Every week, Dividend.com analyzes the search patterns of our visitors and by sharing these trends with our readers, we hope to provide insight into what the financial industry is interested in and how they are positioning their portfolios.
Chipmaker NVIDIA topped the list this week after reporting another stellar quarter, driven by continued strong demand for its products. Graphics Processor Coming in second is McDonald’s, which has reportedly been struggling financially. Coming in third is NextEra Energy, whose stock price has skyrocketed in recent months. Finally, coming in third is Bristol-Myers Squibb, whose dividend yield has risen as its stock price has fallen.
Be sure to read our previous trending article here.
Nvidia reports astounding profits
NVIDIA (NVDA) took the top spot with a 178% increase in viewership. The company reported another strong quarterly result, with revenue up 262% sequentially and net income up 630%.
The results were achieved by NVIDIA Graphics Processor Chips used for AI workloads. Companies are rushing to experiment with generative AI, increasing demand for cloud services and data centers. Companies such as Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms have announced plans to increase capital expenditures and are investing heavily in AI chips.
Nvidia, which dominates the AI ​​chip market, has seen its business more than triple in just a year as demand soared. Nvidia’s shares have soared nearly 200% in the past 12 months. The company raised its dividend by 150%, but yields remain low and shareholders have mainly benefited from the strong share price.
McDonald’s launches $5 menu after sluggish performance
McDonald’s (MCCD) saw a 34% increase in traffic and took the number one spot on the list.
The dividend yield is 2.6%. MCCD Revenue in the March quarter was down compared to the previous quarter. CEO Chris Kempczinski blames the decline on price-conscious consumers increasingly dining at home. Revenue rose about 4.6% year over year, but has declined for three straight quarters. Net income rose 7% to $1.9 billion.
To combat declining customer traffic, McDonald’s has announced plans to roll out a $5 meal consisting of a McChicken or McDouble, four chicken nuggets, fries and a drink, but the move has already drawn backlash from franchisees, who say the promotion can’t be sustained in the long term without the company’s financial backing.
NextEra shares surge
NextEra Energy (knee) saw a 7% increase in traffic, taking the number 3 spot on the list.
The renewable energy-focused energy company has seen its shares rise 30% so far this year, thanks in part to stronger-than-expected demand from new data centers that cloud service providers are building to run energy-intensive artificial intelligence workloads.
Earlier this year, NextEra raised its quarterly dividend by 10% to 51.5 cents a share. Its dividend currently yields about 2.6%. The increase is part of a plan to increase the dividend by 10% annually through at least 2026.
Bristol-Myers Squibb shares showing signs of recovery
Bristol-Myers Squibb (Be Me) was at the bottom of the list, with viewership up about 5%. Bristol-Myers may be starting to see light at the end of the tunnel as its stock price has started to recover after more than a year of decline.
Bristol-Myers posted rising revenue in the most recent quarter thanks to strong sales of several new drugs, but investors are hesitant to jump into the stock until it sees stronger results from its new drugs, and its shares are down nearly 50% from their peak.
The drop in the stock price has allowed the company’s dividend yield to nearly double, to about 5.9%, making it unlikely that the dividend will be cut.
Conclusion
Nvidia shares continue to climb after reporting another strong quarterly earnings report. McDonald’s rolled out cheaper menu items to attract lower-income consumers hit by the cost-of-living crisis. NextEra shares are soaring on hopes that the company will benefit from rising energy demand. Rounding out the list is Bristol-Myers Squibb, which posted growth thanks to strong sales of several new drugs.
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