Self-Storage Stock Stands out as Occupancy Rates Pop

Hello and welcome to Dividend Brief, the 2-times-weekly newsletter focused on dividend investing.

Today, we will look into McDonalds, Omnicom, and Colgate-Palmolive, highlight a few dividend stocks worth watching as well as share companies that are about to pay a dividend in the next few days.

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Retail

McDonald's Extends Store Hours Nationwide to Regain U.S. Foot Traffic

McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) is expanding its store hours across the U.S., with many locations set to operate 24/7 as part of a broader effort to address declining sales and customer traffic. The company confirmed the move following its first-quarter report showing a 3.6% drop in U.S. comparable sales and a 2.6% decline in foot traffic.

The extended-hour strategy captures off-peak demand and aligns with competitors offering late-night services, such as Jack in the Box and Whataburger. McDonald's is also launching a summer hiring initiative to add 375,000 new employees and open 900 new stores nationwide by 2027.

These actions come amid rising cost pressures and softer consumer demand. For investors, the shift emphasizes volume recovery and operational flexibility. By expanding availability and simplifying value messaging, McDonald's is positioning itself to regain share in a price-sensitive environment.

Recent promotions, including the $5 Meal Deal and the return of its Snack Wrap, are also part of its value-focused reset. While not all deals have performed equally, the company has identified the $5 option as a stronger driver of incremental sales.

McDonald's continues to adjust its strategy as it manages a slower QSR environment and shifts customer behavior heading into the second half of 2025.

MCD currently trades at $314 and pays a dividend of $7.08 per share, a yield of 2.26%.

Media & Advertising

Omnicom Targets Operational Boost Through Interpublic Merger

Omnicom Group (NYSE: OMC) is moving forward with its planned acquisition of Interpublic Group, a deal expected to close in the second half of 2025. The merger will combine two of the largest global advertising firms and is positioned to improve operational scale, expand sector reach, and strengthen data-driven capabilities.

The company is also advancing its internal transformation through its Omni platform, which aims to improve client targeting, media efficiency, and campaign optimization across business units. Together, the acquisition and tech upgrade are expected to position Omnicom to compete more effectively in advertising.

The dual-track strategy signals a shift from flat top-line performance toward long-term structural change for investors. The Interpublic deal could increase exposure to faster-growing segments like healthcare and retail commerce, while Omni's automation tools may improve margins over time.

While the transaction remains subject to closing conditions, Omnicom maintains stable free cash flow and modest leverage, offering financial flexibility during integration. The company's share repurchase activity remains active as it pursues its growth realignment.

OMC currently trades at $73 and pays a dividend of $2.80 per share, a yield of 3.83%.

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Consumer Goods

Colgate-Palmolive Deploys AI Logistics Tools to Streamline Global Supply Chain

Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) is implementing artificial intelligence into its logistics operations through a new partnership with Uber Freight. The company has been named a flagship user of Uber’s newly launched AI logistics platform, a system designed to optimize freight movement, reduce costs, and respond to real-time supply chain disruptions.

The platform embeds AI agents directly into transportation management systems (TMS), delivering continuous insights and automation throughout shipping. Colgate’s logistics team is now using the platform’s Insights AI engine to make dynamic, data-driven decisions at scale.

This rollout marks a meaningful step in Colgate’s digital transformation strategy. The adoption signals deeper investment in operational efficiency across global markets, especially as supply chain agility becomes a competitive advantage. AI-enabled visibility may also support better forecasting and cost control in Colgate’s complex global distribution network.

As one of the first enterprise partners, Colgate is positioned to benefit early from the platform’s evolving capabilities. Uber Freight plans to expand its AI system further by the end of 2025, integrating new agents into a command center model for logistics.

Colgate’s engagement with this platform adds to a broader trend among consumer goods companies leveraging AI to modernize fulfillment and improve end-to-end performance.

CL currently trades at $92 and pays a dividend of $2.08 per share, a yield of 2.27%

BCML increased its dividend payout to 20 cents per share, a 33% rise. Its new forward yield is 3.02%.

EQH expanded its dividend payout to 27 cents per share, a 12.5% increase. Its new forward yield is 2.08%. 

UVV improved its dividend payout to 82 cents per share, an increase of 1.2%. Its new forward yield is 5.64%. 

ATAT lowered its dividend payout to 14 cents per share, a cut of 6.7%. Its new dividend yield is 1.39%.

CCI reduced its dividend payout to $1.0625 per share, a cut of 32.1%. Its new dividend yield is 4.19%.

OBDC decreased its supplemental dividend payout to 1 cent per share, a cut of 80% (though its base dividend remains untouched). Its new dividend yield is 11.79%.

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Everything Else

• TotalEnergies is facing allegations of abuse across East African oil project sites. 

• US Steel is enjoying “the Trump effect” after the President offered support for ongoing Nippon Steel deal developments. 

• Barron’s recently endorsed mid-cap utility Idacorp, which yields 3%, on the basis of cheap power generation and growing AI initiatives. 

• Watch your growth allocations, warns Wall Street Journal’s Jason Zweig. 

• Regulators are looking more closely at private insurers running Medicare Advantage, which could spark a wave of UNH-esque stock drops.