Best Dividend Stocks In 2021? 4 To Watch This Week

4 Dividend Stocks Worth Checking Out In A Down Market

As we begin another trading week,

dividend stocks

are once again at the forefront for investors. For the most part, this could be thanks to various factors, international and domestic, that are weighing on the

stock market today

. To begin, the market appears to be reacting to significant declines in overseas equities. The likes of which are closely linked to the possible default of a major Chinese real estate company, Evergrande. If anything, this would echo the aftermath of a recent slew of disappointing international economic data influencing the overall recovery trade now.

At the same time, investors could also be treading lightly ahead of the Federal Reserve’s September meeting. The monetary policy meeting would be the launching point for additional debate regarding the Fed’s tapering and overall economic outlook. Now, how would dividend stocks fit into all of this? Simply put, dividend stocks would be a more defensive play in the

stock market

now. Given the numerous factors contributing to overall volatility across the board, some consistent income in the form of dividends would be appealing.

Accordingly, companies such as

Consolidated Edison

(

NYSE: ED

) and

Archer-Daniels-Midland

(

NYSE: ADM

) would come into play. This is mostly because of their long history of dividend growth and a constant demand for their services regardless of the current economic cycle. Among the top dividend stocks now are also industry giants that boast massive operations spanning the globe. With all that said, here are four

dividend stocks

to note now.

Top Dividend Stocks To Buy [Or Sell] This Week

Apple Inc.

(

NASDAQ: AAPL

)
3M Inc.

(

NYSE: MMM

)
AbbVie Inc.

(

NYSE: ABBV

)
Microsoft Corporation

(

NASDAQ: MSFT

)

Apple Inc.

First up, we have

Apple

, a multinational technology company that manufactures and sells its premium line of tech products. On top of that, it also offers a wide variety of services like its Apple TV+ video-on-demand streaming service and Apple Music. Furthermore, the company is one of the world’s most valuable brands and boasts a high level of brand loyalty among its users. AAPL stock currently trades at $142.94 as of Monday’s close. Its last dividend was declared in July at $0.22 per share.

The company has just recently announced its latest lineup of iPhone models. In fact, its iPhone 13 sales have just begun and millions have already placed orders for them. The company’s lineup this year also packs the latest features like a new A15 processor and 120 Hz display screen on its Pro model.

The company’s deals are also more aggressive this year and have partnered with carriers like

T-Mobile

(

NASDAQ: TMUS

) to offer huge incentives for users to trade in their old devices and sign up for a top-shelf cellular plan. Given this exciting piece of news surrounding the company, will you consider adding AAPL stock to your watchlist right now?

The 3M Company

3M

is a dividend company that has businesses in consumer goods, health care, worker safety, and industrials. Its products improve lives and help solve the world’s toughest challenges. The company’s portfolio of products includes abrasives and adhesives that are used for construction and are engineered to fit its customers’ needs.

Its array of high-performance materials are used to meet the demands of real-world manufacturing. MMM stock currently trades $180.53 at the end of Monday’s trading session. On August 13, 2021, the company declared a dividend on the company’s common stock of $1.48 per share for the third quarter.

Last week, the company announced that it’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division is evolving its Bonding Process Centers in the U.S., Germany, and China to facilitate the growing trend towards automation in manufacturing. 3M will provide a starting point from which it will design and plan automated bonding solutions. The company will also have sessions to highlight how the company’s growing capabilities can be applied to increase more positive business outcomes for manufacturing and assembly businesses. For these reasons, will you consider MMM stock a buy today?

AbbVie Inc.

Following that, we have

AbbVie

, a company that develops and commercializes advanced therapies. It has over 48,000 employees globally that strive to help patients by providing them next-generation treatments and therapies. It focuses on several key therapeutic areas like immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and eye care among others. ABBV stock trades at $106.40 a share as of Monday’s close and has enjoyed gains of over 18% in the past year.

Today, the company announced that it has submitted an application to the FDA seeking approval for Risankizumab-rzaa, an interleukin-23 inhibitor for the treatment of patients 16 years and older with moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. The company submitted its safety and efficacy data from three Phase 3 studies to the FDA for this approval.

“

While there have been advancements in care, many people with Crohn’s disease do not achieve lasting remission,

” said Tom Hudson, senior vice president of research and development, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. “

This submission is an important step forward in our commitment to providing an additional treatment option for those who struggle with this debilitating and often unpredictable disease.

” With that being said, will you consider adding ABBV stock to your portfolio?

Microsoft Corporation

Another name to consider among dividend stocks in the stock market today would be the

Microsoft Corporation

. Sure, while Microsoft is not often first on most dividend stock lists, the company is not stingy when it comes to increasing its payouts. Namely, Microsoft has and continues to steadily grow its dividends for about 11 years. Thanks to its latest dividend hike, MSFT stock could be in focus among dividend investors now. As it stands, the company’s shares currently trade at $294.30 as of Monday’s closing bell after gaining 37% year-to-date.

In terms of its dividend, Microsoft announced that it would be boosting its dividend by a whopping 11% last week. While this adds up to a $0.06 per share quarterly payout, investors would be buying into the tech giants’ offerings as well. With pandemic conditions persisting worldwide, demand for Microsoft’s offerings could follow suit.

Even now, the company appears to be kicking into high gear across the board. Together with its dividend hike, Microsoft also plans to initiate a $60 billion share repurchase program, its largest to date. After considering all of this, would MSFT stock be worth investing in?

StockMarket.com

September 20, 2021 – 3:59 PM PDT

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