Category Monthly Dividend

Estate planning is an important part of financial preparedness, yet it’s often overlooked. According to a survey conducted by Caring.com, the amount of Americans with a will declined from 33% in 2022 to 24% in 2025.

One key element of estate planning often overlooked is choosing an executor—the person responsible for carrying out your final wishes. This person will handle financial matters, communicate with beneficiaries, and ensure that your wishes are followed after you pass away. It’s a big responsibility, and it’s important to choose wisely.

What I’m Telling My Clients

Choosing the Right Executor

Many may think that their spouse or eldest child is the natural choice for executor by default, but that isn’t always the best decision. The ideal person for this role should be responsible, detail-oriented, and comfortable handling finances. Being an executor involves a lot of paperwork, from filing tax returns to settling debts and distributing assets. Someone who is well-organized and able to communicate clearly with beneficiaries will make the process much smoother.

Navigating Family Dynamics

Estate matters can be sensitive, and disagreements over money or property can create tension among family members. If selecting one child over another could lead to conflict, it might be better to name a neutral party, such as a trusted family friend or an attorney.

Having open conversations about estate plans ahead of time can also help minimize surprises. If beneficiaries understand the reasoning behind your decision, they’re less likely to feel hurt or left out when the time comes.

Hiring a Professional Executor

Not everyone has a family member or friend who is the right fit for this role. In these cases, I discuss the option of hiring a professional executor. Banks, trust companies, and attorneys can act as executors, ensuring everything is handled legally and efficiently. While these services come with a fee, they can be worth the cost for those who want a neutral, experienced person to manage their estate.

The Bottom Line

Choosing an executor is one of the most important decisions in estate planning. The right person will help carry out your wishes smoothly and effectively. Taking the time to choose carefully—and clearly communicating your decision—can make a big difference in staying organized and avoiding family conflicts. This will ultimately give you and your loved ones peace of mind, knowing you have a well-thought-out plan in place.

This article represents the opinion of Mitlin Financial Inc. It should not be construed as providing investment, legal, and/or tax advice. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor.

Major U.S. equities indexes tumbled Wednesday.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told the Economic Club of Chicago that changes in U.S. trade policy could pressure growth and boost inflation. Noting declines in business and consumer sentiment, Powell suggested the Fed is poised to await more visibility on possible tariff impacts before modifying interest rates.

The S&P 500 ended the session 2.2% lower, while the Dow declined 1.7%. Tech sector underperformance weighed on the Nasdaq, which fell 3.1%.

Shares of J.B. Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) skidded 7.7%, falling the furthest of any S&P 500 stock, following the logistics company’s earnings release. Although first-quarter sales and profits edged out expectations, executives noted that tariffs were weighing on demand as customers attempt to gauge the potential impact on their supply chains and overall businesses. J.B. Hunt stressed that it is evaluating options to reduce its costs as it navigates these challenges.

The top executive from marketing and corporate communications firm Omnicom (OMC) reaffirmed plans to move forward with the acquisition of advertising giant Interpublic Group (IPG), pushing back against claims that the deal could result in client losses. However, shares of both companies dropped more than 7% on Wednesday.

Semiconductor stocks dropped after chip giants Nvidia (NVDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) said they expect to take significant charges related to export restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. Nvidia anticipates a $5.5 billion hit in its fiscal first-quarter results. In comparison, AMD foresees a charge of up to $800 million. Reports said that Nvidia’s H20, AMD’s MI308, and other equivalent chips will need export licenses to be sold to Chinese firms. AMD shares plunged 7.4%, while Nvidia shares lost 6.9%.

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) shares declined 5.8% on Wednesday, reversing some of the strong gains notched this week after the data analytics firm struck a deal with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for the deployment of Palantir’s artificial intelligence (AI) military system. Shares of other enterprise software providers also lost ground amid broad pressure in the tech sector following Powell’s comments about tariffs and their possible inflationary impact.

Crude oil futures prices moved higher after the U.S. government announced sanctions on Chinese importers of oil from Iran, increasing concerns about global supply. The uncertain outlook for the global economy has pressured the commodity’s price this month, and the bounce back helped lift oil and gas stocks. Shares of exploration and production company APA Corp. (APA) led the way, with a gain of 3.2%, marking Wednesday’s top performance in the S&P 500. 

Abbott Laboratories (ABT) shares jumped 2.8% after the maker of medical devices and other health care products reported better-than-expected first-quarter sales and profits. The company also reaffirmed its full-year earnings per share (EPS) guidance. It announced plans to invest $500 million in two manufacturing and research and development (R&D) facilities in Texas and Illinois that are set to open this year.

Gold prices surged to another record high as the precious metal’s safe-haven appeal remains solid in the tense geopolitical environment. Shares of Newmont (NEM), the world’s largest gold producer, advanced 2.6%.

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Nvidia (NVDA) shares tumbled nearly 7% Wednesday after the company said it’s set to take a $5.5 billion charge as a result of U.S. restrictions on exports of its AI chips to China.

The company said via a regulatory filing that it would be required to have an export license to sell its popular H20 chips to China amid concerns they could be used by Beijing to build a supercomputer. The development caught market watchers off guard, given Nvidia designed the H20 graphics processing units (GPUs) to comply with Biden-era chip export curbs on advanced chips the former administration thought could be used by foreign adversaries.

Nvidia shares have staged a modest recovery above this month’s low but have lost about a firth of their value since the start of the year as of Wednesday’s close amid uncertainty over Washington’s trade policies and big tech AI spending.

Below, we take a closer look at Nvidia’s chart and apply technical analysis to point out key price levels worth watching out for.

Doji Candlestick Pattern Indicates Indecision

After attracting buying interest near the lower trendline of a falling wedge pattern last week, Nvidia shares rallied sharply before running into selling pressure near the pattern’s top trendline.

It’s worth noting that although the stock fell sharply in Wednesday’s trading session, the price formed a doji, a candlestick pattern suggesting indecision between buyers and sellers.

Let’s identify key support and resistance levels on Nvidia’s chart that investors may be monitoring.

Key Support Levels to Watch

Nvidia shares fell 6.9% to close Wednesday’s session at $104.49.

Further selling in the stock could initially see the price revisit support around $96. This area may attract buyers near last year’s prominent March twin peaks, a location on the chart also situated just above this month’s tariff-driven low.

The bulls’ failure to defend the April low could trigger a larger drop to the $76 level. Investors may look for buy-and-hold entry points in this region near last April’s notable swing low.

Important Resistance Levels to Monitor

A volume-backed breakout above the falling wedge pattern’s top trendline could drive a move to around $130, currently just above the 200-day moving average. The shares may face overhead resistance in this area near the August peak and December trough.

Finally, buying above this level could see Nvidia shares climb to $150. Investors may decide to lock in profits at this price near several peaks that formed on the chart just below the stock’s record high set in early January.

This area also aligns with a projected measured move price target that calculates the depth of the falling wedge in points and adds that amount to the pattern’s upper trendline. For instance, adding $40 to $110 forecasts an upside target of $150.

The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info.

As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities.

Tariffs could impact the rental market, experts say.

The median asking rental price in the 50 largest U.S. metros is now just $65 lower than the 2022 peak, sitting just shy of $1,700, according to Realtor.com. And while rents declined in March for the 20th consecutive month in part due to higher multi-family inventory, Realtor.com said, current prices are still higher than they were pre-pandemic, and tariffs may help bump them up even further.

Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, and Memphis—which saw the fastest growth in permitted multi-family homes last year—are expected to be hit hardest by steel and aluminum tariffs of 25%, due to anticipated higher construction costs, Realtor.com’s March Rent Report said. Rising expenses may cut into construction plans, lifting rental prices, the report said.

“We have seen declines in rents largely due to robust multi-family building and permitting adding more rental options in many metros,” said Realor.com Senior Economist Joel Berner in a press release. “This tailwind is currently under threat as developers grapple with the short-term and long-term impacts of new and evolving tariffs on building materials. ”

The U.S. imports building materials from many countries, including highly tariffed ones like China. Nearly one quarter of America’s softwood lumber, for example, comes from Canada, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

People may choose not to buy during a time of economic uncertainty, according to Redfin Economics Research Lead Chen Zhao, driving further demand for rentals.

Netflix (NFLX) is slated to report first-quarter results after markets close Thursday, and options markets suggest traders are expecting a big stock price move in the following days.

Netflix options pricing on Wednesday signaled the stock is expected to move approximately 8.5% in either direction in the week after Thursday’s report, suggesting a stock-price range of between $893.47 and $1,059.09. (U.S. financial markets are closed on Friday, which means any big move in the stock won’t happen until next week.)

Uncertainty is high heading into Netflix’s report, and that uneasiness is reflected in options prices for nearly all stocks. “The market is pricing in the highest average implied moves since 1Q20,” wrote JPMorgan analysts in a note on Monday. By their calculations, the average implied earnings-day move for the stocks they cover is 8.1% this quarter, compared with a realized average of 6.5% last quarter and 5.9% over the last three years. 

In the same note, JPMorgan compared the historical post-earnings moves of the 60 largest S&P 500 stocks and their implied volatility this quarter. They found Netflix was among the stocks with the most underestimated—or “cheapest”—post-earnings volatility. Over the past three years, the stock’s post-earnings move has averaged about 11%, making it and Meta Platforms (META) the most volatile names in JPMorgan’s sample.

Netflix’s “cheap” implied volatility puts it in the minority. Traders are pricing in smaller-than-average moves for only nine of the 60 largest stocks in the S&P 500, according to JPMorgan’s analysis. Tech giants Nvidia (NVDA), Meta, Broadcom (AVGO) and Oracle (ORCL) are among those nine.

Netflix Stock Has Momentum Heading Into Earnings

Netflix stock has jumped following each of its last two earnings reports. Shares advanced nearly 10% the day after fourth-quarter earnings topped estimates in January. The company also raised its revenue forecast for 2025 and boosted its share buyback program by $15 billion. In October of last year, Netflix beat expectations for its top and bottom lines, and indicated strong demand for its ad-supported subscription tier, sending shares soaring more than 11% the next day. 

Netflix stock popped on Tuesday after a report that the streaming giant is aiming to double its revenue to about $78 billion by 2030, an ambitious goal that the company hopes will propel it into the $1 trillion market-capitalization club alongside tech giants like Alphabet (GOOG) and Amazon (AMZN). 

Analysts are generally bullish on Netflix stock heading into earnings. Oppenheimer on Monday stuck by its “buy” rating and $1,150 price target—among the highest on Wall Street—and expressed confidence the streamer will be mostly insulated from tariffs and an economic slowdown. 

Netflix shares fell 1.5% on Wednesday amid a broad sell-off. Even with the decline, the company’s shares are up about 8% so far this year and have risen 56% over the past 12 months. 

April’s brutal sell off in the stock market and concerns about the Trump administration’s tariff policies have led to an erosion of investor trust in the capital markets, according to Investopedia’s recent survey of its readers. Despite this, the survey also showed that the majority of investors are continuing to hold their positions. 

The survey, fielded from April 12 to April 15, 2025, revealed 73% of respondents say they are at least “somewhat worried” about the recent sell off, while 44% reported being “extremely worried”. 

Investor anxiety about recent market volatility is at its highest levels since 2021. In fact, more than half of individual investors reported they trust the stock market less under this administration, due to tariff policy uncertainty and a swift correction across capital markets.

Investors Are Worried About Inflation, U.S. China Relations, Recession

Inflation tops the list of Investopedia’s readers’ worries, tied to their concerns about the impacts of global tariffs levied by the White House, and new tariffs on semiconductors and copper set to take effect in the coming months. U.S. relations with China are also a top concern given the recent escalations of tariffs between the two countries. Respondents are similarly concerned that a trade war will lead to a recession, and potentially a global financial crisis and bear market.

Retail Investors Are Scared, But Not Selling

While Investopedia’s readers may be the most worried they’ve been in four years, most say they’re not making major changes to their allocation amid the volatility. Only 17% say they moved money out of the stock market, and into cash, money market funds and CDs. 

More than half, or 58%, say they took advantage of the downturn, with 32% indicating that they used dollar-cost averaging in the market or into specific stocks. Only 6% say they are shorting the stock market to try to take advantage of potential further declines.

Investors Are Still Hopeful About Their Favorite Stocks

Approximately 30% of investors didn’t give up hope on their favorite stocks, despite many of them, including Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN),  Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), and Palantir (PLTR), tumbling deep into bear market territory. Data from VandaTrack showed record dip-buying flows from retail investors the week following April 2nd— what the White House called, “Liberation Day”—including $3 billion in net purchases on April 3, the largest daily total since VandaTrack began collecting this data in 2014.

Research from Bank of America also showed that its clients were net buyers of $8 billion worth of stock during the week of the initial tariff announcements. That was the fourth-largest weekly inflow in Bank of America’s data since 2008, amid the Great Financial Crisis.

Readers Still Favor U.S. Stocks as Safest Bet

Despite their waning trust in the capital markets under this administration, Investopedia’s readers still favor U.S. stocks as the safest place to invest their money over the next five years. Given their experience with other periods of volatility and economic policy turmoil, many may believe that the stock market and the companies within it will eventually adjust to these new policies, and resume their ability to grow profits and reward shareholders.

1 in 4 Readers Say We’re Entering or Already in a Recession

The growing drumbeat around a possible recession has also gotten louder over the past several weeks with prominent CEOs like Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Larry Fink of Blackrock (BLK), warning of a severe economic downturn.

A growing number of our readers agree, with one in four indicating that we are entering, or are already in, a recession. Nearly 40% say we are likely to enter a recession in the next three to six months. However, only time will tell whether or not these investors’ predictions are true.

Morgan Stanley analysts on Wednesday trimmed their revenue projections for Nvidia (NVDA), citing concerns new chip export curbs to China are “more disruptive” than anticipated.

The analysts said they expect an 8% to 9% hit to Nvidia’s data center revenues over the next couple quarters after the U.S. government told the chipmaker it would require a federal export license in order to sell its H20 chips to China. The H20 is less powerful than Nvidia’s latest chips, and had been tailored to meet export limits for the Chinese market.

Nvidia said Tuesday it expects to take a $5.5 billion charge in its fiscal first quarter as a result of the government’s decision, which “suggests that the company is not optimistic about being granted licenses,” Morgan Stanley said. The analysts estimated the H20 chip made up 12% to 13% of Nvidia’s data center revenue in April. 

Shares of Nvidia slumped nearly 7% to close at $104.49 Wednesday, leading other chip and tech stocks lower amid worries tightening export restrictions could have wide-reaching impacts. (Read Investopedia’s live coverage of today’s market action here.)

Lawmakers Probe Nvidia Over Chips Used by DeepSeek

The development comes as Nvidia’s relationship with Chinese AI startup DeepSeek is under increased scrutiny from the federal government. The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party sent a letter to Nvidia Wednesday expressing concern DeepSeek used restricted Nvidia chips to develop its AI models, which the Chinese firm has claimed can keep up with American rivals at a fraction of the cost.

“The U.S. government instructs American businesses on what they can sell and where—we follow the government’s directions to the letter,” Nvidia told Investopedia.

DeepSeek’s rapid rise “makes this game of high stakes poker that much more tense,” Wedbush analysts said Wednesday, adding that Nvidia’s AI leadership makes it a “big chip on the table for Trump.”

Analysts Are Still Bullish on Nvidia Stock

Despite concerns about the new export restrictions, Nvidia’s stock is still a “top pick” said Morgan Stanley, which maintained its price target of $162, pointing to the chipmaker’s potential to benefit from growing demand for AI hardware.

Bank of America similarly reiterated a $160 target, calling the chipmaker’s stock “compelling” given strong global demand for Nvidia chips. Jefferies and UBS were even more bullish, each reaffirming a target of $185.

Hertz (HTZ) shares soared 56% to close at $5.71 Wednesday after billionaire Bill Ackman’s investment firm Pershing Square disclosed a sizable stake in the struggling rental car company.

Pershing Square held over 12.7 million shares in the company at the end of the fourth quarter, a roughly 4% stake, according to a regulatory filing Wednesday. Hertz did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

Hertz reported a loss of $2.86 billion in 2024 as the company took a hit from vehicle depreciation and the fallout from its unsuccessful efforts to switch its fleet to electric vehicles, among other things. The company’s stock lost close to two-thirds of its value in 2024.

Even with Wednesday’s gains, shares are down about 11% over the past 12 months. 

Separately, Hertz on Wednesday announced a partnership with UVeye, a move the company said will “introduce advanced AI inspection to its U.S. operations.”

Updated on April 15th, 2025 by Nathan Parsh

Income investors looking to buy oil and gas stocks may want to gain exposure to the Permian and Haynesville Basins. Permianville Royalty Trust (PVL) is an oil and gas producer with properties in these two oil and gas-producing areas.

The trust also pays a monthly dividend. There are 76 monthly dividend stocks. You can see the full list of monthly dividend stocks (plus important financial metrics such as payout ratios and dividend yields) by clicking on the link below:

The coronavirus crisis severely damaged Permianville. In 2020, the pandemic caused the oil price to collapse, so Permianville suspended its dividend for 13 consecutive months, from mid-2020 to mid-2021.

Fortunately for the trust, oil and gas prices recovered strongly from the pandemic in 2021 thanks to the massive distribution of vaccines and the immense fiscal stimulus packages offered by most governments. As a result, Permianville reinstated its dividend in August 2021 and thus returned to the group of monthly dividend stocks.

Even better for the trust, oil and gas prices rallied to a 13-year high in 2023 thanks to the strict sanctions imposed by Western countries on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. As a result, Permianville achieved an 8-year high distributable cash flow per unit in 2023.

The trust had suspended its dividend in 2025 until it declared a special dividend of $0.0085 for April.

Therefore, investors should remember that oil and gas royalty trusts are especially risky, and only investors with a high-risk tolerance should consider purchasing Permianville.

Business Overview

Permianville Royalty Trust is a statutory trust formed in 2011 to own a net profits interest representing the right to receive 80% of the net profits from the sale of oil and natural gas production from properties in Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico, as well as the Permian and Haynesville basins.

The trust can receive 80% of the net profits from selling oil and natural gas production from its properties. After all obligations and expenses are paid, unitholders receive the remaining proceeds each month. The trust is not subject to any preset termination provisions.

However, the trust could dissolve if at least 75% of outstanding units vote in favor of dissolution, or the annual cash proceeds received by the trust are less than $2 million for each of any two consecutive years.

Permianville came under great pressure in 2020 due to the coronavirus crisis. Fortunately, the trust, along with the broader energy market, recovered strongly from the pandemic in 2021.

Thanks to the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Europe on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the global oil and gas markets became extremely tight last year. Before the sanctions, Russia produced about 10% of global oil output and one-third of the natural gas consumed in Europe. Due to the sanctions, oil and gas prices rallied to 13-year highs in 2022. This tailwind gave Permianville an 8-year high annual distribution of $0.44 in 2022. This distribution corresponds to a 10.6% yield at the current stock price.

On March 19th, 2025, PVL reported financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024. Thanks to new Permian wells, oil volumes grew 45%. Gas volumes grew 8%, but were negatively impacted by low gas prices and excessive operating costs. As a result, there was no distributable income for March.

PVL suspended its distributions in the first half of 2024 before reinstating its dividend in August of last year. However, the trust has suspended payments to shareholders again due to the net profit shortfall.

We do project that PVL will distribute $0.03 to shareholders in total in 2025, equating to a 2.1% yield at current prices.

Growth Prospects

Royalty trusts are designed as income vehicles for unitholders. However, since these companies operate in the energy industry’s production segment, they are extremely reliant on the price of the underlying commodity.

Therefore, while higher energy prices will lead to higher royalty payments and a rising share price, the opposite occurs when commodity prices decline. Lower energy prices lead to lower dividend payments and a dropping share price for royalty trusts.

Distributions are based on the price of natural gas and crude oil, and when the cost of either declines, Permianville is impacted in two ways.

First, distributable income from royalties is reduced, lowering dividend payments. In addition, plans for exploration and development may be delayed or canceled, which could lead to future dividend cuts.

Permianville currently enjoys a favorable business environment thanks to Western countries’ sanctions on Russia and OPEC’s tight production quotas. However, it is prudent to expect oil and gas prices, infamous for their dramatic cycles, to deflate in the long run.

Due to the global energy crisis caused by the war in Ukraine, a record number of renewable energy projects are currently under development. When all these projects come online, they will probably take their toll on oil and gas prices. In such a case, Permianville is likely to have significant downside risk.

Dividend Analysis

Permianville has suspended its distribution in July 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, which had an extremely negative impact on the prices of oil and gas. Commodity prices plunged in 2020, leading many oil and gas royalty trusts to suspend their payouts.

Most royalty trusts, such as Permian Basin Royalty Trust and Sabine Royalty Trust, resumed paying dividends after a few months. However, Permianville suspended its dividend for 13 consecutive months, the longest absence of dividend payments among the well-known oil and gas trusts.

With prices falling, Permianville is currently offering a much lower yield than it typically does, which makes holding the name less attractive due to the increased risks regarding its business. Our expected yield of 2.1% is barely above the average yield of the S&P 500 Index.

Overall, the trust is ideal for those who are confident in higher future oil prices and want to gain exposure to the oil boom in the Permian and Haynesville basins. The trust is much more leveraged to the price of oil than the integrated oil companies, and hence it has much more upside in the positive scenario (higher oil and gas prices) and much more downside in the event of a downturn in the energy sector.

On the other hand, like the other oil and gas royalty trusts, Permianville will have excessive downside risk whenever oil and gas prices enter their next downcycle. The trust will reduce or suspend its dividends while its stock price comes under great pressure. It is thus suitable only for risk-loving investors who are confident in excessive oil and gas prices in the future.

Final Thoughts

Royalty trusts like Permianville have faced a number of challenges in the past few years, including the weak oil price environment and the coronavirus pandemic, which suppressed global oil demand. That said, Permianville operates in the most prolific oil-producing area in the U.S., the Permian and Haynesville basins. It also thrives when oil and gas prices are elevated, such as when Western countries placed sanctions on Russia.

The current business environment doesn’t appear favorable for Permianville, and another downturn in the energy sector is expected to show up in the upcoming years due to the cyclical nature of the oil and gas industry and the record number of clean energy projects that are under development right now. Due to the non-diversified business model of the trust and its dramatic reliance on the price of oil and gas, investors should not allocate a great portion of their portfolio to this stock.

Moreover, the trust’s short history leaves much to be desired for investors seeking reasonable levels of dividend safety and consistency.

Don’t miss the resources below for more monthly dividend stock investing research.

And see the resources below for more compelling investment ideas for dividend growth stocks and/or high-yield investment securities.