General Mills Stock (NYSE:GIS), Trade Ideas

General Mills

General Mills is a global packaged food company that produces snacks, cereal, convenient meals, yogurt, dough, baking mixes and ingredients, pet food, and superpremium ice cream. Its largest brands are Nature Valley, Cheerios, Old El Paso, Yoplait, Pillsbury, Betty Crocker, Blue Buffalo, and Haagen-Dazs. In fiscal 2023, 81% of its revenue was derived from the United States, although the company also operates in Canada, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Latin America. While most of General Mills' products are sold through retail stores to consumers, the company also sells products to the foodservice channel and the commercial baking industry.

Long Ideas

News

Dividends

Price Target

Pre-Market Outlook

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a  high dividend payout. 

These 3 Risk Off Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields Are Recommended By Wall Street&#39;s Most Accurate Analysts

Earnings

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results.

General Mills Analysts Increase Their Forecasts After Upbeat Earnings

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &#34;Greed&#34; zone on Wednesday.

Investor Sentiment Improves Following Fed&#39;s Decision, Dow Jumps 400 Points

General Mills Inc

<p>Stifel  analyst Matthew Smith   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Buy and maintains $77 price target.</p>


Stifel Maintains Buy on General Mills, Maintains $77 Price Target

<p>During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/yield-investments"><em> high dividend payout. </em></a></p>
<p>Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on&nbsp;their favorite stocks&nbsp;by visiting our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-stock-ratings">Analyst Stock Ratings&nbsp;</a>page. Traders can sort through Benzinga&#39;s extensive database of analyst ratings, including <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/09/28888638/exclusive-study-finds-benzinga-analyst-ratings-data-yields-market-beating-strategie"><em> by analyst accuracy </em></a>.</p>
<p>Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the consumer staples sector.</p>
<h3><strong>The Coca-Cola Company</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ko#NYSE">KO</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Dividend Yield:</strong> 3.21%</li>
<li><strong>JP Morgan</strong> analyst Andrea Teixeira maintained an Overweight rating and raised the price target from $64 to $66 on Feb. 14, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li><strong>Barclays</strong> analyst Lauren Lieberman maintained an Overweight rating and boosted the price target from $60 to $66 on Jan. 16, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 62%.</li>
<li><strong>Recent News:</strong> On Feb. 15, The Coca-Cola Company announced a quarterly dividend increase from 46 to 48.5 cents per share.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>The J. M. Smucker Company</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sjm#NYSE">SJM</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Dividend Yield:</strong> 3.42%</li>
<li><strong>Stifel</strong> analyst Matthew Smith reiterated a Buy rating with a price target of $135 on March 12, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li><strong>Wells Fargo</strong> analyst Chris Carey initiated coverage on the stock with an Overweight rating and a price target of $140 on Dec. 12, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 63%.</li>
<li><strong>Recent News:</strong> On Feb. 27, J.M. Smucker posted better-than-expected earnings for its fourth quarter.</li>
</ul>
<h3><strong>General Mills, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gis#NYSE">GIS</a>)</h3>
<ul>
<li><strong>Dividend Yield:</strong> 3.43%</li>
<li><strong>Stifel</strong> analyst Matthew Smith maintained a Buy rating and boosted the price target from $68 to $77 on March 21, 2024. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 66%.</li>
<li><strong>Piper Sandler</strong> analyst Michael Lavery maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $77 to $76 on Dec. 15, 2023. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 71%.</li>
<li><strong>Recent News:</strong> On March 20, General Mills reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/03/37885620/fedex-nike-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-friday"><em> FedEx, Nike And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday </em></a></p>


These 3 Risk Off Stocks With Over 3% Dividend Yields Are Recommended By Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts

<p>Barclays  analyst Andrew Lazar   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $70 to $72.</p>


Barclays Maintains Equal-Weight on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $72

<p><strong>General Mills, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gis#NYSE">GIS</a>) reported better-than-expected <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/03/37847363/why-pillsbury-maker-general-mills-shares-are-shooting-higher-today">fourth-quarter financial results</a>.</p>
<p>General Mills reported a third-quarter FY24 sales decline of 1% year-on-year to $5.099 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.962 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.17 beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.05, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro.</a></p>
<p>&ldquo;General Mills&rsquo; strategic focus on brand building, innovation, and in-store execution contributed to improved volume and market share trends in the third quarter,&rdquo; said Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening.</p>
<p>General Mills sees FY24 organic sales growth of -1% to 0%. The company sees FY24 adjusted EPS to grow 4% to 5% in constant currency.</p>
<p>General Mills shares fell 1.3% to trade at $68.54 on Thursday.</p>
<p>These analysts made changes to their price targets on General Mills following earnings announcement.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Wells Fargo</strong> raised the price target on General Mills from $65 to $70. Wells Fargo analyst Chris Carey maintained an Equal-Weight rating.</li>
<li><strong>Mizuho</strong> boosted the price target on General Mills from $65 to $70. Mizuho analyst John Baumgartner maintained a Neutral rating.</li>
<li><strong>Stifel</strong> increased the price target on General Mills from $68 to $77. Stifel analyst Matthew Smith maintained a Buy rating.</li>
<li><strong>JP Morgan</strong> boosted the price target on General Mills from $68 to $72. JP Morgan analyst Ken Goldman maintained a Neutral rating.</li>
<li><strong>TD Cowen</strong> increased the price target on General Mills from $68 to $70. TD Cowen analyst Robert Moskow maintained a Market Perform rating.</li>
<li><strong>Morgan Stanley</strong> increased the price target on General Mills from $58 to $61. Morgan Stanley analyst Pamela Kaufman maintained an Underweight rating.</li>
<li><strong>HSBC</strong> raised the price target on General Mills from $74 to $76. HSBC analyst Alejandro Zamacona maintained a Hold rating.</li>
<li><strong>B of A Securities</strong> increased the price target on General Mills from $68 to $72. B of A Securities analyst Bryan Spillane maintained a Neutral rating.</li>
</ul>
<p>Now Read This: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/03/37865867/top-3-tech-stocks-that-could-lead-to-your-biggest-gains-in-march"><em> Top 3 Tech Stocks That Could Lead To Your Biggest Gains In March</em></a></p>


<p>B of A Securities  analyst Bryan Spillane   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $68 to $72.</p>


B of A Securities Maintains Neutral on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $72

<p>HSBC  analyst Alejandro Zamacona   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Hold and raises the price target from $74 to $76.</p>


HSBC Maintains Hold on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $76

<p>Morgan Stanley  analyst Pamela Kaufman   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Underweight and raises the price target from $58 to $61.</p>


Morgan Stanley Maintains Underweight on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $61

<p>TD Cowen  analyst Robert Moskow   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Market Perform and raises the price target from $68 to $70.</p>


TD Cowen Maintains Market Perform on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $70

<p>RBC Capital  analyst Nik Modi   reiterates General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Sector Perform and maintains $72 price target.</p>


Reiteration

RBC Capital Reiterates Sector Perform on General Mills, Maintains $72 Price Target

<p>JP Morgan  analyst Ken Goldman   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $68 to $72.</p>


JP Morgan Maintains Neutral on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $72

<p>Stifel  analyst Matthew Smith   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Buy and raises the price target from $68 to $77.</p>


Stifel Maintains Buy on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $77

<p>Mizuho  analyst John Baumgartner   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $65 to $70.</p>


Mizuho Maintains Neutral on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $70

<p>Wells Fargo  analyst Chris Carey   maintains General Mills (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $65 to $70.</p>


Wells Fargo Maintains Equal-Weight on General Mills, Raises Price Target to $70

<p>The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further improvement in the overall market sentiment, while the index remained in the &quot;Greed&quot; zone on Wednesday.</p>
<p>U.S. stocks closed higher on Tuesday, after the Federal Reserve announced its policy decision. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged Wednesday between 5.25% and 5.5% at its March meeting, as widely expected by investors, confirming intentions to lower the cost of money in the coming months.</p>
<p><strong>Signet Jewelers Limited</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sig#NYSE">SIG</a>) shares fell 12% on Wednesday after the company reported worse-than-expected fourth-quarter sales and issued weak FY25 guidance. <strong> General Mills, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gis#NYSE">GIS</a>) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results.</p>
<p>On the economic data front, crude oil inventories in the U.S. declined by 1.952 million barrels in the week ended March 15, versus market estimates of a 0.013 million gain.</p>
<p>Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with communication services, consumer discretionary, and financial stocks recording the biggest gains on Wednesday. However, healthcare and energy stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones closed higher by over 401 points to 39,512.13 on Tuesday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.89% at 5,224.62, while the Nasdaq Composite climbed 1.25% at 16,369.41 during Wednesday&rsquo;s session.</p>
<p>Investors are awaiting earnings results from <strong> Accenture plc</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acn#NYSE">ACN</a>), <strong> FedEx Corporation</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/fdx#NYSE">FDX</a>) and <strong> NIKE, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nke#NYSE">NKE</a>) today.</p>
<p>At a current reading of 72.6, the index remained in the &quot;Greed&quot; zone on Wednesday, versus a prior reading of 70.</p>
<p><strong>What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?</strong></p>
<p>The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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Investor Sentiment Improves Following Fed's Decision, Dow Jumps 400 Points

<p>U.S. stocks traded slightly lower this morning, ahead of interest-rate decision from the Federal Reserve.</p>
<p>Following the market opening Wednesday, the Dow traded down 0.01% to 39,106.88 while the NASDAQ fell 0.06% to 16,157.27. The S&amp;P 500 also fell, dropping, 0.02% to 5,177.26.</p>
<p>Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37844822/exxon-mobil-palantir-technologies-and-2-other-stocks-insiders-are-selling"><em> Exxon Mobil, Palantir Technologies And 2 Other Stocks Insiders Are Selling</em></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Leading and Lagging Sectors</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Utilities shares rose by 0.5% on Wednesday.</p>
<p>In trading on Wednesday, energy shares fell by 0.5%.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Top Headline</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>General Mills, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/gis#NYSE">GIS</a>) reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter financial results.</p>
<p>General Mills reported a third-quarter FY24 sales decline of 1% year-on-year to $5.099 billion, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $4.962 billion. Adjusted EPS of $1.17 beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.05.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Equities Trading UP</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>ETAO International Co., Ltd. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/etao#NASDAQ">ETAO</a>) shares shot up 106% to $0.2950. The company announced a reverse stock split.</p>
<p>Shares of <strong> XTL Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xtlb#NASDAQ">XTLB</a>) got a boost, surging 78% to $1.83 after the company announced plans to acquire The Social Proxy.</p>
<p><strong>TruGolf Holdings, Inc. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/trug#NASDAQ">TRUG</a>) shares were also up, gaining 65% to $1.8998 after the company announced a newly expanded AI technology licensing agreement with mlSpatial.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Equities Trading DOWN</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><strong>Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lfcr#NASDAQ">LFCR</a>) shares dropped 35% to $4.65 after the company announced it concluded its strategic evaluation process, announced management succession and board changes.</p>
<p>Shares of <strong> NuScale Power Corporation </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/smr#NYSE">SMR</a>) were down 24% to $5.01. NuScale Power shares dipped around 35% on Tuesday after Wells Fargo downgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Underweight and lowered its price target from $7.50 to $4.50.</p>
<p><strong>Momentus Inc. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mnts#NASDAQ">MNTS</a>) was down, falling 21% to $0.4715, reversing after spiking 17% on Tuesday following a US patent grant.</p>
<p>Also Check This Out:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/03/37845418/top-5-industrials-stocks-that-are-preparing-to-pump-in-q1"><em> Top 5 Industrials Stocks That Are Preparing To Pump In Q1 </em></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Commodities</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In commodity news, oil traded down 2.1% to $81.73 while gold traded up 0.1% at $2,161.60.</p>
<p>Silver traded down 0.2% to $25.075 on Wednesday, while copper fell 0.4% to $4.0565.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Euro zone</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>European shares were mixed today. The eurozone&rsquo;s STOXX 600 rose 0.1%, London&rsquo;s FTSE 100 rose 0.1% while Spain&rsquo;s IBEX 35 Index rose 0.4% The German DAX rose 0.1% French CAC 40 fell 0.6% while Italy&rsquo;s FTSE MIB Index slipped 0.1%.</p>
<p>Industrial production in Italy declined by 1.2% month-over-month in January compared to a revised 1.2% surge in December. Producer prices in Germany fell by 4.1% year-over-year in February.</p>
<p>UK&rsquo;s producer prices increased by 0.4% year-over-year in February, while inflation rate eased to 3.4% year-over-year in February.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Asia Pacific Markets</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Asian markets closed higher on Wednesday, with Hong Kong&rsquo;s Hang Seng Index rising 0.08%, China&rsquo;s Shanghai Composite Index gaining 0.55% and India&rsquo;s S&amp;P BSE Sensex gaining 0.1%.</p>
<p>The People&#39;s Bank of China held benchmark lending rates at the recent fixing.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3><strong>Economics</strong></h3>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>U.S. mortgage applications declined by 1.6% on the week ending March 15.</p>
<p>Crude oil inventories in the U.S. declined by 1.952 million barrels in the week ended March 15, versus market estimates of a 0.013 million gain.</p>
<p>Now Read This: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/03/37845175/netflix-to-rally-around-14-here-are-10-top-analyst-forecasts-for-wednesday"><em> Netflix To Rally Around 14%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Wednesday </em></a></p>


Penny Stocks

Eurozone

Commodities

Small Cap

Global

Intraday Update

ETAO

LFCR

MNTS

TRUG

XTLB

US Stocks Edge Lower Ahead Of Fed's Decision; General Mills Earnings Top Views

Macro Economic Events

Economics

INTC

Benzinga Opening Bell Update: Intel Rises On Direct Funding Through CHIPS and Science Act, General Mills Gains On Q4 Earnings Beat, Market Awaits Fed Decision

<p><strong>General Mills, Inc.</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) shares are trading higher after the company reported a third-quarter FY24 sales decline of 1% year-on-year to $5.099 billion, beating the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/03/b37842079/general-mills-reports-fiscal-2024-third-quarter-results" rel="noreferrer noopener">analyst consensus estimate of $4.962 billion</a>.</p>
<p>Organic net sales decreased 1% and grew 7% on a 2-year compound growth basis.</p>
<p>North America Retail segment sales remained flat Y/Y at $3.2 billion. Pet segment sales declined 3% to $624 million, while International segment sales fell 3% to $680 million.</p>
<p>Adjusted EPS of $1.17&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings" rel="noreferrer noopener">beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.05.</a></p>
<p>Gross margin expanded 100 basis points Y/Y to 33.5%. Adjusted gross margin rose 20 basis points to 34%.</p>
<p>Operating margin expanded 370 basis points to 17.9%, and operating income for the quarter increased 25% to $910.7 million.</p>
<p>General Mills held $588.6 million in cash and equivalents as of February 25, 2024. Operating cash flow for nine months totaled $2.4 billion.</p>
<p>General Mills repurchased about 23.5 million shares of common stock through nine months of fiscal 2024 for a total of $1.6 billion.</p>
<p>&#8220;General Mills&#8217; strategic focus on brand building, innovation, and in-store execution contributed to improved volume and market share trends in the third quarter,&#8221; said Chairman and CEO Jeff Harmening.</p>
<p><strong>Outlook Reaffirmed</strong>: General Mills sees FY24 organic sales growth of -1% to 0%. The company sees FY24 adjusted EPS to grow 4% to 5% in constant currency.</p>
<p><strong>Price Action</strong>: GIS shares are trading higher by 3.6% at $71.10 on the last check Wednesday.</p>
<p><em>Photo by Mike Mozart via Flickr</em></p>


Equities

Guidance

Movers

General

Why Pillsbury Maker General Mills Shares Are Shooting Higher Today

<p>Investors remain cautious ahead of the&nbsp;<strong>Federal Reserve</strong>&#8216;s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/03/37831691/fed-meeting-looms-why-the-dot-plot-matters-more-than-ever-for-financial-markets" rel="noreferrer noopener">interest rate decision</a>, with stock futures on Wednesday hinting at a lower opening. Trading is expected to be subdued, mirroring the historical pattern on Fed decision days. Stocks may stagnate until the announcement is released. If the Fed&#8217;s economic projections (dot plot) align with market expectations, a buying spree could follow.</p>
<p>Weakness in bond yields and gold prices suggests the market anticipates a dovish Fed stance. However, Fed Chair&nbsp;<strong>Jerome Powell</strong>&#8216;s comments in the press conference following the announcement could still influence markets. Several key earnings reports are also scheduled for today, both before and after the market opens.</p>
<p><strong>Cues From Previous Session:</strong></p>
<p>Overcoming initial anxieties, investors pushed stocks higher on Tuesday, buoyed by the prospect of a dovish Fed decision on Wednesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average opened strong and remained mostly positive throughout the session, closing just below its daily high.</p>
<p>The Nasdaq Composite and S&amp;P 500 initially dipped but quickly reversed course, entering positive territory by early afternoon and remaining there for most of the day. The S&amp;P 500 even closed at a new record high.</p>
<p>Ten of the eleven S&amp;P 500 sectors closed higher, with only communication services experiencing profit-taking declines. Energy, consumer discretionary, and utility stocks led the gains.</p>
<p><figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Index</strong></td>
<td><strong>Performance (+/-)</strong></td>
<td><strong>Value</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Nasdaq Composite</strong></td>
<td>+0.39%</td>
<td>16,166.79</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>S&amp;P 500 Index</strong></td>
<td>+0.56%</td>
<td>5,178.51</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Dow Industrials</strong></td>
<td>+0.83%</td>
<td>39,110.76</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Russell 2000</strong></td>
<td>+0.54%</td>
<td>2,035.71</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p></figure></p>
<p><strong>Analyst Color:</strong></p>
<p>Market watchers have pushed back their expectations in the wake of last week&#8217;s hotter-than-expected inflation readings. Fund manager <strong>Louis Navellier</strong> said, &#8220;In the wake of a disastrous report on February wholesale inflation where food, energy, and good prices surged, any Fed rate cut will likely be postponed until June or later.&#8221;</p>
<p>Comerica&#8217;s Chief Investment Officer<strong> John Lynch </strong>flagged a potential pause in equity markets in the near term, consistent with seasonal weakness typical in presidential election years. It is something to be prepared for as investors can use weakness to rebalance portfolios back toward targeted longer-term allocations, he said.</p>
<p>&#8220;The S&amp;P 500 Index is exhibiting signs of a near-term top as momentum begins to moderate&#8230; A break below the February 5,050 level could bring the 50-DMA of ~4,950 into play, followed by the December 2021 – January 2022 high of 4,820,&#8221; he said. </p>
<p>&#8220;Considering good earnings prospects, copper's recent breakout, declining global yields, a U.S. dollar that appears to have topped, and full employment, we suspect any pullback would be in the -5.0% to -6.0% range.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Futures Today</strong></p>
<p>                                                      <strong>Futures Performance On</strong> <strong>Wednesday</strong> ( as of 7 a.m. EDT)</p>
<p><figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"><br />
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Futures</strong></td>
<td><strong>Performance (+/-)</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Nasdaq 100</strong></td>
<td>+0.02%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>S&amp;P 500</strong></td>
<td>-0.05%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Dow</strong></td>
<td>-0.08%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>R2K</strong></td>
<td>-0.45%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p></p></figure></p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">premarket</a>&nbsp;trading on Wednesday, the&nbsp;<strong>SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust</strong>&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) slipped 0.02% to $515.62,&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<strong>Invesco QQQ ETF</strong>&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>) edged up 0.09% to $438.97, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Pro data</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Upcoming Economic Data:</strong></p>
<p>The Energy Information Administration is due to release its customary weekly petroleum status report at 10:30 a.m. EDT.</p>
<p>The Federal Open Market Committee will announce its interest rate decision after a two-day meeting. The post-meeting policy statement and the Summary of Economic Projections, which also comprises the dot-plot curve &#8211; Fed officials&#8217; forecasts of rate trajectory, at 2 p.m. EDT. Powell will host a press conference at 2:30 p.m. EDT.</p>
<p><em>See also: </em><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-futures-trading-software"><em>Best Futures Trading Software</em></a></p>
<p><strong>Stocks In Focus:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>BioNTech SE </strong>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>) fell over 5%<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket"> in premarket trading </a>following the release of its quarterly results.</li>
<li><strong>PDD Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>) </strong>rallied over 10%, while <strong>JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. </strong>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JKS#NASDAQ">JKS</a>) fell over 3% on earnings.</li>
<li><strong>Nasdaq, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NDAQ#NASDAQ">NDAQ</a>)</strong> fell over 3% as Borse Dubai plans to sell the exchange&#8217;s stock in a secondary offering.</li>
<li><strong>Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. </strong>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>) rallied more than 6% following an announcement concerning a 50-for-1 stock split.</li>
<li><strong>Ollie&#8217;s Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OLLI#NASDAQ">OLLI</a>)</strong>, <strong>Signet Jewelers Limited</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SIG#NYSE">SIG</a>) and <strong>General Mills, Inc.</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GIS#NYSE">GIS</a>) are among the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/calendars/earnings">notable companies reporting earnings before the market open.</a></li>
<li>Those reporting after the close include <strong>BlackBerry Limited </strong>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BB#NYSE">BB</a>), <strong>Chewy, Inc.</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHWY#NYSE">CHWY</a>), <strong>Guess?, Inc. </strong>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GES#NYSE">GES</a>), <strong>Worthington Enterprises, Inc. </strong>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WOR#NYSE">WOR</a>),  <strong>Steelcase Inc.</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCS#NYSE">SCS</a>), <strong>Five Below, Inc. </strong>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FIVE#NASDAQ">FIVE</a>),<strong> KB Home, Inc. </strong>(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KBH#NYSE">KBH</a>) and <strong>Micron Technology, Inc. </strong>(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MU#NASDAQ">MU</a>).</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Commodities, Bonds, Other Global Equity Markets:</strong></p>
<p>Crude oil futures fell nearly $1 and traded at $81.94 early during the European session on Wednesday, giving back some of the gains they made over the past two sessions. Gold futures fell modestly ahead of the Fed meeting, and the 10-year Treasury bond yield slipped modestly to 4.277%. <strong>Bitcoin</strong> (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fell modestly and traded at around $63,000.</p>
<p>Asian stocks ended mostly higher, although the mood was cautious amid a focus on the Fed decision, while European stocks fell in early trading.</p>
<p><em>Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37839953/elon-musk-calls-for-strong-willed-president-after-gop-rep-warns-economic-catastrophe-must-happen-bef">Elon Musk Calls For &#8216;Strong-Willed President&#8217; After GOP Rep Warns &#8216;Economic Catastrophe Must Happen&#8217; Before Congress Gets Serious About &#8216;Out-Of-Control Spending&#8217;</a></em></p>


Futures

Previews

Federal Reserve

$BTC

BNTX

CHWY

FIVE

NDAQ

OLLI

Citigourp Global Markets 2% Protected Notes Linked To The Djia

US Stock Futures Stall As Traders Await Fed Chair Powell's Decision; Analyst Sees S&P 500 Showing 'Signs Of Near-Term Top'

WIIM

General Mills shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q4 financial results.

General Mills Reaffirms 2024 Outlook, Sees FY24 Organic Net Sales Down 1% To Flat

Ibotta boosts IPO size as investors eye the AI-enhanced digital marketing play

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>As the earnings season gets underway on Wall Street, the euphoria of rapid gains is starting to wane. </p>



<p>Economic uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and the ever-present threat of inflation have left investors feeling like they&rsquo;re navigating a constant financial storm. In such turbulent times, the appeal of defensive stocks becomes increasingly clear. These resilient companies, often found in sectors like consumer staples, healthcare and utilities, offer a safe haven during increased volatility.</p>



<p>Investing in defensive stocks isn&rsquo;t about chasing explosive growth. Rather, it&rsquo;s about building a foundation of reliability. Such companies typically boast strong balance sheets, steady cash flows and a history of dividend payouts.&nbsp;They may not make headlines with explosive growth. But their steady performance can help stabilize a portfolio during periods of uncertainty. </p>



<p>So, to fortify a portfolio against upcoming market volatility, consider adding these three top defensive stocks this month.</p>



<h2><strong>CVS Health (CVS)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cvs-stock-7-300x169.jpg" alt="A photo of the CVS logo over the door of one of its stores."><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div><p>Diversified healthcare company <strong>CVS Health</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/cvs-stock-quote/"><strong>CVS</strong></a></span>) positions itself as a compelling defensive stock pick.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Although most of us are familiar with its extensive pharmacy network, CVS operates across three key segments. Those entail Pharmacy Services, Retail/LTC (Long-Term Care) and Health Care Benefits. As a result, CVS provides health services and insurance plans as well as an established network of retail pharmacy locations.</p>



<p>Despite worries over how post-Covid19 retail sales may potentially decline, the healthcare giant <a href="https://s2.q4cdn.com/447711729/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/Q4-2023-Earnings-Release.pdf">delivered strong financial</a> in February. Revenue surged an impressive 11.8% year-over-year (<strong>YOY</strong>) to $93.8 billion, reflecting robust growth across all segments. Also, adjusted earnings per share (<strong>EPS</strong>) rose 4% to $2.12. Meanwhile, CVS Health announced the <a href="https://www.cvshealth.com/news/company-news/our-path-to-accelerating-long-term-growth.html">rebranding of its Health Services segment</a> to CVS Healthspire. Management highlights that this decision underscores the focus on patient care, pharmacy benefits and provider support solutions stateside.</p>



<p>Yet, CVS stock has declined 13% year-to-date (<strong>YTD</strong>), offering investors a better entry point. Notably, the healthy dividend yield of around 3.9%. Furthermore, with a forward price-to-earnings (<strong>P/E</strong>) ratio of 8.3 and a price-to-sales (<strong>P/S</strong>) ratio of 0.25x, CVS appears undervalued. Finally, analysts have a <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/markets/stocks/cvs">12-month price target</a> of $88 for CVS, suggesting potential upside of 28% from current levels.</p>



<h2><strong>General Mills </strong>(GIS)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GIS1600-300x169.jpg" alt="General Mills Cereal, GIS stock"><div>Source: designs by Jack / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>We continue our discussion of defensive stocks with the consumer foods manufacturer <strong>General Mills </strong>(NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gis-stock-quote/"><strong>GIS</strong></a></span>). Cheerios, Yoplait, Pillsbury, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker and Blue Buffalo are among the brands in its portfolio of cereals, snacks, yogurt, baking mixes and pet food.</p>



<p>Recent earnings from the food group showed net sales declined 1% to $5.1 billion due to lower volume, which was partially offset by price increases. Yet, operating profit surged an impressive 25% to $911 million, fueled by cost saving measures. Also, adjusted diluted EPS rose a significant 22% to $1.17. These <a href="https://investorplace.com/earning-results/2024/03/gis-stock-earnings-general-mills-for-q3-of-2024/">financial figures from General Mills</a> showed improved profitability, stable cash flow levels and a healthy balance sheet.</p>



<p>Meanwhile, management spotlights General Mills <a href="https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/General-Mills-Shares-Progress-Against-Accelerate-Strategy/default.aspx">remains committed to</a> a long-term &ldquo;Accelerate&rdquo; strategy, which prioritizes sustainable growth and top-tier shareholder returns.&nbsp; This approach emphasizes focus on core markets, global platforms and local gems within its portfolio, alongside the ability to adapt its offerings. And, analysts note that General Mills is innovating its product lines to align with contemporary health trends and changing consumer preferences.</p>



<p>While GIS stock has delivered a YTD return of nearly 3%, the company remains attractively valued at 14x forward earnings and 1.9x sales. Also, General Mills has a history of providing consistent dividends to its shareholders which currently offers a 3.56% yield. In addition, Wall Street remains bullish, with a <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/markets/stocks/gis">median 12-month price target</a> of $71.50, implying a potential 8% upside.</p>



<h2><strong>Invesco S&amp;P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF (SPHD)</strong></h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/etf-pushpin-1600-300x169.jpg" alt='close-up of the phrase "exchange traded fund" on three colorful papers pinned to a wall by colorful pushpins'><div>Source: shutterstock.com/bangoland</div></div><p>Rounding out our discussion of defensive stocks is the <strong>Invesco S&amp;P 500 High Dividend Low Volatility ETF</strong> (NYSEARCA:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sphd-stock-quote/"><strong>SPHD</strong></a></span>). </p>



<p>This ETF provides exposure to some of the <strong>S&amp;P 500</strong>&lsquo;s high dividend payers. Meanwhile, its focus on lower volatility stocks aims to reduce portfolio swings compared to the the S&amp;P 500 index, or the broader market, enhancing risk-adjusted returns.  </p>



<p>Since its inception in October 2012, the fund&rsquo;s net assets have reached close to $2.9 billion. Currently, SPHD has 52 holdings among utilities (20%), consumer staples (15.7%), real estate (13.9%), energy (11.7%) and healthcare (10%) sectors. Smokable products manufacturer <strong>Altria Group</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mo-stock-quote/"><strong>MO</strong></a></span>), energy companies <strong>Kinder Morgan</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/kmi-stock-quote/"><strong>KMI</strong></a></span>) and <strong>Dominion Energy</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/d-stock-quote/"><strong>D</strong></a></span>), and telecom giants <strong>Verizon Communications</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/vz-stock-quote/"><strong>VZ</strong></a></span>) and <strong>AT&amp;T</strong> (NYSE:<span><a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/t-stock-quote/"><strong>T</strong></a></span>) comprise the leading holdings.</p>



<p>So far in 2024, SPHD has gained 1%. Meanwhile, forward (P/E) and price-to-book (<strong>P/B</strong>) ratios stand at 13.77x and 2.15x, respectively. Boasting a dividend yield of 4.75%, SPHD presents a compelling option for investors seeking a balance between income generation and portfolio stability.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Tezcan Gecgil did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;</em><a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank"><em>Publishing Guidelines</em></a></p>
<div><p>Tezcan Gecgil, PhD, began contributing to InvestorPlace in 2018. She brings over 20 years of experience in the U.S. and U.K. and has also completed all 3 levels of the Chartered Market Technician (CMT) examination. Publicly, she has contributed to <a href="https://www.investing.com/">investing.com</a> and the U.K. website of <a href="https://www.fool.com/">The Motley Fool.</a></p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/04/3-defensive-stocks-to-buy-for-increased-volatility-in-april/">3 Defensive Stocks to Buy for Increased Volatility in April</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

3 Defensive Stocks to Buy for Increased Volatility in April

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<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>While <a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-types/dividend-stocks/">dividend stocks</a> can be a good option for investors looking for an available revenue stream, not every dividend stock is worth your time. Plenty of deadly dividend stocks are ready to wreak havoc on your portfolio.</p>



<p>The worst thing about a deadly dividend stock is the inconsistency. You want to have a reliable payout schedule so you can plan your finances accordingly. You also want a dividend stock with a history of maintaining or growing its payout.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, one of the first things a struggling company will do is cut the dividend, especially if it needs the cash to pay off debt or if profits are taking a beating. </p>



<p>Investors who rely on dividends as a source of income may find it challenging to budget or plan for the future when dividend payments are suddenly cut.</p>



<p>We&rsquo;re using the Portfolio Grader to help weed out the deadly dividend stocks you should avoid in April 2024. </p>



<p>Evaluate stocks based on earnings, growth, dividends, momentum, and analyst sentiment for success in Q2.</p>



<p>You can avoid the deadly dividend stocks that will sink your returns.</p>



<h2>Apple (AAPL)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shutterstock_1446630212-300x169.png" alt="Close-up of Apple (AAPL) retail store Logo in Honolulu at the Ala Moana Center. Advertising the latest generation of the ipad, iphones, and ipods with a Retina display."><div>Source: Eric Broder Van Dyke / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Apple</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/aapl-stock-quote/"><strong>AAPL</strong></a>) is actually more than a smartphone manufacturer. It makes and sells personal computers, wearable technology, tablets and more.</p>



<p>Its powerful Services segment includes the App Store where Apple allows developers to market their apps to the public. Apple gets a piece of that action, making it one of the company&rsquo;s most profitable ventures.</p>



<p>Then there&rsquo;s the downside. Apple&rsquo;s seen iPhone sales slip, particularly in China where sales in the first six weeks of the year were down 24%. Sales of other products are also down, but not nearly as much as the iPhone in China.</p>



<p>That means Apple needs to find a way to compete with China&rsquo;s homegrown smartphone maker, Huawei, or find a way to replace that revenue. </p>



<p>It does all that as both U.S. and U.K. regulators are looking into the App Store for possibly illegally blocking the competition.</p>



<p>Apple stock offers a dividend yield of just 0.5%, which isn&rsquo;t nearly enough to cover its 13% loss in 2024. It gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.</p>



<h2>Microchip Technology (MCHP)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/microchiptechnology_mchp1600-300x169.png" alt="Microchip (MCHP) logo at HQ in Silicon Valley. Microchip Technology Inc. manufactures microcontrollers, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP integrated circuits"><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Microchip Technology</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mchp-stock-quote/"><strong>MCHP</strong></a>) is an Arizona company that makes microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP products. Its customers are in the industrial, automotive, consumer, communications, computing and aerospace markets.</p>



<p>The company&rsquo;s integrated circuits have been on the market for more than 20 years and are included in more than 100,000 products. Microchips are found in everyday products such as calculators, bank ATM, car infotainment systems and cell phones.</p>



<p>While the company makes important products, the stock has been maddingly inconsistent, with numerous price swings over the last 12 months. </p>



<p>The stock is down 6% since Jan. 1 on the heels of reporting weak earnings in the last quarter (Q3 of fiscal 2024, ending Dec. 31, 2023).</p>



<p><a href="https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/aemDocuments/documents/investor/press-release/MCHP_Announces_Financial_Results_for_Q3FY24.020124.pdf">Revenue was $1.76 billion</a>, a drop of 18.6% from a year ago and short of the company&rsquo;s guidance. Microchip blamed the issue on weaker business conditions and lowered demand. </p>



<p>CEO Ganesh Moorthy says the company will cut discretionary spending and manage inventory in the near term.</p>



<p>MCHP provides a dividend yield of 2%. It gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.</p>



<h2>Realty Income (O)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/realty1600-300x169.jpg" alt="realty income logo highlighted by a magnifying glass on a web browser"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div><p><strong>Realty Income</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/o-stock-quote/"><strong>O</strong></a>) is a sizable real estate investment trust with over 13,000 properties. Realty Income has interests in every U.S. state. That&rsquo;s a huge footprint. Plus, it works with customers in 90 industries.</p>



<p>The biggest issue for Realty Income is debt. Borrowing money to purchase properties cost a lot more when interest rates are higher. That&rsquo;s why even though Realty Income saw a significant increase in revenue in the fourth quarter, its income dropped.</p>



<p>One positive thing about Realty Income is the generous dividend yield of 6% that&rsquo;s paid monthly. But I&rsquo;m going to be skeptical of O stock until interest rates come back down to a more manageable level.</p>



<p>O stock is down 9% this year and gets an &ldquo;F&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.</p>



<h2>U.S. Bancorp (USB)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/usb_us_bancorp_1600-300x169.jpg" alt="The logo for U.S. Bancorp's U.S. Bank is displayed on the side of a building."><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>U.S. Bancorp</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/usb-stock-quote/"><strong>USB</strong></a>) isn&rsquo;t the biggest bank in the country, but it&rsquo;s pretty close. </p>



<p>It ranks as the No. 5 banking company in size in the United States, primarily serving the 26 states in the Midwest and Western U.S.</p>



<p>Many banks, including U.S. Bancorp, have been troubled by the interest rate issue. The company has been forced to offer higher interest rates on deposit accounts to customers to prevent them from shifting their money into high-yielding bonds.</p>



<p>That strategy weighs directly on the company&rsquo;s bottom line, with <a href="https://ir.usbank.com/files/doc_financials/2024/q1/Q1-2024-Earnings-Release.pdf">first-quarter earnings</a> showing that profits at U.S. Bancorp dropped 22% from a year ago.</p>



<p>It also lowered its guidance on net interest income, the money banks pay customers and what they earn on interest on loans. </p>



<p>USB previously guided for income net interest income of $16.6 billion for the full year, but now says it will be somewhere from a range between $16.1 billion and $16.4 billion.</p>



<p>USB stock pays a dividend yield of nearly 5%, but the stock is down more than 8% this year and gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.</p>



<h2>Ford Motor Co. (F)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ford1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Ford logo badge on grill of car"><div>Source: JuliusKielaitis / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Ford Motor Co.</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/f-stock-quote/"><strong>F</strong></a>) is a well-known member of the Big Three Detroit automakers. The stock pays a solid dividend yield of nearly 5%.</p>



<p>So what&rsquo;s not to love? Plenty, as it turns out.</p>



<p>Ford has to compete with other automakers, particularly <strong>Tesla</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tsla-stock-quote/"><strong>TSLA</strong></a>) which is singlehandedly driving down the price of electric vehicles. Tesla cut prices in 2023 and 2024 as it seeks to boost its sales numbers.</p>



<p>I don&rsquo;t think it&rsquo;s a great strategy because it eats into the profit margin &ndash; and investors <em>hate</em> it when a company&rsquo;s profitability suffers. Now Ford is going through the same issue.</p>



<p>Ford cut the price of its Mustang Mach-E electric SUV by up to $8,100, and its <a href="https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2024/04/11/2024-ford-f-150-lightning-price-cuts-dealer-memo-leak-reveals/73294715007/">cutting prices</a> on its 2024 Ford F-150 Lighting, and all-electric pickup.</p>



<p>Next week the company is reporting first-quarter earnings and I want to see how the profit numbers hold up.</p>



<p>F stock is down 1% in 2024 and gets an &ldquo;F&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.</p>



<h2>Lowe&rsquo;s Companies (LOW)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/L1600-300x169.jpg" alt="the front of a Lowe's store"><div>Source: Helen89 / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Lowe&rsquo;s Companies</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/low-stock-quote/"><strong>LOW</strong></a>) is primarily known for its giant brick-and-mortar home improvement stores. </p>



<p>It peddles everything that you need to build a house, complete a major construction project, plant a tree or simply decorate your patio.</p>



<p>The company has more than 1,700 home improvement or outlet stores in the U.S., covering every state and the District of Columbia. And while shares were soaring earlier this year, there&rsquo;s trouble on the horizon and LOW stock is already feeling the heat.</p>



<p>In reporting its fourth-quarter and full year 2023 earnings in February, Lowe&rsquo;s <a href="https://corporate.lowes.com/sites/lowes-corp/files/2024-02/q4-2023-earnings-release.pdf">disclosed</a> that it expects sales to drop by 2% to 3% in 2024. And profits will also take a hit, with earnings per share expected to fall by more than 7%.</p>



<p>That&rsquo;s enough to send investors scurrying, and LOW stock is down 10% in the last six weeks alone.</p>



<p>LOW stock pays a dividend yield of 2% and gets a &ldquo;D&rdquo; rating in the Portfolio Grader.</p>



<h2>General Mills (GIS)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/gis-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="A General Mills (GIS) sign on a General Mills office in Ontario, Canada."><div>Source: JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>General Mills</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gis-stock-quote/"><strong>GIS</strong></a>) is best known for its iconic breakfast foods from Cheerios ro Progresso soups and Green Giant vegetables.</p>



<p>All that sounds great. But <a href="https://investors.generalmills.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/General-Mills-Reports-Fiscal-2024-Third-quarter-Results/default.aspx">sales</a> are down as of late. </p>



<p>In the fiscal third quarter of 2024, General Mills reported sales down 1% to $5.1 billion.</p>



<p>That was a better outlook than the previous quarter, when the company was forced to lower its organic sales guidance from a previous range of 3% to 4% to just 1%.</p>



<p>That&rsquo;s why you should treat General Mills with caution, even though the stock is up 6% on the year and its pays a decent dividend yield of 3.4%.</p>



<p>All in all, there are worse stocks than General Mills. But there are much better dividend stocks you can buy as well, so avoid this &ldquo;D&rdquo; rated stock.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Louis&nbsp;Navellier did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.</em>&nbsp;<em>The InvestorPlace Research Staff member primarily responsible for this article held AAPL, but did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any other positions in the securities mentioned in this article.</em></p>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/market360/2024/04/7-deadly-dividend-stocks-to-avoid-at-all-costs-april-2024/">7 Deadly Dividend Stocks to Avoid at All Costs: April 2024</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

7 Deadly Dividend Stocks to Avoid at All Costs: April 2024

In a report released today, Matthew Smith, CFA from Stifel Nicolaus maintained a Buy rating on General Mills (GIS – Research Report), with a price ...

Stifel Nicolaus Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on General Mills (GIS)

BellRings Brands gains after Cowen suggested it could be a takeover candidate

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>The next economic downturn might be closer than you think. So, it&rsquo;s a good idea to, at least, look at stocks for the next downturn. For one, the <a href="https://www.bls.gov/cpi/">recent inflation report</a> came in hotter than expected, with core inflation stubbornly refusing to cool down despite the Federal Reserve&rsquo;s best efforts to tame it. Of course, one or two hot inflation prints do not necessarily make a trend, as the central bank would have you believe. But if we keep seeing inflation stick around, it could spell trouble for the markets.</p>



<p>The Fed had penciled in three rate cuts for 2024, but many&nbsp;now&nbsp;doubt that will happen.  Still, with this being an election year, I expect at least one rate cut. Regardless,&nbsp;the combination of&nbsp;persistent inflation and the recent selloff in red-hot <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/technology/artificial-intelligence/">AI stocks</a> could be the perfect recipe for a market downturn.</p>



<p>If you&rsquo;re bracing for choppy waters ahead, it&rsquo;s time to batten down the hatches and add some ballast to your portfolio. Here are seven stocks for the next downturn.</p>



<h2>TJX Companies (TJX)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/tjx1600-300x169.jpg" alt="An outside shot of a T.J. Maxx (TJX) store in Romeoville, Illinois."><div>Source: Joe Hendrickson / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>TJX</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/tjx-stock-quote/"><strong>TJX</strong></a>) is an American retail behemoth that operates a chain of off-price department stores. Their secret sauce?&nbsp;Offering high-quality, fashionable, brand-name, and designer merchandise at prices&nbsp;that are&nbsp;typically 20% to 60% below what full-price retailers charge.&nbsp;This business model is a recession-proof goldmine.</p>



<p>When the economy hits the skids, consumers tend to tighten their belts and cut back on discretionary spending. But let&rsquo;s be&nbsp;real&nbsp;&ndash; we all need a little retail therapy now and then. That&rsquo;s where TJX comes in, providing a guilt-free indulgence for bargain hunters. As other retailers struggle, TJX&rsquo;s doors stay open, welcoming frugal fashionistas with open arms.</p>



<p>The company&rsquo;s recent performance speaks volumes. Despite the volatile macroeconomic landscape, TJX has been firing on all cylinders, with the stock up&nbsp;a cool&nbsp;20% over the past year. That&rsquo;s not too shabby for an apparel play. Analysts are <a href="https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TJX/earnings/estimates">projecting EPS growth of around 10% annually through 2030</a>, with mid-single-digit sales growth to boot. TJX has&nbsp;also been outperforming&nbsp;expectations recently.&nbsp;With a 1.6% dividend yield to sweeten the deal, this stock is&nbsp;a&nbsp;compelling&nbsp;buy.</p>



<h2>Waste Management (WM)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/waste-management-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="person depositing a plastic water bottle in a yellow plastic recycling bin. The bin is in a line-up of several other blue and green bins."><div>Source: shutterstock.com/PhotoByToR</div></div><p><strong>Waste Management</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/wm-stock-quote/"><strong>WM</strong></a>) is a name that&nbsp;pretty much&nbsp;says it all.&nbsp;This company is in the business of, well,&nbsp;managing waste. It is a sector that&rsquo;s about as recession-proof as they come.&nbsp;After all, trash doesn&rsquo;t take a break&nbsp;just&nbsp;because the economy hits a rough patch.</p>



<p>Despite its unglamorous line of work, WM has been an unlikely outperformer, with the stock up a solid 26% over the past year. Even better, there&rsquo;s plenty of upside potential on the horizon, thanks to the infrastructure boom and the company&rsquo;s pricing power. Throw in a 1.44% dividend yield, and&nbsp;you&rsquo;ve got&nbsp;a recipe for steady returns, even in turbulent times.</p>



<p>But WM isn&rsquo;t just resting on its laurels. The company&nbsp;is investing&nbsp;heavily in growth initiatives like recycling and renewable&nbsp;energy. It&rsquo;s also returning capital to shareholders through share buybacks and dividend increases. Analysts are <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WM/earnings/estimates">forecasting a rise in earnings per share from $7 to $12.8 by 2030</a>, with revenue growth averaging well above 6% annually over the same period. For a &ldquo;boring&rdquo; company, those are solid&nbsp;numbers that&rsquo;ll keep the stock compounding for years to come.</p>



<h2>Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bah-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH) logo on a corporate building"><div>Source: Jer123 / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>Booz Allen Hamilton</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/bah-stock-quote/"><strong>BAH</strong></a>) is a leading&nbsp;provider of&nbsp;consulting, analysis, and engineering&nbsp;services&nbsp;to both public and private sector organizations.&nbsp;What sets BAH apart is its focus on cutting-edge technologies like AI, quantum computing, 5G, and digital twins. All are areas where the company is delivering impactful solutions for the U.S. government and industry heavyweights.</p>



<p>This isn&rsquo;t your typical tech stock. BAH generates&nbsp;a whopping&nbsp;95% of its revenue from the government. This is a revenue stream that&rsquo;s about as sticky as they come. And with the government doubling down on AI, data platforms, and other emerging technologies, that tap shows no signs of running dry anytime soon. These government contracts are a veritable goldmine of recurring revenue, making BAH one of the most recession-resistant stocks.</p>



<p>The stock&rsquo;s performance speaks for itself: BAH is up&nbsp;51.3% over the past year,&nbsp;and&nbsp;it&rsquo;s even&nbsp;throwing in a 1.4% dividend yield for good measure.&nbsp;In <a href="https://www.google.com/finance/quote/BAH:NYSE">Q4 2023, revenue growth clocked in at a robust 12.9% year-over-year</a>, and analysts are projecting 15% year-over-year sales growth for the full year 2024.</p>



<h2>Marsh &amp; McLennan (MMC)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/oversold-stocks-to-buy-300x169.jpg" alt="man in suit holding a tablet with graphic above showing oversold stocks to buy"><div>Source: undefined undefined / Getty Images</div></div><p><strong>Marsh &amp; McLennan</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/mmc-stock-quote/"><strong>MMC</strong></a>) is a global professional services juggernaut specializing in risk, strategy, and people solutions. With its four main businesses &ndash; <a href="https://www.marshmclennan.com">Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer, and Oliver Wyman</a>. MMC provides a comprehensive suite of services, from risk management and insurance to strategic advisory and human capital solutions. This diversified business model is a recipe for resilience in any economic climate.</p>



<p>The insurance industry is often touted as recession-proof, and MMC is no exception. While no company is entirely immune to economic headwinds, this stock represents a low-risk investment that&rsquo;s poised to weather any storm. Even in the depths of a downturn, organizations will continue to seek MMC&rsquo;s expertise in mitigating risks and navigating turbulent waters.</p>



<p>The stock has delivered a staggering 115% return over the past five years, handily outpacing even the tech-heavy <strong>Nasdaq</strong>. And the best may be yet to come, with <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MMC/earnings/estimates">analysts projecting annual EPS growth of around 10%</a> and mid-single-digit sales growth on the horizon.</p>



<h2>PepsiCo (PEP)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/pep-pepsico-1600-300x169.png" alt="Pepsi (PEP) Factory in Samara, Russia. Pepsi logo on a blue warehouse."><div>Source: FotograFFF / Shutterstock</div></div><p><strong>PepsiCo</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pep-stock-quote/"><strong>PEP</strong></a>) needs no introduction. This beverage and snack behemoth is a must-have for any portfolio seeking ballast against market volatility. Sure, PepsiCo&rsquo;s products may be classified as &ldquo;discretionary&rdquo; on paper, but when was the last time you went to the grocery store and didn&rsquo;t spot a Pepsi, Lay&rsquo;s, or Gatorade product in your cart?</p>



<p>While PepsiCo&rsquo;s stock may dip during a recession (as all stocks tend to do), it&rsquo;s virtually guaranteed to bounce back with a vengeance. This company is too entrenched in our daily lives, too ubiquitous on store shelves, to be derailed for long. And with a juicy 3% dividend yield backed by <a href="https://www.dividend.com/stocks/consumer-staples/consumer-products/beverages/pep-pepsico/">52 consecutive years of payout hikes</a>, PepsiCo is the ultimate &ldquo;buy and forget&rdquo; play.</p>



<p>The recent underperformance only adds to the allure, making these shares a bargain for long-term investors. I see little downside risk from here &ndash; just a steady compounder that will keep chugging along, recession or not. It is thus one of the most recession-resistant stocks.</p>



<h2>NextEra Energy (NEE)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/nee1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Nextra Energy (NEE) website on a mobile phone screen"><div>Source: madamF / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>NextEra Energy</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/nee-stock-quote/"><strong>NEE</strong></a>) is the largest publicly traded electricity company in the U.S. by market cap. I see the recent slide as a buying opportunity.</p>



<p>NextEra is poised to be a prime beneficiary of the clean energy transition, using low-cost renewables. With a strategy built on cost and efficiency improvements, NextEra is well-positioned to capitalize on the ongoing green energy revolution, even as tax credits begin to fade.</p>



<p>And let&rsquo;s not overlook that juicy dividend yield, which currently sits well above NextEra&rsquo;s historical average &ndash; usually a telltale sign of undervaluation. Combine that with the company&rsquo;s financial strength and stability relative to its peers, and you&rsquo;ve got a premium stock trading at a discount.</p>



<h2>General Mills (GIS)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GIS1600-300x169.jpg" alt="General Mills Cereal, GIS stock"><div>Source: designs by Jack / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p><strong>General Mills</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/gis-stock-quote/"><strong>GIS</strong></a>) is a quintessential &ldquo;boring&rdquo; stock that&rsquo;s perfect for long-term compounders. As a leading manufacturer of beloved consumer brands like Cheerios, Betty Crocker, and H&auml;agen-Dazs, General Mills is about as recession-proof as they come.</p>



<p>The stock has had its fair share of corrections and volatility (as all stocks do), but its recent 20% pullback from the highs presents a compelling entry point. Well-established, profitable businesses like GIS have a knack for bouncing back, and I see little reason for this tried-and-true name to buck that trend.</p>



<p>With a forward dividend yield of 3.33% and a <a href="https://www.gurufocus.com/term/bs-share/GIS">dividend buyback ratio in the top 9% of its peers</a>, General Mills offers a compelling income stream and safety. Definitely a solid bet among recession-resistant stocks.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Omor Ibne Ehsan did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;<a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank">Publishing Guidelines.</a></em></p>
<div><p>Omor Ibne Ehsan is a writer at InvestorPlace. He is a self-taught investor with a focus on growth and cyclical stocks that have strong fundamentals, value, and long-term potential. He also has an interest in high-risk, high-reward investments such as cryptocurrencies and penny stocks. You can follow him on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/omor-ibne-ehsan-56068022b/">LinkedIn</a>.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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