In this article, we will take a look at the 16 Best Dividend Stocks with Rising Payouts.
CNBC reported that investors trying to protect themselves from risks tied to artificial intelligence may want to look at dividend-paying stocks, according to Jenny Harrington, CEO of Gilman Hill Asset Management. She said dividend stocks have been performing well this year as investors shift away from large-cap tech names and move back into more traditional sectors. The iShares Select Dividend ETF has risen nearly 11% year to date, while the Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF is up about 15%. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 has stayed largely flat.
Harrington said investors are beginning to see that the gap in performance and valuations between big tech and older economy stocks had become “irrationally wide.” That realization is now pushing many to rebalance their portfolios. Tech valuations remain elevated, and at the same time, some industries face growing concerns about disruption from artificial intelligence. Earlier this month, software stocks fell after Anthropic released a new AI model that appeared capable of handling legal tasks and building software, work that companies would normally pay licensing fees for.
In this environment, Harrington said she is focusing on companies that are less exposed to AI disruption. “Even if people lose jobs en masse, they’re still buying toilet paper and diapers,” she said.
Given this, we will take a look at some of the best dividend stocks.
Our Methodology:
For this list, we start by filtering dividend-paying companies with market caps of at least $2 billion. From that group, we picked companies that have been growing their dividends for 10 consecutive years or more. Then, we identified companies with payout ratios for the trailing twelve-month period beloww 60%. From the final dataset, we picked 16 companies that were most popular among hedge fund investors, as per Insider Monkey’s database of Q3 2025. The stocks were ranked in ascending order of their hedge fund investors.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).
16. Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
Payout Ratio (TTM): 59.2%
On February 9, Barclays analyst Julian Mitchell raised his price target on Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) to $275 from $244. The analyst reiterated an Underweight rating on the stock. He said the company’s outlook showed “some encouragement,” pointing to a few positive signs despite the cautious rating.
Earlier, on February 3, Illinois Tool Works posted fourth-quarter results that came in ahead of Wall Street expectations. The company benefited from steady demand for automotive parts and its ongoing efforts to reduce the impact of tariffs. Investors responded positively, with the stock climbing about 5% in early trading. The company has been working to offset tariff pressure by shifting more production closer to its customers and introducing selective price increases. These steps helped improve operating margins across all seven of its business segments. At the same time, higher new vehicle prices have led many consumers to hold on to their cars longer, increasing demand for maintenance and repair services. This trend supported growth in the company’s automotive aftermarket business.
The Automotive OEM segment, which remains the company’s largest revenue driver, brought in $827 million during the quarter, up from $785 million a year earlier. Overall, Illinois Tool Works reported earnings of $2.72 per share for the quarter ended December 31, compared with $2.54 per share last year. This result came in above analysts’ expectations of $2.68 per share, according to LSEG.
Revenue also increased to $4.09 billion from $3.93 billion a year ago, slightly ahead of analyst estimates of $4.07 billion. Looking ahead, the company expects 2026 earnings per share to range between $11 and $11.4. However, the midpoint of this forecast is slightly below analysts’ current estimate of $11.26 per share.
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) is a diversified global manufacturer serving multiple industries. Its business includes Automotive OEM, Food Equipment, Test & Measurement and Electronics, Welding, Polymers & Fluids, Construction Products, and Specialty Products.
15. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
Payout Ratio (TTM): 36.87%
On February 13, Rothschild & Co Redburn analyst Edward Lewis upgraded Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) to Neutral from Sell. The analyst also raised his price target to $91 from $81 on the stock. He explained that the firm’s earlier cautious view was based on expectations that growth would slow, which did not seem fully reflected in the stock’s premium valuation at the time. With the valuation now more reasonable, the firm said it had become more comfortable with the shares.
Earlier, on January 30, Church & Dwight reported quarterly results that came in ahead of Wall Street expectations. The company benefited from steady demand across both affordable and premium household products, including laundry detergent and personal care items. This steady demand helped support earnings even as consumer conditions remained uneven.
The company also said it expects its gross margin to expand by about 100 basis points in 2026 compared with last year. That outlook reflects ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and strengthen profitability. Consumer goods companies across the US have been adjusting to a more cautious consumer environment. Inflation remains elevated, and economic uncertainty has made shoppers more selective. In response, companies like Church & Dwight have focused on product innovation, increased promotions, and more aggressive marketing to maintain sales momentum.
Over the past year, Church & Dwight has reshaped its business. It exited several slower-growing areas, including dietary supplements, Flawless grooming tools, and Waterpik showerhead products. These moves allowed the company to focus more on categories with stronger growth potential, particularly those that offer both value and premium options.
The company reported adjusted earnings of 86 cents per share for the fourth quarter, ahead of analysts’ estimate of 84 cents per share, according to LSEG data.CEO Rick Dierker said the company’s balanced mix of value and premium products, along with disciplined operations, helped it gain market share in several categories. This progress came even as the broader consumer and economic environment remained mixed.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) develops, manufactures, and sells a range of household and personal care products. It also operates in specialty areas related to animal and food production, as well as chemicals and cleaning products.
14. Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46
Payout Ratio (TTM): 43.96%
On January 30, TD Cowen lowered its price recommendation on Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) to $53 from $55. It reiterated a Hold rating on the shares. The firm said the company is facing a difficult operating environment, which is putting pressure on comparable sales and margins. While softer fourth-quarter results were already expected, weaker comps and pressure on gross margins stood out as key negatives.
The day before, on January 29, Tractor Supply issued a weaker-than-expected outlook for annual sales and profit. Demand for heavy-duty farming equipment in the U.S. remains soft, as ongoing economic uncertainty continues to weigh on customer spending. The company also missed Wall Street expectations for fourth-quarter net sales. CEO Hal Lawton said the results reflected a shift in consumer behavior. Customers are still spending on essential products, but they are pulling back on discretionary items. This shift has made growth harder to sustain across certain categories.
Tariffs have added another layer of pressure. Higher import costs pushed the company’s gross margin slightly lower, to 35.1% from 35.2% a year ago. To deal with these cost increases, Tractor Supply raised prices on some products. At the same time, it introduced promotions on other items to support customers who are being more careful with their spending.
Looking ahead, the company expects fiscal 2026 net sales to grow between 4% and 6%. This is below analysts’ average estimate of 6.3% growth, which would bring sales to $16.61 billion, according to LSEG data. Its earnings outlook also fell short, with projected earnings per share between $2.13 and $2.23, compared with analyst expectations of $2.31. For the quarter ended December 27, Tractor Supply reported net sales of $3.90 billion, up about 3% from a year ago but slightly below estimates of $4 billion. Comparable store sales rose just 0.3%, missing expectations of a 2.28% increase. Net income also declined, falling 3.8% year over year to $297.7 million.
Tractor Supply Company (NASDAQ:TSCO) is a rural lifestyle retailer that serves recreational farmers, ranchers, and rural communities across the United States. It operates stores under the Tractor Supply Company and Petsense by Tractor Supply names, offering products that support everyday rural living.
13. W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 46
Payout Ratio (TTM): 24.16%
On February 6, JPMorgan analyst Patrick Baumann raised his price recommendation on W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) to $1,165 from $1,100. The analyst maintained a Neutral rating on the shares. The adjustment came after the firm updated its financial model following the company’s fourth-quarter results.
During the Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Donald Macpherson spoke about the challenges the company faced over the past year. He said Grainger operated in a difficult macroeconomic environment but stayed focused on execution and its long-term priorities. As part of that effort, the company exited the UK market to streamline its portfolio and invested in expanding its supply chain capacity. These steps helped improve service levels and positioned the business more effectively.
He also emphasized the company’s continued focus on its workplace culture. By following its Grainger Edge principles, the company aimed to create an environment where employees could build meaningful careers while still delivering on its financial goals. Macpherson pointed to strong progress in artificial intelligence and machine learning. He said the company’s growing data capabilities supported its five main growth engines and improved its ability to win market share, particularly in the High-Touch Solutions segment. He also noted that Grainger expanded its product assortment by more than 85,000 SKUs in 2025. This marked the largest expansion in that segment in nearly a decade.
W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW) is a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operating products, serving businesses and institutions. Its operations are organized into two main segments: High-Touch Solutions North America, which provides value-added MRO services, and Endless Assortment, which focuses on offering a broad range of products.
12. Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 54
Payout Ratio (TTM): 57.4%
On February 13, Guggenheim raised its price recommendation on Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) to $95 from $91. It reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. The firm did not change its earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027. It said that Sysco’s “nearly unprecedented” 22% run relative to the S&P 500 so far this year has made near-term progress in local case growth more important to watch.
Earlier, on January 27, Sysco raised its full-year profit outlook after reporting second-quarter results that came in ahead of expectations. Strong demand for steaks, fillets, and frozen food helped drive the company’s performance, especially in its US business. The improvement was tied to steady restaurant traffic. More people continued dining out, and demand for foodservice products remained healthy. Higher-income consumers, in particular, kept spending despite ongoing uncertainty tied to trade policies. At the same time, lower-income households showed more caution, which created a mixed demand environment.
Sysco also focused on controlling costs. The company reduced shipping expenses, renegotiated supplier agreements, and tightened warehouse and inventory spending. These steps helped offset higher input costs and supported overall profitability. Its international business remained a bright spot. Sales in that segment increased 7.3%, and gross margin improved by 42 basis points to 20.8% in the quarter ended December 27. This showed continued strength outside the US market.
Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) sells and distributes food products to restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels, and other businesses that prepare meals away from home. The company also provides a range of non-food items to support its customers’ operations.
11. Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 55
Payout Ratio (TTM): 30.6%
On February 10, Wells Fargo raised its price recommendation on Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) to $256 from $237. The firm reiterated its Overweight rating on the stock. The decision followed a strong Q2 performance, which led the firm to lift its earnings estimates. Wells Fargo pointed to broad strength across the business, especially in the Pharmaceutical and Specialty segments. It also noted that the company’s strong momentum in the first half of fiscal 2026 could carry into the second half.
Cardinal Health had already delivered encouraging news on February 5, when it raised its profit outlook for fiscal 2026 after reporting results that came in ahead of expectations. Strong demand for specialty medicines played a major role in the outperformance and helped push the shares up more than 9% in early trading.
During the earnings call, CEO Jason Hollar said that while GLP-1 drugs are contributing to revenue, they are not expected to have a meaningful impact on profits in the near term. He explained that oral GLP-1 treatments are still being adopted gradually and are unlikely to significantly influence results this fiscal year, although they represent a longer-term opportunity.
Cardinal Health now expects adjusted earnings between $10.15 and $10.35 per share, an improvement from its earlier forecast of at least $10. The company also reported quarterly revenue of $65.63 billion, which came in above expectations, while adjusted earnings of $2.63 per share also exceeded estimates.
Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE:CAH) is a global healthcare services and products company that works with hospitals, pharmacies, and healthcare providers. It supplies pharmaceuticals and medical products while also offering services that help improve efficiency and support patient care across the healthcare system.
10. The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 63
Payout Ratio (TTM): 30.13%
On February 17, Mizuho lifted its price recommendation on The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW) to $410 from $400. The firm reiterated its Outperform rating on the stock. The revision followed updates the firm made to its financial model after reviewing the company’s latest earnings.
On February 18, Sherwin-Williams’ Board of Directors announced a regular quarterly dividend of $0.80 per share. The dividend will be paid on March 13, 2026, to shareholders on record as of March 2. This marked the company’s 47th consecutive year of increasing its dividend.
During the Q4 2025 earnings call, Chairman, CEO, and President Heidi Petz said Sherwin-Williams delivered record consolidated sales and record adjusted diluted EPS for the full year. She also noted that gross profit dollars and gross margin increased, while adjusted EBITDA and its margin improved as well, showing stronger overall profitability. Petz said the company stayed focused on expanding its market share, making targeted investments, and continuing its key business priorities, even as demand remained challenging for an extended period.
Management also said the company completed the acquisition of Suvinil during the year. Sherwin-Williams returned $2.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases and continued investing in major capital projects, including the opening of its new global headquarters and technology center. Petz added that the company remained committed to strategic capital spending to support long-term growth and stressed the importance of these investments alongside the Suvinil acquisition.
The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE:SHW) manufactures, develops, distributes, and sells paints, coatings, and related products. It serves professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers, mainly across North and South America, with additional operations in the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
9. Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64
Payout Ratio (TTM): 15.71%
On February 9, Citi raised its price recommendation on Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) to $385 from $335. It reiterated a Buy rating on the stock. The firm also increased its estimates, pointing to stable margin trends and savings tied to the company’s technology efforts. These higher estimates were the main reason behind the target increase.
Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) reported higher fourth-quarter profit on February 4. The improvement came from stronger investment returns and lower catastrophe losses. Insurance spending has remained steady, even as businesses and individuals cut back in other areas. This reflects a growing need for protection against climate-related disasters and newer risks like cyber threats.
The company again reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, supported by higher investment income and fewer catastrophe losses. Insurance demand has continued to hold up, as clients prioritize risk protection despite tighter budgets. Core operating income, net of tax, reached $2.98 billion, or $7.52 per share, in the three months ended December 31. This was up from $2.45 billion, or $6.02 per share, in the same period last year.
Chubb Limited (NYSE:CB) is based in Switzerland and operates as a holding company. Through its subsidiaries, it provides insurance and reinsurance products and services to customers across global markets.
8. Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 68
Payout Ratio (TTM): 38.9%
On February 13, Reuters reported that Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) plans to cut about 600 corporate and support positions, accounting for less than 1% of its total workforce. A company spokesperson explained that the move is intended to shift more focus and resources toward store operations and the employees who interact directly with customers. The spokesperson also said Lowe’s would provide affected workers with financial support, continued benefits for a limited time, and assistance with finding new career opportunities.
On February 18, Bernstein raised its price recommendation on Lowe’s to $313 from $284. It reiterated an Outperform rating on the stock. The firm noted that expectations heading into the Q4 home improvement earnings season remain modest. Bernstein also reduced its comparable sales forecast for the quarter by 40bps–50bps, pointing to recent winter storms that likely disrupted professional projects and slowed homebuilding activity.
Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW) operates as a home improvement retailer, offering a wide range of products used in construction, maintenance, repairs, remodeling, and home decoration.
7. Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
Payout Ratio (TTM): 29.48%
On February 10, BofA raised its price recommendation on Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) to $825 from $735. It reiterated a Buy rating on the stock. The firm said its recent checks show turbine demand is expanding beyond data centers, which should help ease concerns about overcapacity. The analyst also pointed to the “eyepopping growth” in Caterpillar’s power generation unit and noted that oil and gas demand rose 24% year over year, a trend investors may be overlooking.
Caterpillar is seeing benefits from AI growth in more than one way. Its construction equipment plays a key role in building data centers. At the same time, its Power & Energy segment is gaining momentum, as data centers rely on its turbines and large engines to ensure stable and backup power. The company, which marks its 100th year in 2025, reported record revenue of $67.6 billion, up 4%. The increase was driven mainly by stronger equipment sales. Caterpillar operates across three segments, and its Power & Energy unit stood out. Sales in that segment reached $9.4 billion in the fourth quarter, up 23% from the same period last year. The business includes products such as natural gas generators and battery storage systems.
One area of weakness was profitability. Full-year earnings per share declined 14.6% to $18.81. The drop was largely tied to higher incremental costs, including the impact of tariffs. Even so, the outlook remains supported by strong demand. Caterpillar reported a record backlog of $51.2 billion in the fourth quarter. On January 28, the company also announced an agreement with American Intelligence and Power. Under the deal, Caterpillar will supply natural gas generators and battery storage to deliver 2 gigawatts of power to AIP’s Monarch Compute Campus in West Virginia by 2027.
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE:CAT) manufactures construction and mining equipment, along with off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The company operates through its Construction Industries, Resource Industries, and Power & Energy segments. It also offers financing and related services through its Financial Products division.
6. Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 76
Payout Ratio (TTM): 39.42%
On February 10, BMO Capital analyst John McNulty slightly raised his price recommendation on Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) to $507 from $501. The analyst maintained an Outperform rating on the shares. He noted that the company is heading into 2026 with a stronger project backlog and continued pricing strength. These factors should help balance ongoing macroeconomic weakness and a slower-than-expected ramp in the OCI and Woodside project, according to his research note.
During Linde’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Sanjiv Lamba described the economic environment as uneven. He said investment in AI and digital infrastructure remained strong and continued to drive growth. At the same time, traditional industrial sectors such as manufacturing, metals, chemicals, and energy were still pulling back. Even with those challenges, he indicated that Linde delivered solid results in areas that matter most to shareholders. The company reported record annual EPS, operating cash flow, and operating margins. It also generated a 24.2% return on capital and returned more than $7 billion to shareholders.
Lamba also shared that Linde’s project backlog reached a record $10 billion. He noted that this figure excludes more than $0.5 billion in additional investments related to rocket propellant projects for contracted space launch customers. He said the company expects continued investment in this area as it builds out its network to support rising demand tied to the space industry.
Linde plc (NASDAQ:LIN) is an industrial gases and engineering company based in the United Kingdom. It serves a wide range of industries, including chemicals and energy, food and beverage, electronics, healthcare, manufacturing, metals, and mining.
5. McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 83
Payout Ratio (TTM): 59.4%
On February 13, Argus analyst John Staszak upgraded McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) to Buy from Hold and set a $380 price target. In a research note, he said the company is in a strong position to attract budget-conscious customers through its value menus and promotional offers. He also pointed to McDonald’s investments in its digital platform and new product launches, which he believes could support comparable sales growth above peers.
Following the company’s Q4 2025 earnings report, analysts across Wall Street responded positively. Many maintained a bullish view and see further upside in the stock.”What else could you want?” Bernstein analyst Danilo Gargiulo wrote in response to the results. JPMorgan analyst John Ivankoe said McDonald’s is “making efforts to recapture attention lost to specialists.” He added that the value strategy is gaining traction and expects stronger franchisee profitability to drive alignment around new initiatives in 2026 and beyond, including beverages, chicken offerings, and restaurant remodels.
JPMorgan kept an Overweight rating on the shares. Morgan Stanley maintained an Equal Weight rating, while Deutsche Bank reiterated its Buy rating.
McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD) operates as a global foodservice retailer. Its business is organized into the U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate segments.
4. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 88
Payout Ratio (TTM): 27.10%
On February 10, Evercore ISI analyst Greg Melich raised his price recommendation on Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) to $1,050 from $1,025. The analyst reiterated an Outperform rating on the shares.
More recently, on February 20, Citi analyst Steven Zaccone increased his price objective on COST to $1,000 from $990 while keeping a Neutral rating. He noted that Costco delivered a modest beat in same-store sales and earnings during fiscal Q2.
The company also reported strong sales momentum. Net sales for January 2026 reached $21.33 billion, up 9.3% from a year earlier. Comparable sales rose 7.5% after adjusting for gas prices and currency changes. One standout was e-commerce. Online sales jumped more than 34% during the holiday period. That kind of growth is notable for a retailer that still generates most of its revenue through physical warehouse locations.
Costco’s membership model continues to play a central role in its performance. In the first quarter of fiscal 2026, membership fee income increased 14% to $1.329 billion. The total number of paid members reached 81.4 million, up 5.2%. Executive memberships, which represent the company’s highest-value tier, grew 9.1% to 39.7 million.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) operates membership-based warehouse stores and e-commerce platforms. It offers a range of branded and private-label products across multiple categories. The company sources most of its merchandise directly from suppliers and distributes it through consolidation depots or directly to its warehouse locations.
3. Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 92
Payout Ratio (TTM): 42.86%
On February 13, Deutsche Bank analyst James Shin upgraded Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to Buy from Hold. The analyst raised his price target on the stock to $150 from $115. In a research note, he said the market appears to be undervaluing the company because of concerns around Keytruda’s upcoming patent expiration. His analysis pointed to a “clear path” for Merck to manage this transition. He also noted that, excluding Keytruda, the company still has visible growth drivers, with a trough earnings “formation at hand.”
Earlier, on February 3, Merck issued a 2026 forecast that came in below Wall Street expectations. The company said the upcoming loss of exclusivity for its diabetes drug Januvia and other older medicines will have a bigger impact than analysts had anticipated. This softer outlook came despite a strong fourth quarter, when Merck beat both profit and sales estimates, supported by continued demand for Keytruda.
Merck expects 2026 revenue to range between $65.5 billion and $67.0 billion. The high end of that range still falls short of the average analyst estimate of $67.6 billion, based on LSEG data. The company also expects a $2.5 billion headwind this year. This includes the impact of generic competition, Medicare price negotiations, and lower sales of its COVID-19 treatment, Lagevrio. “Where the disconnect is coming with the Street, frankly, is in a lot of our legacy products, and these are products that are all largely going off patent,” CEO Rob Davis said in an interview. He added that drugs such as Januvia, along with related treatments Janumet and Janumet XR, and Bridion, which is used to reverse the effects of muscle relaxants, could deliver weaker results than analysts currently expect.
Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) operates as a global healthcare company. It develops and delivers prescription medicines, including biologic therapies, vaccines, and animal health products. Its Pharmaceutical segment focuses on human health treatments and vaccines.
2. Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 104
Payout Ratio (TTM): 31.9%
On February 17, Rothschild & Co Redburn raised its price recommendation on Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) to $150 from $110. The firm reiterated a Buy rating on the shares. In a research note, the firm said Walmart’s digital initiatives could support 14% annual earnings growth through 2028. The analyst also said the company has “multiple levers” to drive that expansion, with AI offering additional upside over time.
During Walmart’s Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO John Furner said the company delivered steady growth. Revenue increased 4.9% in constant currency, with eCommerce playing a key role. Online sales rose 24%, while adjusted operating income grew even faster, up 10.5%. He also noted that each of Walmart’s three business segments posted profit growth that exceeded its respective sales gains.
Furner pointed to disciplined inventory management as another positive sign. Inventory rose 2.6% at the end of the quarter, which was about half the pace of sales growth. He said Walmart continued to gain market share and saw strong performance across its marketplace platform, advertising business, and membership programs. The company also reported increased use of its fast delivery services. The number of customers choosing delivery within three hours climbed more than 60% over the past year.
Furner also spoke about the impact of Sparky, Walmart’s AI-powered shopping assistant. He said customer engagement improved with the tool, and shoppers who used Sparky had an average order value about 35% higher than those who did not.
Walmart Inc. (NASDAQ:WMT) operates as a technology-driven omnichannel retailer. The company runs retail stores, wholesale clubs, eCommerce platforms, and mobile apps across the United States and international markets, including Africa, Canada, Central America, Chile, China, India, and Mexico.
1. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114
Payout Ratio (TTM): 28.42%
According to a Reuters report on February 18, Australia’s CSL said it had granted Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) certain rights to develop and commercialize clazakizumab, an anti-interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody. In return, CSL will receive an upfront payment of $100 million. CSL will keep exclusive rights to develop and commercialize the treatment for preventing cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage kidney disease.
Under the agreement, Eli Lilly will focus on developing and commercializing the therapy in other areas. CSL could also receive additional payments tied to clinical, regulatory, and commercial milestones, along with royalties based on global net sales.
In a separate update, a February 12 Reuters report said Eli Lilly had built up $1.5 billion in pre-launch inventory for its experimental oral weight-loss drug. This was disclosed in a regulatory filing ahead of a possible U.S. Food and Drug Administration decision expected in April.
The company had previously reported about $550 million in pre-launch inventory for the drug, known as orforglipron. Lilly has said it expects to have enough supply ready to support a launch across several countries at roughly the same time, if the drug receives approval. Drugmakers typically report such inventory in their financial filings to show how much product has been prepared ahead of potential regulatory clearance.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a pharmaceutical firm that discovers, develops, manufactures, and sells medicines to patients around the world.
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