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- From Rail Yards to Rows of Greens: This Dividend Titan Is Making A Bold Expansion into Vertical Farming
From Rail Yards to Rows of Greens: This Dividend Titan Is Making A Bold Expansion into Vertical Farming
A surprising move into agriculture could reshape the future of food supply chains and bring higher yields for this longtime dividend darling.
A bold investment in vertical farming is redefining what a traditional real estate giant can be.
By backing next-gen indoor farms, this dividend darling is betting on a greener, more efficient future for food production.
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Investors
Johnson & Johnson Trims the Fat, Not the Safety
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) is pulling its LINX Reflux Management System from several countries outside the U.S. The device treats acid reflux and works just fine — the exit isn’t about recalls or risks.
Instead, J&J decided it’s just not worth the hassle in certain markets. For a giant that thrives on blockbuster drugs and big-ticket medical devices, niche products in smaller countries don’t move the needle.
Focused on Where It Counts
This is J&J choosing discipline over distraction. By trimming low-scale businesses, it frees up more resources to pursue areas like oncology and immunology — the areas that drive real growth.
You’ve probably seen this play before: pruning weak branches so the tree grows stronger. It’s not flashy, but it’s exactly how a $400+ billion giant keeps margins healthy and dividends flowing.
Housekeeping, Not Heartburn
If you’re wondering whether this is bad news, relax. The LINX exit is more housekeeping than a crisis. J&J isn’t shrinking, it’s sharpening its focus.
For you, that means the company is making sure money goes where it matters most. Bigger bets get more fuel, margins stay tight, and that reliable dividend check keeps
showing up on time.
JNJ currently trades at $179 and pays a dividend of $5.20 per share, a yield of 2.91%.
Energy
Chevron’s Short-Term Pain Could Mean Long-Term Power
Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is expected to take a $200–$400 million hit this quarter as it integrates Hess into its operations. Severance packages, merger bills, and the complex task of integrating two companies are weighing on the numbers.
But here’s why Chevron went through the pain: Hess’s assets are already pumping up to 500,000 barrels a day. That’s production power most rivals would love to brag about, and it shows why this deal mattered so much.
Costs Now, Oil Later
The Hess deal also gives Chevron a 30% stake in Guyana’s Stabroek block, one of the biggest oil discoveries in decades. That’s the crown jewel, but it doesn’t come free.
Chevron is increasing its spending by over a billion dollars this quarter solely to integrate its operations. Add layoffs that could cut 20% of its global staff, and you can expect some bumps before the payoff materializes.
What This Means for You
This isn’t a quick win story — it’s a “pay now, collect later” strategy. Chevron is betting that a little financial bruising today will position it to dominate tomorrow’s oil market.
If you’re watching from the sidelines, the question is simple: do you see a company struggling with costs or one grabbing control of the future of energy? Sometimes both can be true at the same time.
CVX currently trades at $160 and pays a dividend of $6.84 per share, a yield of 4.26%.
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Healthcare
Philips Caught Between Politics and Profits
Philips (NYSE: PHG) is in talks with U.S. policymakers as Washington reviews medical tech imports under Section 232. That’s the same trade hammer usually tied to tariffs, and it now covers everything from syringes to infusion pumps to robotics.
For now, nothing changes, but the worry is clear: higher costs could arise if tariffs materialize. And in healthcare, where every dollar already feels stretched, even a small bump can sting.
Why the Market Flinched
The U.S. is one of Philips' largest customers, so any trade twist directly impacts margins. Think about it — if the price of equipment like pumps climbs, either hospitals pay more, or Philips eats the cost. Neither option is fun.
You don’t need to be an analyst to see how quickly sentiment sours when politics and profits start colliding.
Bigger Than Philips Alone
This isn’t just about one company; it’s about the whole med-tech space navigating a trade storm. U.S. rivals might gain an edge, while European peers, such as Siemens Healthineers, are nervously watching from the sidelines.
If you’re trying to make sense of it, the takeaway is simple: geopolitics is now part of the healthcare bill. And the real cost could be uncertainty, which no one can budget for.
PHG currently trades at $27 and pays a dividend of $0.82 per share, a yield of 3.06%.
Dividend Stocks Worth Watching
We have been reporting on Union Pacific’s (NYSE: UNP) proposed merger with Southern for some time, but as that deal works its way through the approvals process, the rail company isn’t standing still. It has outlined plans to expand operations with the construction of a five-mile branch line to connect with LyondellBasell's polymer plant, located approximately 75 miles from Texas. The petrochemical plant currently has rail connectivity via BNSF Railway, but the new UNP line would open up the entire Bay City area for additional industrial development and activity.
UNP has already submitted a request to the Surface Transportation Board to exempt the construction of the proposed branch line from regulatory approval. If that request is approved, the project can proceed quickly. This new branch line is the latest in a series of expansion plans filed by UNP. Last month, the railway announced it would add 15 new focus areas to its existing 39-strong network, spanning sites in nine states, including Arkansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Oregon, and Texas.
UNP pays a $1.38 quarterly dividend, with a 2.37% yield.
The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRV) has warned that more businesses than ever are at risk of cyber-attack. Revealing the results of its 2025 Travelers Risk Index, the insurer stated that large and medium-sized companies classified cyber risks as their primary business concern. Despite this, almost a quarter of companies admitted that they hadn’t taken even basic steps to protect their data and systems from bad actors.
TRV recently launched a new initiative to make business insurance, along with auto and home cover, more affordable and more widely available. In its recent Q2 earnings report, the company stated that its income from Business Insurance was increasing, with a 5% rise in net written premiums to $5.8 billion. TRV currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.10, yielding 1.59%.
Realty Income Corporation (NYSE: O)’s CEO, Sumit Roy, says the company's recent investment in vertical farming isn't as far left field as you may think. Last month, the REIT confirmed that it would acquire and provide development funding for properties designated for Plenty's indoor farms, in what many saw as a surprising move towards agriculture and agricultural technology.
Vertical farms use up to 95% less water and produce much greater yields than traditional growing methods, in addition to travelling much fewer road and air miles to consumers. It was this that convinced Roy that vertical farming was an intriguing new chapter for the dividend favourite. O has already invested $42 million in a new vertical farm in Richmond.
O currently pays a 27-cent dividend, yielding 5.37%.
Dividend Increases
CNXC has increased its dividend payment to 36 cents per share, representing an 8.19% rise. Its new yield is 2.62%.
BKSC has lifted its dividend to 23 cents per share, a rise of 9.52%. Its new yield is 5.93%.
CAN has boosted its dividend to $1.63 per share, an increase of 10.14%. Its new yield is 2.72%.
Dividend Decreases
BDN has decreased its dividend payment to 8 cents, a reduction of 46.7%. Its new yield is 7.24%.
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Upcoming Dividend Payers
GILD’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $0.79 payment is 09/29/25.
PEP’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.42 payment is 09/30/25.
UNP’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.38 payment is 09/30/25.
Everything Else
T. Rowe Price Portfolio Manager Peter Bates says that many AI companies may be hampering their long-term performance as investors become more diversified in their holdings.
Starbucks will lay off approximately 900 workers in non-retail roles and close underperforming stores as part of a $1 billion initiative to become a leaner, more efficient business.
Nvidia has confirmed that it will make a $100 billion investment in OpenAI, just a few days after announcing a $5 billion investment in Intel.
CTO Realty Growth’s board of directors has approved a new $10 million common stock repurchase program.
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