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Drug Maker Wins Notable Approval As It Seeks to Scale Internationally

High-yield dividend stocks like OUTFRONT, ABBV, and MMM see growth moves, big payouts, and bullish charts, plus fresh dividend changes and major corporate investment news.

Author

Noah Zelvis
August 17, 2025

From record-breaking dividend streaks to double-digit upside potential, this week’s income plays pack both yield and growth.

Here’s your rundown of the dividend movers every investor should have on their watchlist now.

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Pharmaceuticals

Eli Lilly Targets Next Wave of Obesity Therapies in $1.3B Superluminal Deal

Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) has struck a $1.3 billion research and development agreement with Superluminal Medicines to discover small-molecule drugs targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the cardiometabolic and obesity space.

The move gives Lilly exclusive rights to develop and commercialize compounds identified through Superluminal’s AI and machine learning platform, a technology designed to uncover untapped therapeutic targets.

The partnership comes as Lilly’s obesity and diabetes portfolio, led by Mounjaro and Zepbound, continues to deliver record-breaking revenue.

In the second quarter alone, the two drugs generated $8.57 billion.

By expanding into GPCR-based therapies, Lilly aims to diversify beyond its current focus on dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists, potentially unlocking new mechanisms for treating metabolic diseases.

For investors, the agreement signals Lilly’s intention to maintain leadership in one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets.

The deal could extend the company’s growth runway well beyond the current lifecycle of its flagship products, while also positioning it to counter competitive advances from Novo Nordisk and other major players.

Potential entrants to the stock will watch closely for early-stage development updates that could validate this approach and set the stage for another high-revenue franchise.

LLY currently trades at $690 and pays a dividend of $6.00 per share, a yield of 0.87%.

Logistics

UPS Signs 3-Year Deal to Boost High-Sensitivity Shipping Capabilities

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) has entered into a three-year partnership with PeriShip Global, a subsidiary of VerifyMe, aimed at enhancing digital integration and reliability in high-value, time-sensitive deliveries.

The agreements provide PeriShip with access to UPS services at promotional rates, along with advanced tools for shipment monitoring, weather tracking, and issue resolution through UPS’s digital platforms.

The deal also allows PeriShip to integrate directly with UPS APIs, enabling the development of customized interfaces tied into UPS Access services.

This technology-driven approach to enhance transparency, speed, and control in sectors such as perishables, pharmaceuticals, and specialty goods.

For investors, the move reflects UPS’s strategic focus on premium logistics markets with higher service requirements and more substantial margins.

Potential entrants will be watching how well the company can scale these enhanced capabilities into a broader revenue stream while differentiating itself from competitors in an increasingly tech-driven logistics sector.

The coming quarters will show whether UPS can turn its digital investments into sustained growth in high-value delivery segments, potentially strengthening its position in both market share and customer loyalty.

UPS currently trades at $88.00 and pays a dividend of $6.56 per share, a yield of 7.42%.

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Infrastructure Investment

BlackRock’s $11B Saudi Gas Deal Could Redefine Energy Infrastructure Investing

BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) has agreed to a $11 billion, 20-year lease-and-leaseback transaction for natural gas processing facilities in Saudi Arabia’s Jafurah basin.

The investment group, led by BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners unit, will hold a 49% stake in the new Jafurah Midstream Gas Company, while Saudi Aramco will retain a 51% stake.

The arrangement gives Aramco continued operational control while injecting foreign capital into one of the kingdom’s most strategic energy assets.

For investors, this move reinforces BlackRock’s ability to position itself at the intersection of energy security, infrastructure growth, and long-duration cash flow assets.

This deal offers a stable income profile through contracted returns, exposure to one of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, and an entry point into the Middle East’s expanding midstream sector.

It also signals BlackRock’s readiness to participate in regional energy diversification efforts, which could lead to further partnerships.

While geopolitical and commodity price volatility remain inherent risks, the asset-backed nature of the agreement, combined with Aramco’s operational scale, offers a defensive quality that may appeal to income-focused and infrastructure-oriented investors.

For potential entrants, the transaction highlights BlackRock’s shift toward tangible, yield-generating assets, a move that comes at a time when market uncertainty is driving capital toward tangible assets.

As production in Jafurah ramps up later this year, the partnership will test the scalability of Saudi Arabia’s foreign investment model and BlackRock’s ability to leverage regional deals into broader global infrastructure leadership.

BLK currently trades at $1,150 and pays a dividend of $20.84 per share, a yield of 1.82%.

Dividend Stocks Worth Watching

Outfront Media (NYSE: OUTFRONT) is a U.S. REIT specialising in outdoor and transit advertising. Its 6.54% dividend yield stands far above the S&P 500's average, making it an appealing choice for income-focused investors. 

Although the payout hasn’t increased recently, the company’s steady quarterly distributions and ongoing transit advertising contracts provide a reliable revenue base. While headline revenue dipped year-over-year due to strategic asset sales, its core transit segment continues to expand. Technical analysis points to a potential 9.1% upside, with chart patterns showing a bullish cup-with-handle formation.

AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) is a dividend titan with no less than 53 consecutive years of dividend increases in its history. The company has just announced a $195 million investment plan for its North Chicago, Illinois, manufacturing plant. The investment will be used to expand domestic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production in the U.S. 

As another feather in its cap, the drugmaker's ELAHERE (mirvetuximab soravtansine) treatment has recently received UK marketing authorization as a treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. It’s the first new treatment licensed for this condition in a decade. ABBV currently pays a $1.64 dividend with a 3.20% yield.

3M (NYSE: MMM) is up 24% this year and is one of the best-performing companies in the DOW. The consumer, safety, and industrial products manufacturer pays a 73-cent dividend with a yield of 1.90%. 

It has just celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Scotch™ Brand adhesive solutions and has increased its full-year EPS guidance following strong Q2 results.

Dividend Increases

MDU has raised its dividend payment by 7.69% to 14 cents per share. Its new yield is 3.37%.

UCB has increased its dividend payment to 25 cents per share, a rise of 4.17%. Its new yield is 3.17%. 

VRTS has lifted its dividend payment to $2.40, an increase of 6.67%. Its new yield is 4.86%.

Dividend Decreases

CRI has slashed its dividend payment to 25 cents per share, a drop of 68.75%. Its new yield is 3.8%. 

WILC has cut its dividend payment to 42 cents per share, a decrease of 28.94%. Its new yield is 0.9%. 

WPP has decreased its dividend payment to 50 cents per share, a decline of 48.26%. Its new yield is 10.6%.

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Upcoming Dividend Payers

AMP’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.60 payout is 08/18/25.

CALM’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $2.35 payout is 08/19/25.

CAT’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.51 payout is 08/20/25.

Everything Else

That’s all for today’s edition of the Dividend Brief.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any feedback or dividend stocks you want me to take a look at, just reply to this email!

—Noah Zelvis
DividendBrief.com