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Telecom Titan Expands Across Continents and Dials in 5.6% Dividend Boost
Dividend investors have plenty to watch this week, from bold strategic shifts and billion-dollar acquisitions to new infrastructure deals and surprising payout changes.
Whether you're tracking rising yields, looking for value in under-the-radar moves, or bracing for cuts, this week’s updates reveal how market forces and corporate decisions are reshaping the dividend landscape.
Here’s what’s happening—and why it matters.
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Utilities
PPL Files $4.1B Infrastructure Plan With Kentucky Regulators, Eyes Generation Expansion
PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) is moving forward with a proposed $4.1 billion infrastructure plan tied to generation upgrades across Kentucky.
Through its subsidiaries, Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities, the company has filed a stipulation with the Kentucky Public Service Commission that would authorize construction of two 645 MW natural gas units, environmental upgrades at Ghent Unit 2, and related accounting treatments to manage recovery.
For current shareholders, the filing reinforces PPL’s strategy to anchor rate base growth through regulated investment. About $2.3 billion of the proposed spend is already included in its 2025–2028 capital plan.
To prospective investors, this proposal provides a glimpse into how PPL plans to expand its regulated footprint while adhering to an approved rate structure.
The mix of traditional generation, environmental compliance upgrades, and cost control creates a balanced case for infrastructure-led growth.
With hearings scheduled for early August and a final decision expected later this year, the company is preparing for a long-cycle capital deployment that could drive returns over multiple years.
If approved, this filing would unlock a meaningful pipeline of projects tied to PPL’s Kentucky footprint.
The structure of the deal emphasizes regulatory certainty and disciplined execution. Investors should keep an eye on the commission’s decision in the fourth quarter.
PPL currently trades at $36 and pays a dividend of $1.09 per share, a yield of 3.01%.
Infrastructure
Disney Commits $30 Billion to Theme Park Expansion in Strategic Growth Move
Disney (NYSE: DIS) is launching a $30 billion domestic expansion plan across its theme parks in Florida and California, marking the largest investment cycle in the company’s history.
The funds will be allocated toward increasing park capacity, enhancing guest flow, and integrating more intellectual property across both coasts.
Projects are already underway, with more land slated for development as Disney works to pull ahead of competitors in the increasingly crowded theme park market.
For shareholders, this plan reflects Disney’s commitment to its high-margin parks and experiences segment, which has consistently generated revenue.
The scale of investment signals long-term confidence in guest demand, pricing power, and cross-segment monetization through merchandise, media, and travel packages.
By focusing on larger crowd absorption without compromising the customer experience, Disney is betting that capital-intensive growth can deliver durable returns over time.
This expansion introduces a timeline for meaningful operational lift.
The addition of new lands and attractions tied to proven IP offers more opportunities to drive per-guest spending and keep repeat visits high.
As rivals like Universal expand their footprint, Disney is countering with scale, storytelling, and infrastructure, three levers that have historically worked in its favor.
Disney is building for volume, longevity, and integration across platforms.
Investors should closely monitor the progress of these projects and assess their contribution to the strengthening of park economics in the years ahead.
DIS currently trades at $120 and pays a dividend of $1.00 per share, a yield of 0.84%.
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Retail
Starbucks Retreats From “Overly Transactional” Formats to Regain Ground in U.S. Market
Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) is closing or reworking up to 90 mobile-order-only stores in the U.S. as it resets its retail strategy to address slowing sales.
These locations, often found in office buildings or dense urban areas, were designed for speed and volume but are now seen internally as lacking brand identity and long-term value.
For those already holding shares, the decision signals a pivot back toward physical spaces that prioritize customer retention and higher average transaction value.
Removing formats that underperform or fail to align with Starbucks’ core experience may improve traffic stability and reduce brand dilution.
While the closures are modest in number, they suggest a tighter focus on store-level performance and more selective investment in U.S. formats.
People evaluating Starbucks as a possible entry point may view this as a sign of early discipline following soft domestic results.
Rather than expanding untested formats, the company is prioritizing locations that encourage dwell time, loyalty activity, and beverage customization.
The shift also reflects an effort to recenter the brand around experiences that drive repeat visits, rather than focusing solely on speed.
The reset may help Starbucks restore momentum. Execution and format clarity will be key as the company adjusts its footprint.
With consumer behavior shifting again, this move sets the stage for a more deliberate, margin-aware recovery.
SBUX currently trades at $92 and pays a dividend of $2.44 per share, a yield of 2.63%.
Dividend Stocks Worth Watching
Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) is a long-standing dividend stock with 55 consecutive years of payment increases. The retailer currently pays a quarterly dividend of $1.14 after increasing its payout by 1.8%.
It has faced a challenging trading environment in recent months, with its year-over-year sales expected to fall by ~2% in the current quarter.
While stock prices are down 24.48% in the last six months, they have started to recover in recent weeks. The retailer has just announced a major policy shift, effective as of Monday, July 28.
It says that it will no longer match its price with competitors like Amazon, saying its shoppers overwhelmingly want to match Target's own prices, for example, to check if they're getting the same price in stores as online.
WK Kellogg Co (NYSE: KLG) was founded by the eponymous Kellogg's breakfast cereal maker.
Launched in 2023, it was created as a dedicated company for Kellogg’s cereal products, such as Bran. It pays a 16-cent dividend with a 2.85% yield.
The company will now become a private entity after being acquired by the confectioner Ferrero Group for the sum of $3.1 billion.
The deal will see Ferrero, which produces sweet treats like the Ferrero chocolates and Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread, take control of KLG's ready-to-eat cereal products, giving it an expanded presence in the USA, Canada, and the Caribbean.
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) is a telecommunications and technology leader with a 4.41% dividend yield.
It recently increased its dividend payout by 5.6% to 47 cents per share despite missing Q1 earnings estimates amid declining revenue.
Despite that setback, NOK has just signed a significant agreement which will see it bring the Medusa subsea cable system to millions of new users across Europe and North Africa.
The system is built around an open-access infrastructure that will connect the two continents with new high-capacity fiber links.
Among other things, this will allow for the broader deployment of 5G and greater access to advanced cloud services to power business growth.
Dividend Increases
SCCO has bumped up its dividend payout to 80 cents per share, an increase of 14.3%. Its new yield is 3.26%.
SSB has raised its dividend payout to 60 cents per share, an increase of 11.11%. Its new yield is 2.2%.
RRBI has boosted its dividend payout to 15 cents per share, an increase of 25%. Its new yield is 0.98%.
Dividend Decreases
AB has reduced its dividend payout to 76 cents per share, a drop of 5%. Its new yield is 7.09%.
Relx has cut its dividend payout to 26 cents per share, a reduction of 52.85%. Its new yield is 1.7%.
NWG has slashed its dividend payout to 25 cents per share, a cut of 34.6%. Its new yield is 3.7%.
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Upcoming Dividend Payers
JPM’s ex-dividend date for the forthcoming $1.40 payout is 07/31/25.
NLY’s ex-dividend date for the upcoming 70 cents payout is 07/31/25.
SYK’s ex-dividend date for the upcoming 84 cents payout is 07/31/25.
Everything Else
Hasbro has raised its outlook for the year, saying tariff impacts may not be as severe as it expected, despite taking a $1 billion hit for consumer products in Q2.
Alphabet beat Q2 expectations and says that it will raise its planned capital expenditure to $85 billion following growth in its cloud and advertising businesses.
Union Pacific is just days away from confirming its acquisition of Northern Southern to create a $200 billion railroad network.
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