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Disciplined Dividend Stock Research

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This Isn’t Exciting—It’s Exactly the Point

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In a world where flashy tech stocks rise and fall with headlines, this REIT quietly does what it’s always done—collect rent, pay dividends, and keep cash flowing.

This isn’t about rapid growth or reinvention. It’s about reliability, diversification, and a business model designed to weather storms. This is a name worth knowing.

Concrete & Contracts: The Core of NNN REIT’s Business Model

NNN REIT, formerly National Retail Properties, operates one of the most straightforward and effective business models in the REIT world: it buys and leases single-tenant retail properties under long-term triple-net leases.

These leases shift most property expenses—like taxes, insurance, and maintenance—to tenants, providing predictable, low-volatility income.

NNN owns 3,568 properties across 49 states, covering 36.6 million square feet. Its portfolio spans more than 370 tenants in 37 industries, including:

  • Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Circle K)

  • Quick-service restaurants

  • Automotive service and parts

  • Health & fitness centers

  • Drugstores and medical services

  • Pet supplies, home improvement, and entertainment venues

Its largest tenant (7-Eleven) accounts for just 4.4% of rental income. That’s diversification by design—and it helps explain NNN’s historical occupancy rate north of 98%.

NNN portfolio summary graphic.
NNN portfolio summary graphic. Source: NNN REIT.

The Bull and Bear Case for NNN

Bull Case: Diversified and Durable

NNN’s superpower is risk-spread simplicity. With thousands of tenants across dozens of industries—and no tenant dominating the rent roll—NNN has constructed a portfolio that practically hums with consistency.

  • Occupancy? A rock-solid 98.5% as of Q4 2024.

  • Exposure? Necessity-based businesses like gas stations and food services dominate.

  • Volatility? Low, thanks to long-term leases with built-in rent escalators.

Even as retail real estate evolves, NNN’s mix of service-oriented tenants makes it less vulnerable to e-commerce disruption. Add to that a conservative balance sheet and well-managed acquisitions, and you’ve got a REIT that earns its income stripe.

Bear Case: Growth Pains and Market Sentiment

NNN hasn’t won the market’s heart lately for all its strengths. Its stock price still trails pre-pandemic highs, and growth remains modest—more crawl than sprint.

Revenue growth is slow, and AFFO (Adjusted Funds From Operations) has remained relatively flat. Rising interest rates make debt refinancing more expensive, eating into margins. And like many REITs, NNN is unlikely to deliver explosive capital gains—it’s mostly about income, not appreciation.

The bottom line? If you’re looking for growth, this REIT might feel more like a bond proxy than an equity rocket.

What’s New? Steady Income, Flat Growth—and a Look Ahead

NNN REIT’s most recent quarterly update, released on February 20, 2025, reflected another stable but unremarkable performance. Revenue rose by just 1%, with flat AFFO per share, mirroring the impact of higher interest rates and limited organic rent growth. The modest top-line increase came primarily from strategic property acquisitions, while NNN maintained its strong 98.5% occupancy rate across its portfolio.

Notably, the company released five properties during the quarter, highlighting its disciplined approach to asset management. Looking ahead, NNN provided guidance for 2025, projecting Core FFO between $3.33 and $3.38 per share and AFFO in the range of $3.39 to $3.44—signaling expectations for steady cash flow despite market headwinds.

And of course, the dividend kept rolling in—reliable as ever.

Looking for the Best Dividend Growers? Start with the Rock Stars

Orange star.The Dividend Rock Star List is your shortcut to finding the market’s most consistent and promising dividend-paying companies.

Curated using DSR’s time-tested metrics—including revenue, EPS, and dividend growth—this exclusive list highlights high-conviction stocks that stand out for their financial strength and long-term reliability.

Whether you’re building or refining your portfolio, the Rock Star List helps you focus on quality, not noise.

Dividend Triangle in Action: Strong Foundation, Slow Climb

NNN 5-year Dividend Triangle.
NNN 5-year Dividend Triangle.

Let’s put NNN through the Dividend Triangle lens—our go-to framework for evaluating dividend durability:

  • Revenue: Steady, modest growth to $869.27M (TTM). Not flashy, but reliable.
  • Earnings (EPS/AFFO): Normalized EPS is at $1.997 (TTM). Flat in recent quarters, but underpinned by stable leases and tenant performance.
  • Dividend: Currently at $0.58/share, reflecting slow-but-steady growth. NNN raises its dividend almost every year, with a conservative payout ratio that keeps it sustainable.

Boring, Predictable—and That’s the Point

NNN REIT won’t excite your portfolio—but it might anchor it.

This is a REIT designed for stability: high occupancy, consistent cash flow, conservative growth, and a dividend you can count on. In a world where uncertainty is the norm, NNN offers something refreshingly predictable.

It’s not going to double in price—but it’s going to keep paying you, quarter after quarter, backed by thousands of real assets across America.

Get More Dividend Stock Ideas for Your Portfolio!

Orange star.The Dividend Rock Star List is your shortcut to finding the market’s most consistent and promising dividend-paying companies.

Curated using DSR’s time-tested metrics—including revenue, EPS, and dividend growth—this exclusive list highlights high-conviction stocks that stand out for their financial strength and long-term reliability.

Whether you’re building or refining your portfolio, the Rock Star List helps you focus on quality, not noise.

Quiet Giant: This Bank Builds Wealth from the Ground Up

By DivGuy Leave a Comment

In choppy markets, the appeal of a reliable, profit-churning bank becomes even clearer—and this underrated bank is built for this moment.

You won’t find any flashy tech or crypto hype here. Just old-school banking done right, with a modern twist: real estate lending, disciplined risk management, and a dividend that keeps climbing.

And if you’re a dividend investor? This one checks all the boxes.

The Foundation of Bank OZK: Lending with Structure and Strategy

Bank OZK isn’t your average regional bank. It’s a lean, focused lending machine with a serious specialty: commercial real estate (CRE). Through its Real Estate Specialties Group (RESG), OZK lends to major development projects in markets like New York City, Miami, and Dallas.

But the bank does more than just big buildings:

  • Consumer banking: Checking, savings, CDs, IRAs, and mortgages.

  • Personal loans: Auto, home equity, and lines of credit.

  • Treasury & wealth services: Business banking, trust and estate planning, and investment management.

  • Digital-first banking: Mobile and online platforms that are clean, efficient, and functional.

All this is operated through ~240 branches across eight states, with a growing footprint in the Southeast and urban hotbeds like New York and California.

Bank OZK Company Highlights. Source: Investor Relations.
Bank OZK Company Highlights. Source: Investor Relations.

Blueprints and Blind Spots: The Bull and Bear Case for Bank OZK

Bull Case: Disciplined Growth and Dividend Consistency

Why should Bank OZK be on your radar (and maybe in your dividend portfolio)?

Because this is a bank that knows exactly what it’s good at—and sticks to it. Its niche in commercial real estate lending has fueled consistent growth in both earnings and deposits. Their underwriting standards are considered among the most conservative in the industry, and that pays off when markets tighten.

Some key stats as of year-end 2024:

  • Loans: $29.97B (+13.3% YoY)

  • Deposits: $31.04B (+13.3% YoY)

  • EPS: $6.117 (TTM, up steadily over 5 years)

And the dividend? Always heading up.

Bank OZK recently raised it again, representing the 31st consecutive quarterly increase. That’s the kind of rhythm dividend investors love.

Bear Case: Risky Real Estate Exposure?

Let’s not sugarcoat it—concentration risk is real here.

OZK heavily relies on commercial real estate. In good times, this delivers strong returns. In downturns, it can sting. While the bank boasts excellent credit quality and low charge-offs, CRE defaults are lumpy and unpredictable.

The other risk: geographic concentration. A slowdown in NYC or Miami could put pressure on earnings.

Lastly, growth ceiling concerns are creeping in. With a focused business model and limited product expansion, OZK may need to acquire or diversify to fuel the next leg of growth.

The Big Picture of Creating a Sustainable Dividend Income at Retirement

Bank OZK is a perfect example of a reliable stock for retirees’ portfolios. But there’s more to it. You need a big picture.

This guide is for any investor who wants to create a sustainable income from his/her portfolio. It will be useful during your accumulation phase as you will avoid major mistakes and build a solid portfolio for your retirement. It will be even more useful if you are retired and count on your portfolio to pay the bills.

We all invest with the same goal: having our money working for us.

Building Momentum While Managing Risk

Bank OZK’s most recent quarterly results, reported in March 2025, highlight a business that continues to outperform expectations with quiet consistency.

Revenue grew 2% year-over-year, while earnings per share (EPS) climbed 4%, reflecting solid margin performance and disciplined expense control. For the full year, net interest income reached a record $1.53 billion—up 6.5% from 2023—thanks to sustained loan and deposit growth.

Credit quality remains strong, with provisions for credit losses dropping to $37.2 million and net charge-offs staying comfortably low.

On the shareholder side, OZK nudged its dividend higher again, now paying $0.43 per share.

Management has signaled continued confidence, forecasting growth in average earning assets and targeting new record highs in net interest income throughout 2025.

Dividend Triangle in Action: A Well-Cemented Growth Story

OZK 5-year Dividend Triangle.
OZK 5-year Dividend Triangle.

At Dividend Stocks Rock, we rely on the Dividend Triangle—growth in revenue, earnings, and dividends—to separate the wheat from the yield traps.

Here’s how Bank OZK holds up:

  • Revenue: Climbed steadily with strong growth momentum in recent years, even through economic uncertainty.
  • Earnings per Share (EPS): EPS has grown like a well-tended real estate portfolio. That’s nearly three times the level it was five years ago, supported by solid margins and disciplined lending.
  • Dividend: Now at $0.43/share, with 30+ straight quarters of increases. Not sky-high in yield, but reliable and growing. The payout ratio remains conservative, leaving plenty of room for future hikes.

Steady as Concrete, Built for Dividends

Bank OZK isn’t a flashy fintech, but it doesn’t have to be.

It’s a fundamentally sound bank with a focused model, clean balance sheet, and a track record of sharing profits with shareholders. If you’re looking for a dividend stock that delivers consistent growth without the drama, this one deserves a spot on your watchlist.

Not exciting? Maybe not.
Reliable, growing, and shareholder-friendly? Absolutely.

Turn Your Portfolio into a Retirement Powerhouse

The Dividend Income for Life guide can help you build a resilient, income-generating portfolio designed to weather any market storm.

It will walk you through the proven Dividend Stocks Rock (DSR) methodology—focusing on quality, growth, and sustainability—to create a stream of dividend income you can count on for decades.

Whether in the accumulation phase or nearing retirement, this resource is your roadmap to financial confidence and freedom.

Paint It Green: Why Sherwin-Williams Keeps Brushing Up Gains

By DivGuy Leave a Comment

In uncertain markets, I like to go back to basics—and Sherwin-Williams is as fundamental as it gets.

It’s a company that literally coats the economy: from residential repaint jobs to industrial-scale coatings, the demand for paint doesn’t go away.

And for dividend investors? It brings a layer of reliability you can count on.

The Backbone of Sherwin: A Solid, Splash-Proof Business Model

Sherwin-Williams (SHW) isn’t just another paint company. It’s the paint company. With operations across the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Australia, this giant supplies everyone from your neighborhood DIYer to massive industrial manufacturers. When you think of Sherwin-Williams, think of an empire with three powerhouse divisions:

  • Paint Stores Group: The boots-on-the-ground team with company-operated stores serving contractors and homeowners alike.

  • Consumer Brands Group: Where you’ll find everything from wood finishes and varnishes to caulks and adhesives—those household names sitting on shelves in home improvement stores.

  • Performance Coatings Group: Industrial coatings galore, covering everything from your kitchen cabinets to manufacturing equipment.

Company's Revenue by segment. Source.
Company’s Revenue by segment. Source: Sherwin-Williams Website.

This diversified model means Sherwin-Williams isn’t putting all its brushes in one bucket. Whether housing markets are booming or slowing, this business beast finds a way to keep the cash flowing.

The Big Picture: Bull vs. Bear on the Wall

Bull Case: Consistency Meets Quality

Here’s why Sherwin-Williams deserves a spot on your watchlist (or even better—your portfolio): it’s got a fortress of a business model, strong pricing power, and a sticky relationship with professionals who need its products to get the job done.

We love companies with wide moats and recurring demand. Sherwin’s distribution network and vertically integrated model give it a leg up on the competition. Add in disciplined capital allocation, growth through acquisitions, and global expansion on the horizon? That’s a recipe for long-term dividend growth.

Bonus points: they’ve been growing that dividend like clockwork. That’s music to the ears of any dividend growth investor.

Bear Case: Cracks in the Paint?

It’s not all smooth coverage. With over 4,900 stores, SHW may be nearing growth limits in the U.S.

With their high dependence on Professionals, if contractor activity slows, sales growth may decelerate. The business is still cyclical, especially tied to housing and industrial markets. The revenue trend is slowing down at the moment. Declining home sales due to high interest rates and economic uncertainty could affect demand, especially in the DIY segment.

Also, let’s not ignore raw material costs. Sherwin’s heavily reliant on petroleum-based inputs, so if prices shoot up, margins could get squeezed.

Competition is fierce too—names like PPG Industries (PPG) and RPM International (RPM) aren’t sitting still.

What’s New? Expansion Meets Headwinds

SHW recently announced an important acquisition in Brazil.

It will acquire BASF’s Brazilian architectural paints business, including the well-known Suvinil brand, for $1.15B in an all-cash transaction. Suvinil is a leading player in Brazil’s paint industry, generating $525M in annual sales and operating two production facilities.

Sherwin-Williams has forecasted a lower-than-expected annual profit, citing continued demand softness that might persist into late 2025 or beyond. Their Q4 2024 revenue growth was a mere 0.2%, hinting at potential stagnation.

Finally, SHW is facing significant changes in analyst ratings and market sentiment. Some analysts (CFRA, Jefferies) recently downgraded the stock.

We still see SHW as a core holding that should benefit any long-term investor.

Dividend Triangle in Action: All Three Points Are Holding Strong

SHW 5-year Dividend Triangle.
SHW 5-year Dividend Triangle.

If you’re familiar with Dividend Stocks Rock, you know we live and breathe by the Dividend Triangle—revenue growth, earnings growth, and dividend growth. It’s our quick-and-dirty test to see whether a company has what it takes to keep rewarding shareholders for the long haul.

Here’s how Sherwin-Williams stacks up:

  • Revenue: This trend has been consistent over the last five years, although it has stagnated in recent quarters.

  • Earnings per Share (EPS): EPS reflects solid margin expansion and smart cost management, even during inflationary periods. After a slight dip in 2022, Sherwin bounced back.

  • Dividend: Payments continue to climb. While not high-yield, Sherwin-Williams shines with its reliability and double-digit dividend growth, supported by cash flows, not wishful thinking.

Bottom line: You’re looking at a financially healthy, growing business that consistently rewards shareholders.

Looking for the Best Dividend Growers? Start with the Rock Stars

Orange star.The Dividend Rock Star List is your shortcut to finding the market’s most consistent and promising dividend-paying companies.

Curated using DSR’s time-tested metrics—including revenue, EPS, and dividend growth—this exclusive list highlights high-conviction stocks that stand out for their financial strength and long-term reliability.

Whether you’re building or refining your portfolio, the Rock Star List helps you focus on quality, not noise.

Final Brushstroke: Steady, Not Flashy—and That’s a Good Thing

Let’s be honest—Sherwin-Williams isn’t going to double overnight. But it doesn’t need to.

This is a rock-solid, wide-moat, dividend-growing machine. The kind of stock that quietly compounds over time and helps you sleep well at night. You won’t get a juicy yield here, but you will get consistent dividend hikes, steady cash flow, and a proven management team.