Power Giant Locks in 114-Year Streak to Keep 4.19% Yields Flowing

Steady payouts, bold plays. From Apple’s holiday product push to Coca-Cola’s sweetener shake-up, this week’s dividend brief is loaded with high-yield action and market-moving news.

Let’s jump in.

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Telecom

AT&T Surprises With Subscriber Gains, Commits Tax Windfall to Network Growth

AT&T (NYSE: T) is putting unexpected momentum behind its fiber strategy after delivering a stronger-than-expected subscriber haul in the second quarter.

The telecom giant added over 400,000 postpaid phone customers, significantly exceeding expectations, while confirming plans to allocate a substantial portion of anticipated tax savings to network expansion.

The company’s tone shifted from cautious to assertive, outlining a refreshed investment push anchored by upcoming cash benefits tied to U.S. tax reforms.

Management plans to utilize billions in savings to fund fiber infrastructure, bolster employee pension funds, and strengthen its balance sheet.

For long-term shareholders, this update reinforces AT&T’s pivot toward operational discipline over top-line showmanship.

The network-first focus, combined with tighter cost controls and selective buybacks, may offer more durable returns than aggressive expansion plays from the past.

Rather than chase price wars, the company is refining how it monetizes its existing base while tightening capital allocation across business lines.

Those evaluating a position in AT&T may now see a cleaner setup.

The company is showing subscriber strength in a competitive landscape, outlining clear reinvestment priorities, and offering more predictable free cash flow visibility through 2027.

The emphasis on fiber, not just mobile, suggests a long-term focus on infrastructure rather than commodity service delivery.

AT&T’s steady hands strategy might lack drama, but it sends a strong message in a noisy market: leaner, smarter, and more focused telecom can still outperform.

T currently trades at $28 and pays a dividend of $1.11 per share, a yield of 4.03%.

Utilities

Inside PPL's $15B Grid Bet: Can It Win the AI Power Race?

PPL Corp (NYSE: PPL) is making a strategic leap into data center infrastructure by partnering with Blackstone Infrastructure to build gas-fired power plants across Pennsylvania.

The move comes as data center demand surges and grid operators warn of a looming 6-gigawatt generation shortfall in the region over the next few years.

The joint venture targets locations inside PPL's service territory, where more than 13 GW of potential data center load is in advanced stages of planning.

While no customer agreements have been signed yet, land has been secured and regulatory momentum is building.

The first plants are expected to come online by 2031, but the direction is clear.

For long-term shareholders, this signals a shift from traditional utility operations.

This is geared toward higher-growth infrastructure aligned with the expansion of AI and cloud technologies.

Rather than chase volatile merchant generation, PPL is structuring the project to maintain utility-style risk parameters.

That could translate into steady earnings, regulated-like returns, and enhanced grid reliability without sacrificing the company's low-volatility profile.

Those evaluating a position in PPL may see an early-stage opportunity here.

By owning both the service territory and the generation capacity, PPL aims to attract a new class of high-load, long-duration customers.

As energy demand outpaces grid readiness, incumbents with access to land, gas, and scale will have a significant advantage.

PPL currently trades at $37 and pays a dividend of $1.09 per share, a yield of 2.98%.

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Logistics

UPS Overhauls Workforce Structure in Bid to Boost Efficiency

United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS) is moving forward with a significant restructuring of its U.S. operations by launching a voluntary separation program for longtime drivers.

The plan is part of UPS’s largest network reconfiguration to date and reflects the company’s effort to balance labor efficiency with long-term service commitments.

Eligible full-time drivers will be offered a one-time incentive payment, calculated by years of service, on top of existing retirement benefits.

With over 10,000 UPS drivers clocking more than 25 years, the program marks a notable shift in how UPS is managing legacy labor costs while preparing for future delivery models shaped by e-commerce and automation.

For long-term investors, this signals a structural reset in how UPS allocates capital toward human resources.

Rather than relying on blanket attrition or reactive cost cuts, the company is proactively thinning its workforce at the high-tenure end.

That could improve cost flexibility in coming years and help buffer against rate volatility or tariff-related disruptions in the logistics sector.

Those considering a position at UPS should view this as a measured, strategic effort. The separation program reflects a pivot toward agility without the turbulence of mass layoffs.

If UPS successfully executes on retooling its network while maintaining service standards, it could regain margin strength and operating leverage in a more competitive parcel market.

UPS currently trades at $103 and pays a dividend of $6.56 per share, a yield of 6.36%.

PEO hiked its dividend payout to 51 cents per share, an increase of 218.75%. Its new yield is 9.31%.

MS lifted its dividend payment to $1.00 per share, an increase of 8.1%. Its new yield is 2.85%. 

ILPT raised its dividend payout to 4 cents per share, an increase of 400%. Its new yield is 4.26%.

FBNC cut its dividend payment to 18 cents per share, a decline of 21.74%. Its new yield is 1.52%. 

GRP.U trimmed its dividend payout to 21 cents per share, a decrease of 1.19%. Its new yield is 4.6%. 

GGAL slashed its dividend payment to 15 cents per share, a decrease of 43.7%. Its new yield is 0.56%.

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Everything Else

• Microsoft continues to deal with the fall out from a security vulnerability in its SharePoint server software. Dutch researchers estimate around 400 organizations have fallen victim.

• TE Connectivity has achieved double-digit sales growth, beating Wall Street expectations by a decent margin following a $2.3 billion acquisition.

• Despite rising EV sales, General Motors profits are down thanks to a $1 billion trade tariff hit. It says the figure is likely to be higher next quarter.

• Kohl’s stock price spiked by more than 105% during morning trading on Tuesday as it became the latest ‘meme stock’ in the spotlight.