All posts by PARKERYL

Wall Street legend Warren Buffet is known for his belief that when it comes to investing in stocks, it’s best to be greedy when others are fearful. 

Well, everyone is extremely fearful right now. A global trade war has begun. Government layoffs are spiking. Job growth is slowing. The economy is weakening. Consumer and business sentiment is sliding. And stocks are crashing.

Does that mean it is time to be greedy? I think so. 

But before you go thinking I’m putting the cart before the horse, let’s talk a bit about what’s driving the rampant fear out there right now – and what’s making us bullish.

Understanding the Market Risks

This week, U.S. President Donald Trump started what may be the biggest trade war seen in a century. He enforced 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico and levied an additional 10% tariff on goods from China. In so doing, Trump has raised the average tariff rate in the U.S. from 2.3% to 11.5%, the highest it has been since World War II. 

Economists’ consensus belief is that this will have an adverse impact on the economy. 

U.S. companies will face meaningfully higher import costs and either be forced to absorb them (shrinking profit margins), pass them on to consumers (raising inflation), or reorganize their supply chains (disrupting business operations). 

No matter which path companies choose, a negative growth shock is likely. Researchers at the Federal Reserve suggest that by raising the average U.S. tariff rate to 11.5%, GDP growth will be negatively affected by 1.3%. 

Meanwhile, real-time estimates for U.S. economic growth suggest that it is trending very weak this quarter. One estimate from the Atlanta Fed shows -2.8% growth; and that was even before the trade war began. Slicing off another 1.3% would put U.S. GDP growth below -4%. 

That’s awful. And it doesn’t even take into account the tariffs yet to come…

Written by Steven Dooley, Head of Market Insights, and Shier Lee Lim, Lead FX and Macro Strategist

Greenback tumbles to four-month lows

The US dollar continued to fall overnight, down for the third straight session this week, as markets turned wary on US growth due to tariff worries.

The euro and British pound surged with markets hopeful Europe and the UK could avoid tariffs while expectations of increased defense spending saw the euro outperform.

This week’s moves bucked the recent trend of USD outperformance on tariff news. Markets instead are focused on a recent slowdown in US data, and improvement in European data, and the potential for relative outperformance for the euro.

Across the region, the greenback fell, with the AUD/USD as one of the better performers, up 1.1%. The Aussie was helped by an in-line December-quarter GDP result with full-year Australian growth at 1.3% over 2024.

The kiwi was even stronger as the NZD/USD gained 1.2%.

The USD/SGD fell 0.6% while the USD/CNH lost 0.2%.

Euro surges ahead of ECB

The euro has surged higher this week, with the EUR/USD up an incredible 4.1% this week, and the euro at or near five-year highs versus the Australian and NZ dollar.

The European Central Bank meets tonight and looks likely to cut the deposit rate by 25 basis points to 2.50%.

Furthermore, we believe that data results in comparison to the ECB’s projections lend credence to a rate reduction.

The ECB is expected to change its rhetoric about restrictiveness; we believe it will imply that rates are less restrictive today than they were previously as a result of the recent rate decreases and state that it will evaluate the degree of restrictiveness.

MYR outperformance backed by fundamentals

Today, Malaysia’s policy meeting will be held. We anticipate the BNM will reiterate that the present monetary stance is still supportive of the economy by keeping its policy rate at 3% and adopting a similarly neutral attitude to the previous MPC sessions.

Despite noting ongoing global uncertainties, we believe BNM will remain optimistic about the growth forecast and reiterate that the resilience of the local economy is expected to be maintained this year.

Although inflation remained steady in January due to the impact of the moving Chinese New Year vacation, Q4 GDP growth was revised up to 5.0% year-over-year from the advance estimate of 4.8%.

The ringgit’s superior performance in Asia is supported by Malaysia’s better trade balance and perhaps larger tourist surplus.

The next key resistance is 200-day EMA of 4.4740, where MYR buyers may look to take advantage.

USD extends losses as tariff trend reverses

Table: seven-day rolling currency trends and trading ranges  

Key global risk events

Calendar: 3 – 7 March

All times AEDT

Have a question? [email protected]

*The FX rates published are provided by Convera’s Market Insights team for research purposes only. The rates have a unique source and may not align to any live exchange rates quoted on other sites. They are not an indication of actual buy/sell rates, or a financial offer.

One of the country’s most distinguished numismatists is receiving yet another prestigious honor.

The Central States Numismatic Society (www.CSNS.org) will present its annual Q. David Bowers Award this year to long-time professional numismatist, award-winning author, and acclaimed hobby leader Jeff Garrett of Lexington, Kentucky.

The CSNS Bowers Award recognizes the contributions made by numismatic professionals in the hobby.

Among his many accomplishments in his illustrious career, Garrett founded Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries; served as President of both the American Numismatic Association (2015-2017) and the Professional Numismatists Guild (2005-2007); founded the Bluegrass Coin Club; authored or co-authored a half-dozen award-winning numismatic reference books; and is a consultant to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Numismatic Collection in Washington, D.C.

Since 2019, he has served as Senior Editor of The Official Redbook: A Guide Book of United States Coins.

“Jeff Garrett certainly deserves this award for his unselfish devotion, scholarly contributions and the investments of time and resources made to the hobby by a numismatic professional,” said CSNS President Mitch Ernst.

“The professional side of the hobby is often asked to fund many of the benefits the collector side of the hobby enjoys. Sadly, those contributions many times go unrecognized by the organizations that have long benefited by the contributions made by the numismatic professionals of our hobby. Interestingly, when the concept of creating this award was originally presented to the CSNS Board of Directors, it was with a person like Jeff Garrett in mind,” explained Ernst.

Grateful for the award, Garrett stated: “The Central States Numismatic Society has been a part of my numismatic journey for almost 50 years. The organization has always been important to me, especially since I live in one of the ‘central states.’ I am very honored to be named the Q. David Bowers award recipient.”

“Dave Bowers has been one of the most important mentors of my career. He taught me so much about numismatic writing and the importance of numismatic knowledge. Our work together on Redbook over the years was inspiring and motivated me to try to educate others as Dave did so well over the decades. His contributions to the hobby will never be matched and being given an award that is connected with him is truly humbling,” emphasized Garrett.

Recipients of the Bowers Award, named after the prominent dealer and esteemed numismatic author Q. David Bowers, are selected by members of the Central States Numismatic Society Board of Directors. The 2025 award will be presented to Garrett during the annual CSNS membership meeting at 8:00 am, Saturday, April 26, at the upcoming CSNS convention in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois, April 24-26, 2025.

For additional information about the Central States Numismatic Society and its annual convention, visit www.CSNS.org.

Updated on March 4th, 2025 by Felix Martinez

Every year, we publish a review of each of the Dividend Aristocrats, a group of 69 companies in the S&P 500 Index with 25+ consecutive years of dividend increases. Thanks to their long histories of annual dividend increases and strong business models, we believe the Dividend Aristocrats are among the best dividend stocks to buy.

With that in mind, we created a list of all 69 Dividend Aristocrats. You can download your copy of the Dividend Aristocrats list (along with important metrics like dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios) by clicking on the link below:

 

Disclaimer: Sure Dividend is not affiliated with S&P Global in any way. S&P Global owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The information in this article and downloadable spreadsheet is based on Sure Dividend’s own review, summary, and analysis of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) and other sources, and is meant to help individual investors better understand this ETF and the index upon which it is based. None of the information in this article or spreadsheet is official data from S&P Global. Consult S&P Global for official information.

Next on our list of Dividend Aristocrats is Target Corporation (TGT).

Target has a long history of dividend growth. The company has grown its dividend for 57 consecutive years. Target is a Dividend King, an even more exclusive list of companies that have increased dividends for at least 50 consecutive years.

Target has been one of the best-performing retail stocks over the last five years, thanks to its execution of numerous growth initiatives.

Business Overview

Target is a discount retail giant with a market capitalization of $80 billion. Today, it operates approximately 1,956 stores in the U.S. and an e-commerce business. It has a diverse product lineup and annual sales of more than $107 billion.

The company has implemented many growth initiatives in recent years. As a result, Target has returned to its long-term growth trajectory in the last five years.

Target posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on March 5th, 2024, with strong results. The company reported net sales down 0.8% due to one fewer sales week compared to 2023. On a comparable 52-week basis, net sales grew 1%, and earnings per share increased nearly 3%. Fourth-quarter comparable sales rose 1.5%, driven by strong traffic and an 8.7% increase in digital sales. GAAP and adjusted EPS for the quarter were $2.41, while full-year EPS reached $8.86, aligning with initial projections. Key growth categories included Apparel, Toys, and Electronics.

Operationally, Target achieved over $2 billion in cost savings over two years. Full-year comparable sales were flat at 0.1%, with strength in Beauty, Apparel, and Essentials. Traffic increased 1.4% across stores and digital channels. However, higher supply chain and promotional costs led to a decline in operating income, with the fourth-quarter margin falling to 4.7% from 5.8% in 2023.

For 2025, Target expects around 1% sales growth and a modest increase in operating margins. However, factors like tariff uncertainties and shifting consumer confidence may pressure short-term profits. The company remains focused on digital expansion, supply chain improvements, and shareholder returns, including dividend increases and stock buybacks, with $8.7 billion still available under its repurchase program.

Source: Investor Presentation

Growth Prospects

Target has grown its earnings per share by 8% per year on average over the last decade. The retailer stagnated during 2012-2017 due to its failed attempt to expand into Canada, but thanks to some growth initiatives, it has returned to strong growth mode since 2017.

The biggest reason for this excellent growth is that Target has invested heavily in growing new sales channels, which have paid off. First, Target has invested heavily in e-commerce. The rise in e-commerce initially caught many retail companies, including Target, off-guard. Target has revamped its online offerings and has seen rapid growth.

Target has also rolled out its same-day fulfillment service. Lastly, the company continues redeveloping stores and building smaller stores with much less square footage in places that cannot provide the necessary space to build a large store. These stores are located in areas that see high traffic, such as densely populated large cities and college campuses.

Taken together, these measures have significantly affected Target’s growth. We expect Target to grow its earnings per share by 7% per year over the next five years.

Source: Investor Presentation

Competitive Advantages & Recession Performance

Target operates in a difficult industry. Retail is highly competitive and thus it is characterized by razor-thin profit margins. Retail brands often take a back seat to price and convenience for consumers.

This is why Target has invested so heavily in store redevelopment. That has enabled the company to retain its brand strength, even in a fiercely competitive industry. Most importantly, the retailer has massive distribution and scale capabilities allow it to keep prices low.

In addition, Target operates in a defensive retail niche. Discount retail tends to hold up relatively well during economic downturns, when consumers typically shift from higher-priced retailers.

Target’s earnings-per-share during the Great Recession are as follows:

• 2007 earnings-per-share of $3.33
• 2008 earnings-per-share of $2.86 (14% decline)
• 2009 earnings-per-share of $3.30 (15% increase)
• 2010 earnings-per-share of $3.88 (17% increase)
• 2011 earnings-per-share of $4.28 (10% increase)

Target proved remarkably resilient during the Great Recession. It posted a 14% decline in 2008 but followed this with three consecutive years of double-digit earnings growth.

Target once again performed very well in 2020, a year in which the U.S. economy encountered a fierce recession due to the pandemic. And yet, Target continues to raise its dividend reliably each year.

Valuation & Expected Returns

Based on the current share price of $117, Target has a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.5. Our fair value multiple is 17. If shares were to revert to their average price-to-earnings ratio, TGT stock would see annual returns increase by 3.5% over the next five years due to a falling P/E multiple.

At the same time, Target is offering a 3.7% dividend yield. Adding expected annual earnings per share growth of 7%, total returns come out to 14.2% per year over the next five years. This is a fairly attractive expected return for such a recession-resistant business model.

With annualized expected returns above 14%, we rate TGT stock a buy.

Final Thoughts

Target has faced some major downturns over the last decade. It failed to expand into Canada and struggled dealing with the rise of e-commerce shopping along with the rest of retail, but the company appears to have returned to sustained growth.

Overall, we feel that Target’s current valuation is slightly elevated, but the company’s strong EPS growth justifies a higher valuation. We rate the stock as a buy.

If you are interested in finding more high-quality dividend growth stocks suitable for long-term investment, the following Sure Dividend databases will be useful:

The major domestic stock market indices are another solid resource for finding investment ideas. Sure Dividend compiles the following stock market databases and updates them monthly:

Technology’s spooky next step … enormous potential market size … the easiest way to invest today … nervous about a market crash? Keith Kaplan has you covered

In the pantheon of business/investing clichés, high on the list is the phrase immortalized by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky:

I skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.

The quote has been recycled and mangled by countless investment professionals in PowerPoint presentations for years.

However, it accurately reflects how wise investors set themselves up for life-changing investment returns.

So, where is the puck going today?

Here’s a clue from Tesla CEO Elon Musk:

“[This cutting-edge technology product] will be overwhelmingly the value of the company” with “the potential to be north of $10 trillion in revenue.”

Got your guess?

Sci-Fi meets real life

Congrats if you answered “humanoids.”

Humanoids are advanced robotic machines that can mirror human movements, reasoning, and day-to-day activities. They sit at the convergence of multiple technological trends: AI, biomechanics, machine learning and sensor connectivity.

Whether you think they’re cool or creepy, they’re coming…and bringing with them a multi-trillion-dollar investment opportunity.

Let’s jump to our technology expert, Luke Lango:

These creations are finally stepping out of science fiction and into reality, possibly poised to become the most disruptive AI advancement yet.

From factory floors to elder care, these machines could easily reshape industries, redefine labor… maybe even challenge what it means to be human…

Everyone who’s anyone in the tech world is betting on humanoid robots being the next big AI breakthrough. 

Tesla’s Optimus humanoid is the most visible example. And as noted earlier, Musk believes the future of Tesla isn’t in electric cars, it’s in humanoids.

Optimus is already being used inside Tesla factories to complete a variety of tasks. Reports suggest Tesla will sell them to outside companies next year.

And after that, they’re headed to a household near you.

Here’s Luke:

We could soon have our own personal humanoid robot assistant in our homes, doing everything from unloading groceries and cleaning to safeguarding our house while we’re away. 

It’s not just Tesla – all the Big Tech players are moving on humanoids

Luke points toward, Meta, Apple, Alphabet, Nvidia, and OpenAI as just a few of the companies working on aspects of humanoid technology.

Meanwhile, many private companies are involved as well. A Polish startup called Clone Robotics just released a video of “Protoclone.” This is its “faceless, anatomically accurate synthetic human.”

Source: @clonerobotics

Whether this thrills or terrifies you, some version of it is headed your way over the next 5-10 years.

Sizing the market potential

Let’s go to ETF provider and research shop, GlobalX:

The potential market opportunity for humanoids is massive, and it’s accelerating.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk and industry stakeholders believe there could be over 1 billion humanoids on Earth by the 2040s.

While adoption of single-purpose collaborative robots (cobots) is already widespread in industrial settings, the potential of general-purpose humanoid robotics remains largely untapped, with their appeal being their versatility.

Humanoids are now a tangible reality, capable of working in diverse settings like hazardous factories, and elderly homes, bringing innovative solutions to sectors like logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Given the widespread potential use cases for industrial humanoids, GlobalX puts the total industrial addressable market size at nearly $2 trillion over the next decade.

But the market for household humanoids could be even bigger. GlobalX estimates 15% household penetration and a price point of $10,000 – $15,000. That results in a market size of almost $3 trillion by 2035.

So, how do you invest?

We profiled the easiest way to invest back in September.

Regular Digest readers will recall an issue in which I shared part of an internal email from InvestorPlace’s CEO Brian Hunt to a few members of our leadership team.

Brian described the technological advancements coming (like humanoids), the potential for market volatility, but the even greater potential to make enormous wealth over the next five to 10 years.

With that as our context, here’s Brian from that email with the most effortless way to ride this trend:

If you want to make it simple, easy, and powerful, just look up the five largest AI/robotics ETFs and buy them in equal parts and go to sleep for a while. Maybe throw in some QQQ.

Ignore the corrections. They will be painful but temporary.

This tailwind will blow with hurricane force.

As our experts make their single-stock humanoid recommendations over the coming quarters, we’ll highlight them for you. For now, Luke is eyeing the next step in the evolution toward humanoids – self-driving cars:

The next stage of the AI Revolution has begun. 

But it’s about more than just humanoid robots unloading groceries or doing factory work. It also includes robotic driving systems – like self-driving cars. 

This future may still seem many years away. But it’s already a reality… Of course, the arrival of the Age of Autonomous Vehicles also means the arrival of huge opportunities in AV stocks. 

If you’d like a deeper dive into the opportunity, Luke just put together a special informational presentation focused solely on the Autonomous Vehicle Revolution. You can check it out here.

What if you can’t handle the market corrections that Brian referenced?

Not everyone has a decade-long investment horizon.

What if you’re a few years from retirement and can’t afford the type of painful pullback Brian referenced?

What if you’re saving for a downpayment on a home, or a child’s tuition, or an aging parent’s healthcare needs, and you can’t absorb a haircut of, say, 30% on your capital?

You need a tool to help you sidestep the worst of a bear market crash. And that’s where the quant-based market tools from our corporate partner, TradeSmith, come in.

Here’s a quick story from TradeSmith’s CEO Keith Kaplan to illustrate:

It was early 2020 and I had flown to Florida to meet with a group of 50 of my peers where each of us pitched our best and biggest investment ideas.

When it was my turn, I told them all “I sold almost all my stocks on Friday.”

As you would imagine, I was not the most popular person in the room.

I urged people to protect their investments and consider warning their subscribers that a bear market was rapidly approaching.

I even showed them proof of how I knew we were headed toward the fastest bear market in history — one that would catch everyone by surprise and destroy years of wealth building.

I showed them the alerts I received and then how accurate these alerts have been over the last 20 years.

I was laughed at and told not to panic. Not a single person in the room wanted to hear what I had to say.

But anyone who acted on my systems advice saved their portfolio.

Keith was using a quant-based trading tool that sent him “bear market” alerts.

Here’s an example of what he saw on Friday February 27, 2020…

…which was shortly before the S&P 500 suffered its steepest plunge in the Covid crash…

Back to Keith:

In 2020, my personal portfolio was saved a huge loss thanks to the indicators I got.

Next Thursday at 8 PM ET, Keith is holding an event to explain how this tool works, and how it could help protect your wealth from a similar crash

If protecting the money that you already have is as important as generating new investment gains, this event is for you.

That said, I’ll point out that this same tool works in reverse – notifying investors when to buy back in after a crash.

Returning to Keith, here he is describing what happened not long after those sell alerts arrived:

Just a month later, our indicators did it again, alerting me to a bullish set up in the markets.

By this time the CNN Fear and Greed Index had plummeted to extreme fear and people were nervous.

Heck, I was nervous!

But again, I trusted the math and these signals, and I took action. I started gobbling up stocks that had big pullbacks and were noted “healthy” in our system by their green designation.

Boy was that the right decision!

As you know, the S&P would go on to soar nearly 70% from its March 2020 low through the end of that year.

Source: TradingView

I’ll bring you more on TradeSmith’s market timing tool over the next few days, but to reserve your seat for next Thursday’s presentation right now, click here.

During the event, Keith will walk through how this tool helps you know:

• When to buy a stock
• How much of a stock to buy
• When to sell a stock
• And how risky that stock is – how much movement you should expect

He’s also going to unveil the biggest market prediction in his company’s 20-year history.

It’s all next Thursday at 8 PM ET.

More on this to come…

In the meantime, start looking into humanoids. It’s going to be a big one.

Have a good evening,

Jeff Remsburg

Written by the Market Insights Team

Between rumors and dollar softness

Kevin Ford –FX & Macro Strategist

Despite the U.S. ISM services PMI (a measure of U.S. service sector activity) exceeding expectations in February, the narrative of a U.S. economic slowdown, coupled with Germany’s significant shift in fiscal policy, has driven markets to adopt a short-term bearish stance on the U.S. dollar. The DXY index has continued to struggle, losing approximately 2.8% in the last few days. This decline has capped gains for the Loonie above the 1.445 level, which has eased some of its tariff premium amid confirmation that President Trump is exempting automakers from newly imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada for one month, and renewed hopes that tariffs could be lifted altogether if an agreement is reached soon. While the Loonie remains in uncertain territory and seeks firmer footing on trade policy, it has, for now, benefited from tariff rumors and the unexpected shift in U.S. dollar sentiment.

Altogether, the recent U.S. macro data published this week (ISM Services PMI, ISM Prices Paid, S&P Manufacturing PMI, and ISM Manufacturing) challenges the market narrative of an economic slowdown. This Friday’s payroll data will provide a more complete picture in what has been seen as a key test of the U.S. economy, amid fears of cooling following two years of failed recession predictions. The two-year Treasury yield has rebounded above 4%, reaching 4.03%, in response to this week’s positive macro news. The narrative of a U.S. economic slowdown has gained traction, supported by the Atlanta Fed GDP nowcast. However, given the indicator’s inherent volatility, it may serve as a key variable in shaping investor sentiment ahead of next month’s data, which will account for recent tariff developments.

There is also speculation that payroll data may eventually reflect the impact of DOGE’s federal employee layoffs, which number at least in the tens of thousands. However, these layoffs are unlikely to significantly influence this Friday’s payroll report, which reflects February’s data. Their effect may instead show up in March payroll figures, expected next month.

The USD/CAD is trading close to its 60-day SMA of 1.436 and has found some around the 1.433 level. In the near term, rebounds toward the 1.443 level could present shorting opportunities, especially if no significant tariff news emerges and U.S. dollar weakness persists.

The next 36 hours will be packed with market-moving events, including the ECB policy meeting outcome, remarks from U.S. Secretary Scott Bessent, key Fedspeak led by Chair Jerome Powell, the U.S. jobs report, and additional data releases from Europe, Canada and the U.S.

Tearing down the black zero and euro bears

Boris Kovacevic – Global Macro Strategist

This is what European investors have eagerly been waiting for. Germany’s likely next coalition of the CDU and SPD is preparing for a major fiscal expansion, potentially widening the deficit to 4% of GDP over the next decade. While details remain unclear and implementation risks are high, the plan aims to bolster military deterrence, drive economic recovery, and reshape Germany’s lagging infrastructure.

Around €500 billion could potentially be available for investment over the next ten years. How much of this will go into the expansion of the military complex is unclear. However, a report from the European Commission estimated that about €800 billion or 4.5% of the EU’s GDP could be mobilized in the coming years. To illustrate how significant the likely adjustment of the German black zero (rule of not increasing debt levels) is, we can take a look at their market impact. The 10-year government bond yield surged by an incredible 28 basis points to 2.8%. This is the largest single-day increase in financing costs since the reunification of East and West Germany in the 1990s.

It is also safe to say that no analyst saw the euro surging by 4% this week. However, we have consistently highlighted two key points over the past few weeks: first, that the dollar’s tariff-driven gains were likely to lose momentum as the US economy slowed, and second, that European pessimism had reached extreme levels—making positive surprises far more impactful on markets than any disappointing data or news. The German defense bazooka and signs that the Trump administration is monitoring the impact of tariff announcements on markets and the economy have pushed EUR/USD to the highest level this year above $1.08.

From now on, we warn on turning too optimistic too soon. First, the adjustment of the deficit rule needs a 2/3 majority in the German parliament which is still not guaranteed. Second, the global (US vs. RoW) tariff war has just started. Both can still act as headwinds for the euro. Still, the real rate differential makes it clear that levels such as $1.07 or $1.08 are not unjustified.

Dollar down 4% in 2025

Boris Kovacevic – Global Macro Strategist

Yesterday was probably the first trading session of the year in which global markets were not driven by developments in the US, but by the news flow coming out of Europe. The proposed increase of German defence spending and signs that the US economy are slowing have put the dollar on track for its worst week since November 2022.

The 3% drawdown is happening despite Trump’s rhetoric becoming more hawkish. This is likely due to two factors. First, investors are looking beyond the short-term safe haven flows and are asking what damage tariffs will do to the US economy. Second, despite this week’s tariff increases on Mexico, Canada, and China, potential exemptions and the undefined duration of the tariffs continue to confuse investors. Statements by the Trump administration have signalled that they are watching the impact of tariffs on markets and the economy. The White House excluded automakers from the newly imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada for example. Could that mean that a large enough drop in equity prices or economic momentum could make Trump pivot?

Economic data came in mixed yesterday. The services sector beat forecasts and expanded modestly. Anxiety is high but the employment index rose from 52.3 to 53.9. This does contradict the ADP report, which showed that private hiring fell to the lowest level since July at 77,000. Against this ambiguous backdrop, all eyes will be on the nonfarm payrolls report tomorrow. The dollar needs an upside surprise on the jobs figure to stop the bleeding.

Pound now 7% higher than January low

George Vessey – Lead FX & Macro Strategist

As the US dollar dump continues, GBP/USD marches to fresh 4-month highs above the $1.29 handle. The pair has broken above key resistance levels including key moving averages like the closely watched 200-day and 200-week moving averages, which is a bullish signal. Moreover, in FX options markets, short-term risk reversals, favouring further sterling strength, have surged to their highest in around five years.

Expectations of the US dollar outperforming on escalating trade war tensions are fading as investors focus more on the negative repercussions on the US economy, with stagflation fears overwhelming. Instead of safe haven USD demand, traders are focused on a recent slowdown in US data, versus improvement in UK and European data, and the potential for relative outperformance between the economies. This is also having a positive impact on interest rate differentials between Europe and the UK versus the US, given the rise in Fed easing bets. Moreover, the spillover effect from surging German bund yields as a result of the proposed bazooka spending plan, saw the UK 10-year yield jump by the most in over a year yesterday, to over 1-month highs. This sent UK-US 10-year spreads soaring to an 18-month high, which has helped the pound’s rally against the battered and bruised US dollar.

But the near 7% climb from the low of $1.21 in January, and the 2.6% rally this week has pushed the pound into the overbought zone according to the 14-day relative strength index. A period of consolidation or a correction lower may be in the offing, but the psychological $1.30 level now serves as next resistance. Elsewhere, GBP/EUR has dropped 1.5% this week after enduring its biggest single day loss in five months as stronger flows into the euro dominate.

Pound now 7% higher than January low

Table: 7-day currency trends and trading ranges

Key global risk events

Calendar: March 03-07

All times are in ET

Have a question? [email protected]

*The FX rates published are provided by Convera’s Market Insights team for research purposes only. The rates have a unique source and may not align to any live exchange rates quoted on other sites. They are not an indication of actual buy/sell rates, or a financial offer.

Kuwait’s economy is undergoing critical transformation as the authorities implement long-awaited reforms to develop the non-oil sector and diversify income. 

The Kuwaiti economy is at a turning point. In early February, the Cabinet approved a draft budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, signaling an 11% year-over-year increase in the deficit on slightly lower revenues. The proposal, still awaiting the approval of Emir Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, comes as the Persian Gulf state grapples with the need to diversify the economy in the face of persistent dependence on oil production.

Kuwait’s economy contracted by 1% in 2024 following a 3.6% decline during a 2023 recession. With hydrocarbons accounting for 90% of exports and government revenue, economic performance remains closely tied to OPEC+ production policy, global demand, and competitor output. While the World Bank projects GDP growth will surpass 2% this year, recent calls from US President Donald Trump to cut global oil prices are pressing Kuwait to accelerate its diversification efforts.

For years, political gridlock has stalled reforms. Since 2020, the Cabinet has resigned 10 times and Kuwait has held four legislative elections. But a shift is underway. Last May, the emir dissolved Parliament and partially suspended the constitution for up to four years, a dramatic move aimed at fast-tracking key structural reforms in coordination with international institutions.

“We were very skeptical in the beginning, because they made promises before, but we can see the actions and seriousness about certain reforms,” says Ahmad Al-Duwaisan, acting CEO and general manager of Corporate Banking at Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait (ABK).

Game-changing transformations such as cutting public-sector wages and subsidies, which account for 80% of total spending; introducing a value-added tax (VAT); updating the emirate’s mortgage law (see sidebar, page 78); and passing a new debt law aimed at allowing Kuwait to borrow on international markets, are still under discussion. But some legislation has been approved, signaling momentum toward reform.

In line with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Pillar Two requirements on minimum tax rules, Kuwait is introducing a 15% corporate tax for foreign firms with revenues exceeding $750 million in at least two of the last four years. Finance Minister Noora Al-Fassam estimates the tax will target over 300 companies, raising up to $825 million annually.

“This is part of a government strategy to build a more diversified economy, attract foreign investment, and create jobs for citizens,” Al-Fassam told the local media. It also shows Kuwait is “serious in going ahead with the fiscal and economic reforms.”

While some multinationals may look to increase local partnerships or relocate regional headquarters away from Kuwait to mitigate compliance costs, the overall objective of the new measures is to position Kuwait as a competitive business hub, compliant with best global and regional practices.

“The alignment of Kuwait with global tax standards could improve credibility at a global stage and prevents the country from being seen as a tax haven for foreign investors, which could drive more sustainable and high quality FDI [foreign direct investment] inflows,” says Ali Khalil, CEO of Markaz, a Kuwaiti asset management and investment bank. “In addition, this reform sets the base for the implementation of further tax reforms, which could diversify revenue sources for the government. The additional revenue would likely be ploughed back into the non-oil economy to aid in further improving business infrastructure.”

In parallel, the government aims to improve investment frameworks and litigation procedures, and ease foreign ownership rules.

“Kuwait’s economic reforms are paving the way for significant opportunities for financial institutions,” says Khaled Yousef Al-Shamlan, CEO of Kuwait Finance House (KFH), the emirate’s second largest bank, behind the National Bank of Kuwait. “Initiatives aimed at enhancing the business environment, such as public-private partnerships and regulatory simplifications, will facilitate greater investment inflows.”

Infrastructure Revamp

Improving infrastructure is also a priority. Kuwait’s road system, once ranked the worst in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), will be revamped thanks to $1.3 billion in maintenance contracts signed last October with 18 companies.

Project activity has surged in sectors including housing, health, water, waste management, electricity, and oil and gas (see sidebar, page 80). Last year, $8.7 billion worth of projects were awarded, marking a 44% year-over-year increase and the highest value since 2017, according to reports from National Bank of Kuwait (NBK), the emirate’s largest bank. Along with the 2025-2026 budget, the Cabinet has approved close to $5.6 billion for 124 projects.

KAMCO Invest, one of Kuwait’s leading non-banking financial institutions, expects “thriving economic activity, government’s resolve to execute projects before the deadlines, a supportive and strong banking sector, an expected fall in interest rates, stability in the regional geopolitical scenario, elevated oil prices, and supportive government policies for private sector participation” will continue to drive markets this year.

Overall, Kuwait has $121 billion worth of planned projects in the pipeline, with several to be awarded this year. 

Adds KFH’s Al-Shamlan, “I see growth potential in sectors that are critical to the global economy’s infrastructure and energy needs: specifically, oil and gas, construction, and services.”

Changing Landscape For Banks

The financial sector stands at the cornerstone of Kuwait’s non-oil economy. Despite fluctuating global energy prices and a tense regional geopolitical landscape, Kuwaiti lenders are showing resilience.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) assigned a stable outlook to Kuwaiti banks in January, noting that they “operate with strong capital buffers and typically retain 50% or more of their bottom line, which supports their capitalization. The quality of capital remains strong, with a modest share of hybrid instruments.”

The financial landscape nevertheless is undergoing significant change.

In July, the government introduced legislation to bolster transparency and reduce fraud by adding more stringent screening measures for opening bank accounts. At the same time, the banking sector is beginning to mirror regional trends as consolidation efforts gain momentum.

In December, Burgan Bank announced plans to acquire Bahrain’s United Gulf Bank in a $190 million deal, set to close in the coming months. The deal “aligns with the bank’s new asset reallocation strategy and efforts to build new and diversified revenue streams,” said Burgan Group CEO Tony Daher in an announcement. With subsidiaries in Algeria, Tunisia, and Turkey as well as a corporate office in the United Arab Emirates, Burgan may also leverage the merger to expand further across the MENA region.

Other deals are in the works. In January, Warba Bank announced it would buy a 32.75% share in Gulf Bank from Alghanim Trading, one of Kuwait’s largest family businesses. Last summer, Boubyan Bank floated the idea that it might acquire Gulf Bank which would have created Kuwait’s third-largest bank, with assets exceeding $50 billion. The transaction was later called off.

Since 2018, the number of banks in the GCC has dropped from 77 to 60, primarily through mergers and acquisitions that have created regional giants. Kuwait, however, largely stayed on the sidelines until KFH completed the acquisition of Bahrain’s Ahli United Bank (AUB) in 2022, marking the MENA region’s first major cross-border consolidation and creating the world’s second largest Islamic bank, with $120 billion in combined assets.

But with 21 regulated banks serving a population of over 4 million, Kuwait, like many GCC countries, is still considered overbanked. Moreover, the sector is largely dominated by NBK and KFH, which collectively hold some two thirds of total banking-sector assets, resulting in severe competition between the other players.

“We’re all fighting over good clients, and that creates compression in margins and returns,” says ABK’s Al-Duwaisan.

The anticipated mergers are unlikely to cause significant disruption, however. Typically in GCC bank consolidations, the major shareholders—powerful families or state-owned entities—remain unchanged, with only asset restructuring taking place.

In the case of Burgan and United Gulf Bank, both entities are subsidiaries of Kuwait Projects Company (KIPCO), one of the MENA region’s largest holding companies, backed by the royal family. Boubyan Bank is a subsidiary of NBK, and had it acquired Gulf Bank or any other retail bank, it would have ended up reinforcing NBK’s already dominating position on the market.

Kuwait’s recent initiatives to promote the financial sector also focus on building up its capital markets to drive private-sector growth. The expansion of the Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE) and reforms to streamline foreign ownership rules are starting to show results.

Last year, 69 million shares were trades on the KSE, making it one of the GCC’s most active and best performing stock markets. While investors remain mainly locals, foreign participation in trading activity represented 7.8% of total trades in 2024, up from 5.8% in 2021.

“Reforms undertaken to deepen the capital markets and improve liquidity have helped increase the visibility of Kuwait markets among foreign investors and allowed asset managers to launch new products such as ETFs and REITs, which was previously not possible,” says Markaz’s Khalil, who recently launched the GCC Momentum Fund, Kuwait’s first passive investment fund. Markaz also hopes to widen its product portfolio focus on thematic funds and products based on alternative asset classes like Private equity and Private Credit.

Following the privatization of Boursa Kuwait, which operates the KSE, in 2016, the stock exchange was upgraded to “emerging market” by global index providers MSCI, FTS Russell, and S&P. It is currently in the third phase an ambitious Market Development Plan, with attracting local family businesses to list being one of the main challenges ahead.

“The IPO wave sweeping through some other GCC countries is yet to take off in Kuwait markets,” notes Khalil. “Similarly, deal activity in Kuwait is subdued. Measures to incentivize the listing of family businesses, privatization of state assets, introduction of parallel markets, and products like ETFs would aid in market development.”

The Road Ahead

For the first time in a long while, change has come to Kuwait. By modernizing its fiscal framework and ramping up project activity, the authorities are demonstrating commitment to enact some of the long-awaited changes observers have said the country needs to step away from oil dependency.

Enthusiasm over ongoing reforms, in turn, supports increasingly positive investor sentiment. But much remains to be done to encourage and support private-sector growth that eases the state’s dependence on hydrocarbon revenues, especially as the government plans to increase oil production substantially.

New circulating bimetallic commemorative.

“200 years of the annexation of Partido de Nicoya“

TECHNICAL DATA
External ring: copper-zinc-nickel
Center disc: copper-nickel
Diameter: 28.00 mm
Weight: 10.50 g
Width: 2.25 mm



A coloured collector’s issue exists as well.

(news from Egon Conti)
(image from Peter Kaminsky, eBay seller monedapeter)

LINK: Banco Central de Costa Rica

Updated on March 3rd, 2025 by Felix Martinez

The Dividend Aristocrats are among the highest-quality dividend growth stocks an investor can buy. They have increased their dividends for 25+ consecutive years.

Becoming a Dividend Aristocrat is no small feat. Beyond certain market capitalization and trading volume requirements, Dividend Aristocrats must have raised their dividends each year for at least 25 years, and be included in the S&P 500 Index.

This presents a high hurdle that relatively few companies can clear. For example, there are currently 69 Dividend Aristocrats out of the 500 companies that comprise the S&P 500 Index.

We created a complete list of all 69 Dividend Aristocrats, along with important financial metrics like dividend yields and price-to-earnings ratios. You can download an Excel spreadsheet of all 69 Dividend Aristocrats by clicking the link below:

 

Disclaimer: Sure Dividend is not affiliated with S&P Global in any way. S&P Global owns and maintains The Dividend Aristocrats Index. The information in this article and downloadable spreadsheet is based on Sure Dividend’s own review, summary, and analysis of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats ETF (NOBL) and other sources, and is meant to help individual investors better understand this ETF and the index upon which it is based. None of the information in this article or spreadsheet is official data from S&P Global. Consult S&P Global for official information.

An even smaller group of stocks have raised their dividends for 50+ years in a row. These are known as the Dividend Kings.

Genuine Parts (GPC) has increased its dividend for 69 consecutive years, giving it one of the longest dividend growth streaks in the market. You can see all 54 Dividend Kings here.

There is nothing overly exciting about Genuine Parts’ business model. Still, its steady annual dividend increases prove that a “boring” business can be just what income investors need for long-term dividend growth.

Business Overview

Genuine Parts traces its roots back to 1928, when Carlyle Fraser purchased Motor Parts Depot for $40,000 and renamed it Genuine Parts Company. The original Genuine Parts store had annual sales of just $75,000 and only 6 employees.

It has grown into a sprawling conglomerate that sells automotive and industrial parts, electrical materials, and general business products. Its global reach includes North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe and is comprised of more than 3,000 locations.

Source: Investor Presentation 

The industrial parts group sells industrial replacement parts to MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations) and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) customers. Customers are derived from a wide range of segments, including food and beverage, metals and mining, oil and gas, and health care.

Genuine Parts posted fourth quarter and full-year earnings on February 18th, 2025. The company reported steady growth in 2024, with fourth-quarter sales rising 3.3% to $5.8 billion and full-year sales reaching $23.5 billion. Adjusted diluted EPS was $1.61 for Q4 and $8.16 for the year. The company generated $1.3 billion in operating cash flow and returned $705 million to shareholders through dividends and buybacks.

Global automotive sales grew 6.1%, while industrial sales declined 1.2%. GPC continued its restructuring efforts, achieving significant cost savings. It also increased its dividend for the 69th consecutive year, raising the annual payout to $4.12 per share.

For 2025, GPC forecasts 2%–4% revenue growth, adjusted EPS of $7.75–$8.25, and up to $1.0 billion in free cash flow. The company remains focused on efficiency, cost control, and shareholder value.

Growth Prospects

Genuine Parts should benefit from structural trends, as the environment for auto replacement parts is highly positive. Consumers are holding onto their cars longer and increasingly making minor repairs to keep cars on the road longer, rather than buying new cars.

As average costs of vehicle repair increase as the car ages, this directly benefits Genuine Parts.

According to Genuine Parts, vehicles aged six years or older now represent over ~70% of cars on the road. This bodes very well for Genuine Parts.

In addition, the automotive aftermarket products and services market is significant. Genuine Parts has a sizable portion of the $200 billion (and growing) automotive aftermarket business.

Source: Investor Presentation

One way the company has historically captured market share in this space has been through acquisitions. It has made several acquisitions throughout its history.

For example, Genuine Parts acquired Alliance Automotive Group for $2 billion. Alliance is a European vehicle parts, tools, and workshop equipment distributor. More recently, in 2022, Genuine Parts completed its $1.3 billion all-cash purchase of Kaman Distribution Group, a leading power transmission, automation, and fluid power company.

Finally, expense reductions will aid earnings growth. The company noted it is undergoing a corporate restructuring to lower headcount and improve efficiency. These changes should result in better operating margins over time.

We expect 9% annual EPS growth over the next five years for Genuine Parts.

Competitive Advantages & Recession Performance

The biggest challenge facing the retail industry right now, is the threat of e-commerce competition. However, automotive parts retailers like NAPA are not exposed to this risk.

Automotive repairs are often complex, challenging tasks. NAPA is a leading brand, thanks partly to its reputation for quality products and service. Customers value being able to ask questions to qualified staff, which gives Genuine Parts a competitive advantage.

Genuine Parts has a leadership position across its businesses. All four of its operating segments represent the #1 or #2 brand in their respective categories, leading to a strong brand and steady customer demand.

Genuine Parts’ earnings-per-share during the Great Recession are below:

• 2007 earnings-per-share of $2.98
• 2008 earnings-per-share of $2.92 (2.0% decline)
• 2009 earnings-per-share of $2.50 (14% decline)
• 2010 earnings-per-share of $3.00 (20% increase)

Earnings-per-share declined significantly in 2009, which should come as no surprise. Consumers tend to tighten their belts when the economy enters a downturn.

That said, Genuine Parts remained highly profitable throughout the recession, and returned to growth in 2010 and beyond. The company remained highly profitable in 2020, despite the economic damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

There will always be a certain level of demand for automotive parts, which gives Genuine Parts’ earnings a high floor.

Valuation & Expected Returns

Based on the most recent closing price of ~$124 and expected 2025 earnings-per-share of $7.95, Genuine Parts has a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.6. Our fair value estimate for Genuine Parts is a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.

As a result, Genuine Parts is slightly overvalued at present. Multiple expansion could decrease annual returns by 0.7% per year over the next five years.

Genuine Parts’ future earnings growth and dividends will add to future returns. We expect Genuine Parts to grow its earnings-per-share by 9% annually over the next five years.

The stock also has a 3.3% current dividend yield. Genuine Parts has a highly sustainable dividend. The company has paid a yearly dividend since it went public in 1948.

Adding it all up, Genuine Parts’ total annual returns could consist of the following:

• 9% earnings growth
• 3.3% dividend yield
• 0.7% valuation multiple compression

Genuine Parts is expected to generate total annual returns of 11.6% over the next five years. This is a strong rate of return, making the stock a buy.

Final Thoughts

Genuine Parts does not get much coverage in the financial media. It is far from the high-flying tech startups that typically receive more attention. However, Genuine Parts is a very appealing stock for investors looking for stable profitability and reliable dividend growth.

Due to favorable industry dynamics, the company has a long runway of growth ahead. It should continue to raise its dividend each year, as it has for the past 69 years.

Given its history of dividend growth, Genuine Parts is suitable for investors desiring income and steady dividend increases each year. With an 11.6% expected rate of return, GPC stock is a buy.

If you are interested in finding more high-quality dividend growth stocks suitable for long-term investment, the following Sure Dividend databases will be useful:

The major domestic stock market indices are another solid resource for finding investment ideas. Sure Dividend compiles the following stock market databases and updates them monthly: