement funding but extra lifestyle cash to supplement his pension, the pressure to restructure his allocations wisely is immense for the poster.
&#8220;I&#8217;m in an odd spot due to exiting a business as a founder. My retirement scenario gets better every year. If I ever need extra cash, it will be in the first 5 years. I have a low-risk tolerance. Or, God forbid, I would need to go back to work if it crashed! It looks like we are in a dip now, obviously a high rate environment. Would this qualify as a better time to buy?&#8221; the investor wrote.
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The responses to his post ranged from ultra-conservative to moderately aggressive, so let&#8217;s analyze them.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Soon-to-be Retiree Has $400,000 to Invest for Dividend Income–Reddit Weights In</h2>
Invest in High-Quality Dividend ETFs
Considering the investor&#8217;s low-risk approach, Redditors suggested he pick a few high-quality ETFs to invest in.
&#8220;[Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schd#NYSE">SCHD</a>)] gets you a decent amount,&#8221; a comment reads.
&#8220;[NEOS S&amp;P 500 High Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/spyi#NYSE">SPYI</a>)] and chill,&#8221; says a Redditor, to which another user replied, &#8220;One advantage of SPYI is that its dividends are mainly return of capital. So, the tax is lower than an unqualified dividend from, say a [business development company]. However, if you use a tax-advantaged account like the Roth, that doesn&#8217;t matter.&#8221;
A commenter mentioned he splits his portfolio between two ETFs.
&#8220;I split between SPYI and [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>)​],&#8221; he said.
&#8220;[​JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)​], JEPQ, [WP Carey (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/wpc#NYSE">WPC</a>)], [Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/epd#NYSE">EPD</a>)], [MPLX LP (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mplx#NYSE">MPLX</a>)], SPYI,&#8221; an allocation suggestion reads.
A Reddit user wrote that this favorite individual stock of many investors is the perfect choice since it generates a 7% dividend yield per year.
&#8220;[Altria Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mo#NYSE">MO</a>)] &#8211; recession resistant, 7% yield. Your $400,000 would kick out $28,000 a year in income,&#8221; he said.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Go For Higher-Yielding Income Plays
Several Redditors suggested business development companies and covered-call ETFs since they deliver around 8% to 11% yields if the investor can handle a bit of risk.
&#8220;High-quality [business development companies] like [Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arcc#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>)​], [Blue Owl Capital Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/obdc#NYSE">OBDC</a>)], [Golub Capital BDC (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gbdc#NASDAQ">GBDC</a>)], [Blackstone Secured Lending Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bxsl#NYSE">BXSL</a>)], [Main Street Capital Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/main#NYSE">MAIN</a>)], [Capital Southwest Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cswc#NASDAQ">CSWC</a>)], [Fidus Investment Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fdus#NASDAQ">FDUS</a>)]. Average 9% yield,&#8221; a user recommended.
&#8220;[Business development companies] are a solid income-producing asset. This person doesn&#8217;t have decades to wait for growth. They need the money now as they are about to retire and growth was presumably the focus for the past few decades,&#8221; an advocate for business development companies wrote.
A Redditor shared in the comments that he&#8217;s been retired for 15 years and has the biggest part of his portfolio in high-yield business development companies.
&#8220;I&#8217;m 78 and have been retired for 15 years. I&#8217;m fortunate that social security and pensions cover my living expenses. The majority of my portfolio is high-yield [business development companies], [closed-end funds], and [real estate investment trusts]. The average yield is a tad over 10%. In 2022, the total value dropped but less than the DOW or S&amp;P. The dividends kept on coming without missing a beat. High risk they say, high rewards I say. It allows me to spend winters in Florida and yearly overseas vacations. I have zero regrets,&#8221; the retiree said.
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</ul>

GBDC

62-Year-Old With $400K And 8 Months To Retire Faces Huge Dilemma – 'How Would You Invest $400K?' Redditors Debate Best Low-Risk Moves

<a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44358643/burned-out-microsoft-engineer-with-1-1m-portfolio-debates-early-retirement-what-options-do-i-have-for-retirement-reddit-weighs-in">Retirement</a> planning often asks for bold moves, especially when transitioning from wealth accumulation to income generation, and for many investors, this shift is pivotal.
This transition is not always straightforward, requiring a massive shift in mindset and approach. Growth-focused investments are excellent for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/04/38167234/building-wealth-brick-by-brick-homeownership-sparks-208-000-surge-in-net-worth-over-four-years">building wealth</a> but can be volatile and unpredictable. In retirement, you need stability and predictability, which is where <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44374276/reddit-explodes-over-dividend-math-how-much-would-the-annual-dividend-be-for-a-280k-investment-investors-debate-schds-future-growth">dividend</a>-paying stocks and ETFs come into play.
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One Reddit user, a 58-year-old investor with a $3 million portfolio, is making a bold move like this. He is considering reallocating $1 million to dividend-focused investments to test the waters before retiring. His goal is to generate $55,000 annually in dividends while making sure his portfolio remains steady enough to support his lifestyle in retirement.
&#8220;I have about a $3 million portfolio mostly spread between mutual funds and individual stocks but I have never focused on dividends. I am now 58 and thinking about putting 1/3 or $1 million into dividend ETFs and stocks in preparation for retirement,&#8221; the investor wrote.
His proposed allocation includes a combo of ETFs and stocks, such as Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>), Realty Income Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/O#NYSE">O</a>), Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>), Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLU#NYSE">XLU</a>), JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEPI#NYSE">JEPI</a>), and JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JEPQ#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>), aiming for a 5.5% yield.
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Still, the poster is unsure whether his allocation is optimal, especially when it comes to stocks like O and ARCC, and whether the ETFs he selected offer enough diversification and yield. The Reddit community has offered the investor plenty of advice and insights, so let&#8217;s see these.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">$1 Million Reallocation For Retirement–Reddit Analyzes the Stock and ETF Selection</h2>
Diversify and Consider Risk Management
Many community members mentioned how important diversification in investing is, especially when it comes to a retirement portfolio, so they suggested replacing individual stocks with ETFs for risk reduction and simplification.
&#8220;I'd avoid individual stocks in a retirement account, like O and ARCC. I'd go with the ETF [Putnam BDC Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pbdc#NYSE">PBDC</a>)] for more diversification. I&#8217;d have you investing $1 million into: SCHD 27%, JEPI 11%, [Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vymi#NASDAQ">VYMI</a>)] 11%, JEPQ 10.5%, [NEOS Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqqi#NASDAQ">QQQI</a>)] 9.7%, [NEOS S&amp;P 500 High Income ETF (CBOE: SPYI)] 9.5%, PBDC 6.6%, [Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/abr#NYSE">ABR</a>)] 6%, [STAG Industrial, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/stag#NYSE">STAG</a>)] 3.55%, [Reaves Utility Income Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/utg#NYSE">UTG</a>)] 3.5%, and your yield would be over 8% with $6,800 per month dividend income on average,&#8221; a comment reads.
&#8220;Switch XLU with more SCHD. I like [VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vici#NYSE">VICI</a>)] more than O; VICI is literally recession-proof. Also, I would get rid of JEPI for more JEPQ or SPYI,&#8221; a Redditor suggested.
A user pointed out that the investor has no global diversification, which can offer stability for a portfolio.
&#8220;You&#8217;ve got no international positions either. Legendary investors like Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch have both said that you should invest in companies that any idiot can run because sooner or later, one will. The same is true of countries,&#8221; he said.
See Also: Have $200K saved?<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/have-200k-saved-heres-how-to-turn-it-into-lasting-wealth"> Here's how to turn it into lasting wealth</a>
Think About Yield Optimization and Tax Efficiency
Commenters also focused on how the investor can maximize yield while maintaining tax efficiency, particularly since he is planning for retirement.
&#8220;I would personally put the bulk of money in high-yield funds like [iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pff#NASDAQ">PFF</a>)] with a 6% yield, PBDC 9%, and JEPQ. ARCC is a [business development company] and they are required to pay out most of their earnings so the dividends are high for many BDCs. PBDC invests in the best BDCs they can find, including ARCC. This adds diversification. You could also have some money in [Schwab High Yield Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/scyb#NYSE">SCYB</a>)], a corporate bond fund with a yield of 7%, and the rest in SCHD and XLU. I don&#8217;t see a reason to keep JEPI,&#8221; a Redditor suggested.
&#8220;We are retired early and in the process of migrating from dividend growth to dividend income in our taxable account. SPYI and [NEOS Nasdaq 100 High Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqqi#NASDAQ">QQQI</a>)] use return of capital in their distributions so they work well in taxable accounts. I also like some [closed-end funds] such as [Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eoi#NYSE">EOI</a>)] and [Eaton Vance Enhanced Equity Income Fund II (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/eos#NYSE">EOS</a>)] that use long-term capital gains and/or return of capital in their distributions,&#8221; a retiree in the comments recommended.
A Redditor considered the poster&#8217;s strategy way too conservative and advised him to go more aggressive to boost income and overall returns.
&#8220;In my opinion, you are short-changing yourself with such a conservative dividend income portfolio. I hold JEPQ and other high dividend funds and ETFs and am getting a yield of 12%+ with 26% total return in 2024,&#8221; he said.
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iShares S&P US Preferred Stock Index Fund

SCYB

STAG

VYMI

58-Year-Old With $3M Portfolio Makes Bold Retirement Move – 'I Want To Test It Out Before I Actually Retire' With $1M In Dividend Stocks

Investors are often driven by the pursuit of massive <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/03/44378283/ralph-laurens-prospects-of-market-share-gains-margin-expansion-turns-this-analyst-bullish">gains</a> and few assets capture this ambition better than individual stocks–like Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)–that have seen a meteoric climb.
For many, high returns from individual <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/03/44239013/retirement-investor-with-21-600year-in-dividends-needs-2-200-more-per-month-what-high-yield-stocks-w">stocks</a> and/or options trading are irresistible because such investments can turn a modest sum of money into life-changing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/02/43801235/paper-mill-worker-builds-1-7-million-fortune-through-investing-top-3-stocks-that-boosted-his-wealth">wealth</a>.
This is the case of a 32-year-old ex-military who made $700,000 in options trading but is unsure of what to do next. After hitting it big, the investor is wondering whether he should double down on high-risk strategies, or pivot to more stable, long-term investments, so he&#8217;s taken to Reddit to seek advice.
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With 4,200 shares of NVDA at a cost basis of $69 and $350,000 in cash, he is at a crossroads. His end goal is to preserve and grow his wealth while minimizing risk because he thinks his options trading run may be coming to an end. Still, he isn&#8217;t sure about what to do next.
&#8220;I was in the military but I started trading options and just did that for a few years. I think my run is at the end, though. Finishing school and getting a job now in the next year. I've been waiting for a pullback, unsure when to hop in. Kinda just wanna be done with it,&#8221; he wrote.
He asked whether he should put all his money in Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHD#NYSE">SCHD</a>), which is known for its focus on high-quality dividend-oriented stocks. The community offered plenty of suggestions so let&#8217;s analyze the comments and distill the most relevant advice below.
Trending: This Startup Is On The Brink Of A Huge Disruption To The $654 Billion Industry – <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/venhub-adv">Invest In It Before It Fulfills 800 Pre-Orders</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">$350,000 in SCHD? Reddit Assesses His Plan and Gives Suggestions</h2>
Avoid Putting All Your Money in One Asset
One of the most prevalent advice in the comments was to avoid putting all the money into a single investment–SCHD in this case–and diversify the portfolio into several assets.
&#8220;At age 32, I think you should consider a mix of SCHD, [Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schg#NYSE">SCHG</a>)], and perhaps [Schwab International Equity ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/schf#NYSE">SCHF</a>)]. Perhaps 45/45/10 or 50/45/5,&#8221; a Redditor advised.
A commenter suggested the investor a mix of growth and dividend-paying investments, as well as international exposure.
&#8220;Personally though, I&#8217;d put $50,000 to $100,000 into ex-U.S. markets. [Vanguard International High Dividend Yield ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/vymi#NASDAQ">VYMI</a>)], [Legg Mason International Low Volatility High Dividend ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lvhi#NASDAQ">LVHI</a>)], [Franklin International Core Dividend Tilt Index ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/divi#NYSE">DIVI</a>)] are a few dividend-focused options,&#8221; he said.
Recommending a mix of individual stocks, ETFs, and dividend-paying assets, this Reddit user provided a detailed illustration of how diversification can be achieved in a portfolio.
&#8220;$50,000 [Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/voo#NYSE">VOO</a>)], $50,000 growth stocks like [Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aapl#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>)], NVDA, and others, $50,000 SCHD, $50,000 [JPMorgan Nasdaq Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepq#NASDAQ">JEPQ</a>)], $50,000 [JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jepi#NYSE">JEPI</a>)], $50,000 [Simplify Volatility Premium ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/svol#NYSE">SVOL</a>)], $50,000 ([Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>)], and other dividend stocks),&#8221; his suggestion reads.
&#8220;At 30, SCHG 50% VOO 50%,&#8221; another comment says.
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Consider Tax Efficiency and Long-Term Growth
Another recurring theme in the thread was the importance of tax efficiency and the possible drawbacks of focusing only on dividend income, with many Redditors suggesting that dividend-paying ETFs might not be the best option when it comes to taxes.
&#8220;Dumping $350,000 in there is a monumentally terrible idea. SCHD underperforms the S&amp;P 500 with dividends reinvested and not even counting the extra tax drag. You&#8217;d be creating more taxable income for yourself which is a terrible strategy. You want to minimize income and maximize net worth. Dumping all of your capital into something paying income is the opposite of what you should be doing,&#8221; a Reddit user wrote.
A Redditor suggested to the investor several other options that he says would yield more returns than SCHD.
&#8220;SCHD is a good fund, but is it best for you? With $350,000 invested, it will produce about $12,000 a year. Instead, $350,000 invested in [iShares Preferred and Income Securities ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pff#NASDAQ">PFF</a>)] with a 6% yield, would earn you about $21,000 a year. Or you could invest in [business development companies] using [Putnam BDC Income ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pbdc#NYSE">PBDC</a>)] and earn $31,000. Or [NEOS Nasdaq-100 High Income ETF (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/qqqi#NASDAQ">QQQI</a>)] with a 23% yield and earn $45,000,&#8221; the commenter said.
&#8220;SCHD 30%, VOO 20%, [Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/o#NYSE">O</a>)] 14%, [PepsiCo Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pep#NASDAQ">PEP</a>)] 14%, [Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/epd#NYSE">EPD</a>)] 12%, [Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/arcc#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>)] 10%,&#8221; a user recommended.
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AAPL

DIVI

LVHI

NVDA

SCHF

SCHG

SVOL

32-Year-Old Investor With Massive NVDA Gains And $350K Cash Asks Reddit: 'What's Stopping Me From Putting It All In SCHD?'

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Financials sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>BAC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$104.9K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>2.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HOOD</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$44.00</td>
<td>$169.0K</td>
<td>6.0K</td>
<td>1.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>05/16/25</td>
<td>$535.00</td>
<td>$159.0K</td>
<td>76</td>
<td>440</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PGR</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>04/17/25</td>
<td>$260.00</td>
<td>$85.7K</td>
<td>659</td>
<td>428</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ARCC</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$21.00</td>
<td>$34.4K</td>
<td>31.7K</td>
<td>216</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PYPL</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$128.0K</td>
<td>3.4K</td>
<td>178</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JPM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>04/04/25</td>
<td>$220.00</td>
<td>$53.5K</td>
<td>324</td>
<td>133</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>KKR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$105.00</td>
<td>$43.0K</td>
<td>72</td>
<td>89</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>C</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$180.0K</td>
<td>12.0K</td>
<td>65</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>XYZ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$49.7K</td>
<td>250</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For BAC (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 462 day(s) on June 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 228 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $104.9K, with a price of $460.0 per contract. There were 5318 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2621 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For HOOD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 8 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 214 contract(s) at a $44.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $169.0K, with a price of $790.0 per contract. There were 6002 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1261 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 64 day(s) on May 16, 2025. This event was a transfer of 45 contract(s) at a $535.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $159.0K, with a price of $3536.0 per contract. There were 76 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 440 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PGR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PGR#NYSE">PGR</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 35 day(s) on April 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 268 contract(s) at a $260.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 45 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $85.7K, with a price of $320.0 per contract. There were 659 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 428 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ARCC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 8 day(s) on March 21, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1379 contract(s) at a $21.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 14 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.4K, with a price of $25.0 per contract. There were 31701 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 216 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For PYPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PYPL#NASDAQ">PYPL</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 99 day(s) on June 20, 2025. This event was a transfer of 130 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 10 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $128.0K, with a price of $985.0 per contract. There were 3496 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 178 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JPM (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 22 day(s) on April 4, 2025. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $220.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $53.5K, with a price of $535.0 per contract. There were 324 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 133 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For KKR (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KKR#NYSE">KKR</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 309 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 21 contract(s) at a $105.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $43.0K, with a price of $2050.0 per contract. There were 72 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 89 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding C (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), we observe a put option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 309 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 600 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $180.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 12031 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 65 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For XYZ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XYZ#NYSE">XYZ</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 673 day(s) on January 15, 2027. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $49.7K, with a price of $995.0 per contract. There were 250 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 50 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

PYPL

10 Financials Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"> high dividend payout</a>.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings</a> page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie">by analyst accuracy</a>.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the financial sector.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Western Union Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WU#NYSE">WU</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 8.94%</li>
<li>Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette maintained an Underweight rating and cut the price target from $10 to $9 on Feb. 5. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%.</li>
<li>Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintained an Underweight rating and cut the price target from $11 to $10 on Dec. 13. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 68%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 4, Western Union posted downbeat quarterly earnings.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">WU news</a>. </li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img decoding="async" src="blob:https://editorial.benzinga.com/0a3e50a2-4ebf-48df-9f24-9ec1fbdda1c9" alt="" style="width:580px;height:auto" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Ares Capital Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 8.25%</li>
<li>RBC Capital analyst Kenneth Lee maintained an Outperform rating and raised the price target from $23 to $24 on Feb. 7, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 70%.</li>
<li>Keefe, Bruyette &amp; Woods analyst Paul Johnson maintained an Outperform rating and increased the price target from $22 to $23 on Feb. 7, 2025. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 69%.</li>
<li>Recent News: On Feb. 5, Ares Capital reported fourth-quarter financial results and missed its adjusted EPS and sales estimates.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro's real-time newsfeed alerted to latest ARCC <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">news </a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="911" height="830" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045335/image-150.png" alt="" class="wp-image-786456" style="width:673px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045335/image-150.png 911w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045335/image-150-300x273.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045335/image-150-768x700.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px" /></a></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">SLR Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLRC#NASDAQ">SLRC</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li>Dividend Yield: 9.32%</li>
<li>Wells Fargo analyst Finian O'Shea maintained an Underweight rating and raised the price target from $12.5 to $13 on Nov. 12, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li>B. Riley Securities analyst Bryce Rowe reiterated a Neutral rating and boosted the price target from $16 to $17 on May 10, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li>Recent News: SLR Investment will release its financial results for the quarter and fiscal year ended Dec. 31, 2024 on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025.</li>
<li>Benzinga Pro&#8217;s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest SLRC <a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">news </a></li>
</ul>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://bzresearch.myclickfunnels.com/benzinga-pro-content-webinar-registration/?utm_source=BZprocontent021825&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="910" height="818" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045417/image-151.png" alt="" class="wp-image-786457" style="width:542px;height:auto" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045417/image-151.png 910w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045417/image-151-300x270.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/18045417/image-151-768x690.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 910px) 100vw, 910px" /></a></figure>
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Dividends

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

SLRC

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Spotlight On 3 Financial Stocks With Over 8% Dividend Yields

RBC Capital analyst Kenneth Lee maintains Ares Capital (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCC#NASDAQ">ARCC</a>) with a Outperform and raises the price target from $23 to $24.

RBC Capital Maintains Outperform on Ares Capital, Raises Price Target to $24

Press Releases

Ares Capital Corporation Announces June 30, 2024 Financial Results and Declares Third Quarter 2024 Dividend of $0.48 Per Share

Ares Capital Corporation Schedules Earnings Release for the Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2024

Ares Capital Corporation Announces September 30, 2024 Financial Results and Declares Fourth Quarter 2024 Dividend of $0.48 Per Share

Ares Capital Corporation Appoints Jim Miller as Co-President

Ares Capital Corporation Prices Public Offering of $1 Billion 5.800% Unsecured Notes Due 2032

Earnings

Ares Capital Corporation Schedules Earnings Release for the Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2024

Ares Capital Corporation Announces Tax Reporting Information for Calendar Year 2024

Ares Capital Corporation Appoints Kort Schnabel as Chief Executive Officer

Ares Capital Corporation Announces December 31, 2024 Financial Results and Declares First Quarter 2025 Dividend of $0.48 Per Share

Ares Capital Corporation Schedules Earnings Release for The First Quarter Ended March 31, 2025

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