3 super large stocks perfect for dividend investors

Impressive stock market performance in 2023; An amazing return of 24% For the S&P 500 index ($SPX), which may have defied expectations, stock prices continued to trend upward in 2024, and many of the stocks that performed well were mega-cap stocks. These are the big names, with market capitalizations of over $200 billion, and these big-name companies tend to be well represented in benchmark stock indexes like the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq 100 Index. ($IUX).

Some market watchers are becoming skeptical about how much upside there is left in some of these outperforming mega-cap stocks, especially as former market leaders like Apple. It's a natural question. (AAPL) and Nvidia (NVDA) It has already corrected its highs.But about today Noteworthy inflation data While dashing investors' hopes for a rate cut in 2024, it's worth pointing out that some mega-cap stocks also offer safe-haven appeal. Although many of these companies are already deeply integrated into the global economy, they are still growing and some even offer fairly stable dividends.

Among the standout mega-cap stocks with potential for further growth is Novo Nordisk. (NVO)Walmart (WMT)oracle (ORCL). These giants boast huge market capitalizations, healthy cash flows, and a track record of dividend growth. Moreover, they are all analyst favorites as well, with Wall Street experts expecting them to rise further. Key highlights for investors include:

Megacap #1: Novo Nordisk

novo nordisk (NVO) is a global healthcare company that has led the diabetes treatment market with innovative biopharmaceutical products (Surely you have heard of Ozempic Now). The company has a diverse portfolio that addresses patients with diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases, providing more effective and convenient options for patients around the world. With a huge market capitalization of $560.3 billion, this Danish company is undoubtedly a big player in the European stock market and pharmaceutical industry.

their stocks are doing well, up 57% over the past 52 weeks, easily outperforming the broader market. Year-to-date, NVO stock is up more than 20% despite being down 9.6% from its early March highs, presenting a potential buying opportunity after the gap in the stock price.

On the financial front, Novo Nordisk has had a solid performance thanks to its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wigoby. In Q4 2023, they reported: Earnings per share (EPS) $0.71This exceeded expectations by $0.66. He also ended the fourth quarter on a strong note, reporting higher-than-expected sales of $9.5 billion. Cash position over $2 billion.

Looking to the future, analysts predict Profit growth of approximately 23% This year.

Novo Nordisk pays a semi-annual dividend of $0.93 per share, giving it a yield of 1.49% at current levels. The pharmaceutical giant has now raised its dividend for four consecutive years, and its payout ratio is around 50%, indicating that the dividend is well covered by profits.

As competition intensifies, Novo Nordisk can't just sit back and enjoy its success. they are making big moves, Acquired Cardio Pharmaceuticals Strengthen the company's position in developing RNA-targeted therapies for cardiac dysfunction.Additionally, they are affiliated with Partnership with Omega Therapeutics and Cellarity, which is researching new treatments for obesity and liver disease.

Analysts have taken a deep dive into Novo Nordisk, with 8 out of 12 giving it a “strong buy,” 1 giving it a “moderate buy,” 2 giving it a “hold,” and 1 giving it a “moderate sell.” Suggests. The average price target is $147.25, meaning the stock has a potential upside of approximately 17.8% from current levels.

Megacap #2: Walmart

walmart (WMT) is the go-to destination for shoppers around the world thanks to its extensive store network and online platform. The company's focus on keeping prices low, staying innovative, and putting the customer first gives it an edge over its competitors.

This past year, WMT stock It is trending steadily with an increase of 20.8%. So far in 2024, the stock is up 15.4%.

With a market capitalization of more than $481 billion, Walmart has proven its ability to remain profitable even in challenging conditions, and its strong financial foundation has resulted in 50 consecutive years of increased dividends. This earned Walmart the title of “Dividend Aristocrat.” His most recent quarterly dividend was $0.21 per share, giving him an annualized yield of 1.39% based on the current stock price.

WMT's payout ratio is approximately 34%, and it ended the fourth quarter with an extremely high dividend. $9.9 billion in cashsuggesting that payments to these shareholders should continue.

Retailer's Q4 2024 Earnings Report Contrary to Wall Street's expectations, adjusted EPS of $0.60, beating consensus of $0.55. Sales were also strong at $171.91 billion. Looking ahead, analysts expect Walmart to grow EPS by 6% this fiscal year.

But that's not all. Walmart is busy with several strategic initiatives to drive growth. They partnered with Unspin Using 3D weaving technology, we can revolutionize the apparel industry by reducing our environmental impact and bringing textile manufacturing back to the United States. They acquired VIZIO We invested approximately $2.3 billion to drive the growth of Walmart Connect and strengthen our media business and advertising capabilities through VIZIO's SmartCast operating system.

Analysts generally vote “strong buy” 20 out of 29 Walmart analysts give the stock a top rating. A further 4 people rate the stock as a “moderate buy” and 5 recommend it as a “hold.” The average price target is $64.97, implying an upside potential of approximately 7.2% from current levels.

Megacap #3: Oracle

Oracle's market capitalization is valued at $338 billion (ORCL) is making waves in the cloud computing scene, leveraging its enterprise software know-how to drive innovation and growth. As more companies jump on the digital transformation bandwagon, Oracle's cloud services, including IaaS and SaaS, have become essential for organizations looking to scale, streamline, and remain competitive.

Stock prices are also great, last month hit a new 52-week high of over $132 before par gains. ORCL is up nearly 30% last year, including a 15.5% gain through 2024.

software giant's 2024 3rd quarter results was released last month, and the bottom line exceeded expectations. His non-GAAP EPS increased 16% to $1.41, and total revenue increased 7% to $13.3 billion, roughly in line with expectations.Wall Street targets for the full year ending in May EPS 9.6% growthfollowed by 12.1% growth in FY2025.

And don't forget those dividends. Oracle pays investors $0.40 per share on a quarterly basis. This translates into an annual dividend yield of 1.60%. This is backed by nine years of stable dividend growth and a cash position of approximately $1 million. $9.5 billion At the end of the third quarter.

They are also busy making strategic moves. They are, Cloud service utilizing AI Helping banks fight money laundering more effectively.Furthermore, their Partnership with Palantir (PLTR) Providing secure cloud and AI solutions shows that we are serious about providing top-notch technology.

Analysts also have a pretty good feel about Oracle, the consensus was “Moderate Buy” based on ratings from 28 analysts. Of these, 16 companies are scheduled to be “strong buys,'' and a further 12 are “hold.'' The average price target is set at $136.39, implying 12% upside potential from there.

Mega Dividend Stocks: Stability, Profits, and Growth in One Package

In short, these mega-dividend stocks offer the “triple threat” of stability, profits, and growth. Whether you're interested in Novo Nordisk's medical innovation, Walmart's retail resiliency, or Oracle's cloud advantage, there's something for everyone. With stable dividends, strong fundamentals, and strong analyst valuations, these leading companies are MVPs for dividend investing.

On the date of publication, Evebu Jones I had no position (directly or indirectly) in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is for informational purposes only. Please see the Barchart Disclosure Policy for more information. here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Summarize this content to 100 words
Impressive stock market performance in 2023; An amazing return of 24% For the S&P 500 index ($SPX), which may have defied expectations, stock prices continued to trend upward in 2024, and many of the stocks that performed well were mega-cap stocks. These are the big names, with market capitalizations of over $200 billion, and these big-name companies tend to be well represented in benchmark stock indexes like the S&P 500 Index and the Nasdaq 100 Index. ($IUX). Some market watchers are becoming skeptical about how much upside there is left in some of these outperforming mega-cap stocks, especially as former market leaders like Apple. It's a natural question. (AAPL) and Nvidia (NVDA) It has already corrected its highs.But about today Noteworthy inflation data While dashing investors' hopes for a rate cut in 2024, it's worth pointing out that some mega-cap stocks also offer safe-haven appeal. Although many of these companies are already deeply integrated into the global economy, they are still growing and some even offer fairly stable dividends.

Among the standout mega-cap stocks with potential for further growth is Novo Nordisk. (NVO)Walmart (WMT)oracle (ORCL). These giants boast huge market capitalizations, healthy cash flows, and a track record of dividend growth. Moreover, they are all analyst favorites as well, with Wall Street experts expecting them to rise further. Key highlights for investors include:Megacap #1: Novo Nordisknovo nordisk (NVO) is a global healthcare company that has led the diabetes treatment market with innovative biopharmaceutical products (Surely you have heard of Ozempic Now). The company has a diverse portfolio that addresses patients with diabetes, obesity and other chronic diseases, providing more effective and convenient options for patients around the world. With a huge market capitalization of $560.3 billion, this Danish company is undoubtedly a big player in the European stock market and pharmaceutical industry.their stocks are doing well, up 57% over the past 52 weeks, easily outperforming the broader market. Year-to-date, NVO stock is up more than 20% despite being down 9.6% from its early March highs, presenting a potential buying opportunity after the gap in the stock price.www.barchart.com
On the financial front, Novo Nordisk has had a solid performance thanks to its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wigoby. In Q4 2023, they reported: Earnings per share (EPS) $0.71This exceeded expectations by $0.66. He also ended the fourth quarter on a strong note, reporting higher-than-expected sales of $9.5 billion. Cash position over $2 billion.Looking to the future, analysts predict Profit growth of approximately 23% This year.

Novo Nordisk pays a semi-annual dividend of $0.93 per share, giving it a yield of 1.49% at current levels. The pharmaceutical giant has now raised its dividend for four consecutive years, and its payout ratio is around 50%, indicating that the dividend is well covered by profits.As competition intensifies, Novo Nordisk can't just sit back and enjoy its success. they are making big moves, Acquired Cardio Pharmaceuticals Strengthen the company's position in developing RNA-targeted therapies for cardiac dysfunction.Additionally, they are affiliated with Partnership with Omega Therapeutics and Cellarity, which is researching new treatments for obesity and liver disease.Analysts have taken a deep dive into Novo Nordisk, with 8 out of 12 giving it a “strong buy,” 1 giving it a “moderate buy,” 2 giving it a “hold,” and 1 giving it a “moderate sell.” Suggests. The average price target is $147.25, meaning the stock has a potential upside of approximately 17.8% from current levels.www.barchart.com
Megacap #2: Walmartwalmart (WMT) is the go-to destination for shoppers around the world thanks to its extensive store network and online platform. The company's focus on keeping prices low, staying innovative, and putting the customer first gives it an edge over its competitors.This past year, WMT stock It is trending steadily with an increase of 20.8%. So far in 2024, the stock is up 15.4%.

www.barchart.com
With a market capitalization of more than $481 billion, Walmart has proven its ability to remain profitable even in challenging conditions, and its strong financial foundation has resulted in 50 consecutive years of increased dividends. This earned Walmart the title of “Dividend Aristocrat.” His most recent quarterly dividend was $0.21 per share, giving him an annualized yield of 1.39% based on the current stock price.WMT's payout ratio is approximately 34%, and it ended the fourth quarter with an extremely high dividend. $9.9 billion in cashsuggesting that payments to these shareholders should continue.Retailer's Q4 2024 Earnings Report Contrary to Wall Street's expectations, adjusted EPS of $0.60, beating consensus of $0.55. Sales were also strong at $171.91 billion. Looking ahead, analysts expect Walmart to grow EPS by 6% this fiscal year.But that's not all. Walmart is busy with several strategic initiatives to drive growth. They partnered with Unspin Using 3D weaving technology, we can revolutionize the apparel industry by reducing our environmental impact and bringing textile manufacturing back to the United States. They acquired VIZIO We invested approximately $2.3 billion to drive the growth of Walmart Connect and strengthen our media business and advertising capabilities through VIZIO's SmartCast operating system.Analysts generally vote “strong buy” 20 out of 29 Walmart analysts give the stock a top rating. A further 4 people rate the stock as a “moderate buy” and 5 recommend it as a “hold.” The average price target is $64.97, implying an upside potential of approximately 7.2% from current levels.

www.barchart.com
Megacap #3: OracleOracle's market capitalization is valued at $338 billion (ORCL) is making waves in the cloud computing scene, leveraging its enterprise software know-how to drive innovation and growth. As more companies jump on the digital transformation bandwagon, Oracle's cloud services, including IaaS and SaaS, have become essential for organizations looking to scale, streamline, and remain competitive.Stock prices are also great, last month hit a new 52-week high of over $132 before par gains. ORCL is up nearly 30% last year, including a 15.5% gain through 2024.www.barchart.com
software giant's 2024 3rd quarter results was released last month, and the bottom line exceeded expectations. His non-GAAP EPS increased 16% to $1.41, and total revenue increased 7% to $13.3 billion, roughly in line with expectations.Wall Street targets for the full year ending in May EPS 9.6% growthfollowed by 12.1% growth in FY2025.And don't forget those dividends. Oracle pays investors $0.40 per share on a quarterly basis. This translates into an annual dividend yield of 1.60%. This is backed by nine years of stable dividend growth and a cash position of approximately $1 million. $9.5 billion At the end of the third quarter.They are also busy making strategic moves. They are, Cloud service utilizing AI Helping banks fight money laundering more effectively.Furthermore, their Partnership with Palantir (PLTR) Providing secure cloud and AI solutions shows that we are serious about providing top-notch technology.

Analysts also have a pretty good feel about Oracle, the consensus was “Moderate Buy” based on ratings from 28 analysts. Of these, 16 companies are scheduled to be “strong buys,'' and a further 12 are “hold.'' The average price target is set at $136.39, implying 12% upside potential from there.www.barchart.com
Mega Dividend Stocks: Stability, Profits, and Growth in One PackageIn short, these mega-dividend stocks offer the “triple threat” of stability, profits, and growth. Whether you're interested in Novo Nordisk's medical innovation, Walmart's retail resiliency, or Oracle's cloud advantage, there's something for everyone. With stable dividends, strong fundamentals, and strong analyst valuations, these leading companies are MVPs for dividend investing.
On the date of publication, Evebu Jones I had no position (directly or indirectly) in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is for informational purposes only. Please see the Barchart Disclosure Policy for more information. here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/3-best-mega-cap-stocks-for-dividend-investors 3 super large stocks perfect for dividend investors