Prudential Financial Inc (PRU)

Expect strong market gains heading into the second half of the year. It is a sentiment echoed by research firms on Wall Street in the aftermath of the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East.

The rally in the US equity market this year has been driven by strong earnings rather than expanding valuations or speculative enthusiasm.

Dividends have played a bigger role in equity returns than most people realize.

Operator: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to Prudential Financial, Inc.'s Quarterly Earnings Conference Call. At this time, participants are in a listen only mode.

Dividends have been part of the conversation for as long as modern finance has existed. Over time, a lot of research has focused on how they shape returns and how dividend-paying companies behave.

Blue-chip stocks refer to shares of large, well-established companies that lead their industries. These businesses are typically financially strong, which makes them less risky compared to others.

Investors trying to navigate a choppy market may want to look at more defensive stocks, according to Barclays.

TheFly reported on March 5 that PRU had its price target reduced by TD Cowen to $105 from $113, while the firm maintained a Hold rating on the stock.

The stock market gains over the last few years have been dominated by major tech companies as well as artificial intelligence stocks.