In this article, we discuss the 5 best dividend stocks to buy according to Al Gore and David Blood. If you want to read our detailed analysis of Al Gore and David Blood’s history and hedge fund performance, go directly to the 10 Best Dividend Stocks to Buy According to Al Gore and David Blood.
5. Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX)
Generation Investment’s Stake Value: $932,647,000
Percentage of Generation Investment’s 13F Portfolio: 3.90%
Dividend Yield: 1.38%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65
Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) is engaged in trading first-aid supplies, appliances, laboratory kits, and diagnostic products globally. The company was founded in 1897 and ranks fifth on the list of 10 best dividend stocks to buy according to Al Gore and David Blood.
On April 27, Becton declared a Q1 quarterly dividend of $0.83 per share, in line with the previous. The forward yield is 1.37%. On May 6, Becton posted quarterly earnings results, reporting earnings per share of $3.19 for the first three months of 2021, beating market predictions by $0.15.
The hedge fund run by Al Gore and David Blood owns more than 3.8 million shares in Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE: BDX) worth over $932.65 million, representing 3.9% of their investment portfolio. The company is getting the attention of the smart money, as 65 hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey reported owning stakes in the company in Q1 2021.
4. TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL)
Generation Investment’s Stake Value: $792,512,000
Percentage of Generation Investment’s 13F Portfolio: 3.32%
Dividend Yield: 1.47%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39
TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL) is an American tech company that designs and produces clamps and detectors for several business units. It was incorporated in 2000 and stands fourth on the list of 10 best dividend stocks to buy according to Al Gore and David Blood. TE Connectivity stock has returned more than 66.79% to investors during the course of the past 12 months.
It declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share on March 11, which was a 4.2% increase from its prior dividend of $0.48. The forward yield is 1.46%. On April 21, TE Connectivity posted $3.7 billion net sales for the Q2 of 2021, beating market predictions by $190 million. The company also reported its revenue, which was $3.7 billion, beating the estimates by $190 million.
The hedge fund chaired by Al Gore and David Blood holds close to 6.14 million shares in the company worth over $792.51 million. It is the second largest holding of the London-based fund. Generation Investment’s stake in TE Connectivity stock decreased by 8% in the past few months. At the end of the first quarter of 2021, 39 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $2.34 billion in TE Connectivity Ltd. (NYSE: TEL), same as the preceding quarter worth $2.16 billion.
ClearBridge Investments mentioned TE Connectivity Ltd. in its Q1 2021 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:
“The portfolio’s quality bias and valuation discipline have generated compelling returns over time with typically strong relative results in more challenging environments as it did through the first three quarters of 2020. However, that same quality bias tends to create a more challenging relative performance environment for the Strategy during periods of sharp economic acceleration, which tend to benefit stocks that are more commodity linked or of lower quality. This has been the case during the vaccine- and stimulus-driven rally experienced late last year and during the most recent quarter. Sectors that lagged in the quarter included information technology (IT), where TE Connectivity performed well but trailed the sector in the first quarter after a strong 2020.”
3. Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI)
Generation Investment’s Stake Value: $851,296,000
Percentage of Generation Investment’s 13F Portfolio: 3.56%
Dividend Yield: 1.66%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50
Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI) is an American international optoelectronic company focusing on data transformation, signal handling, and power control technology. It was founded in 1965 and ranks third on the list of 10 best dividend stocks to buy according to Al Gore and David Blood. On the other hand, Generation Investment’s bet on Analog Devices is also paying off. The company stock is up 37.29% over the last 12 months.
On May 19, the company declared $0.69 quarterly dividends for the first three months of 2021, in line with previous. The forward yield is 1.64%. On May 20, Bernstein upgraded Analog Devices from “Market Perform” to “Outperform” with a price target of $185.00.
Generation Investment holds more than 5.49 million shares in the firm worth over $851.30 million, representing 3.56% of their investment portfolio, making it the most significant stakeholder. Generation Investment has trimmed their Analog stake by 7% in Q1 2021.
Weitz Investment Management, in their Q4 2020 investor letter, mentioned Analog Devices. Here is what the fund said:
“Analog Devices benefited from several global, long-wave trends such as automation, electric vehicles and the 5G network build-out. The company’s quarterly sales into the auto, industrial and communications sectors exceeded expectations, giving the stock a lift.”
2. Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ: TXN)
Generation Investment’s Stake Value: $427,508,000
Percentage of Generation Investment’s 13F Portfolio: 1.79%
Dividend Yield: 2.18%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 42
Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ: TXN) is a tech company that produces microelectronics and various consolidate circuits, which it sells to microelectronics makers and producers globally. The company was founded in 1930 and stands second on the list of 10 best dividend stocks to buy according to Al Gore and David Blood.
On April 27, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ: TXN) posted first quarter of 2021 results, reporting earnings per share of $1.85, beating market predictions by $0.25. The revenue for the first three months of 2021 was over $4.29 billion, up 28.8% YoY, beating the estimates by $310 million. It recently announced a dividend of $1.02 per share for the first quarter of 2021, consistent with the previous dividend payout. On April 28, investment advisory Longbow Research initiated coverage on Texas stock with a “Buy” rating and a price target of $225.00.
Generation Investment holds more than 2.26 million shares in the firm, worth over $427.51 million. This represents 1.79% of their portfolio. Generation Investment stake in Texas Instruments Incorporated (NASDAQ: TXN) stock decreased by 28% in the past few months, the latest data reveals. There were 42 hedge funds in our database that held stakes in Texas Instruments in the first quarter of 2021, compared to 56 funds in the fourth quarter of 2020.
In its Q1 2021 investor letter, ClearBridge Investments, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks, and Texas Instruments was one of them. Here is what the fund said:
“Analog chipmaker Texas Instruments, meanwhile, benefited from better inventory management than peers. The main risk for semiconductors is short-term revenue pressure until capacity catches up with demand. Looking past current constraints, we expect the industry to see a strong second half and solid growth in 2022.”
1. Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO)
Generation Investment’s Stake Value: $1,202,466,000
Percentage of Generation Investment’s 13F Portfolio: 5.04%
Dividend Yield: 2.75%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59
Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is an American international tech conglomerate. It was founded in 1984 and tops the list of 10 best dividend stocks to buy according to Al Gore and David Blood.
Cisco Systems is among the best stocks in Generation Investment’s portfolio that pay a regular and healthy dividend to shareholders. On May 26, Cisco declared a quarterly dividend of $0.37 per share, in line with the previous dividend of $0.36 per share. On May 19, Cisco Systems posted quarterly results, reporting earnings per share of $0.83 for the third quarter of 2021, beating market predictions by $0.01. The revenue over the period was $12.8 billion, beating the estimates by $230 million.
Generation Investment is the biggest stakeholder in Cisco, which holds 23.25 million shares in the company worth over $1.20 billion, representing 5.04% of their portfolio.
ClearBridge Investments, in its first quarter 2021 investor letter, mentioned Cisco Systems. Here is what ClearBridge Investments has to say about Cisco Systems in its letter:
“Also in IT, we added Cisco Systems, which provides IT and networking services in the form of network security, software development and cloud computing. Cisco continues to derive over 50% of its sales from on-premise deployments of its products of enterprise and small and midsize customers, while recurring revenues from software are becoming a larger part of the mix. Return-to-office enterprise spending should offer upside to its core campus business. Cisco was an early technology leader in sustainability over two decades ago, through its Internet-connecting capabilities which supported live concerts in partnership with the United Nations Development Program to raise awareness and funds to fight poverty. Cisco has very strong environmental standards (including driving lower energy consumption in IT departments through new product innovations and a longstanding goal to reduce emissions and reliance on non-renewable energy sources). Its data privacy and supply chain management policies are best in class.”
You can also take a peek at 10 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks Hedge Funds Are Buying and 14 Best European Dividend Stocks To Buy.
