Will This Bold Pivot Create a Healthier Future for This Retail Stock?

One of America’s biggest household names is cutting synthetic dyes, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives from its private-label products, a move that touches nearly 90% of U.S. homes. 

It's a sweeping shift aimed at winning over health-conscious shoppers, underscoring how even the most established players must continually evolve to stay relevant. For you, it serves as a reminder that innovation and income can go hand in hand.

Never Miss a Stock Recommendation Again!

We now send our dividend picks right to your phone via text, so you’ll get the same actionable moves without having to open your inbox.

👉 Click here to get our dividend picks by text and keep our content right at your fingertips.

Global Expansion

Sneakers, Culture, and a Power Move

Nike (NYSE: NKE) just shocked the sneaker world by launching its latest drop, the Air Afrique RK61, in Côte d’Ivoire before Paris, New York, or Tokyo. That’s not a typo — Abidjan was first in line, and the shoes sold out instantly.

If you thought sneaker culture only runs through LA or London, this move proves you might be sleeping on Africa. Nike is not just following trends; it is creating them in areas that global brands often overlook.

Africa as the New Sneaker Frontier

Here’s why you should care: Africa’s middle class is growing fast, youth culture is already shaping global music and style, and Nike is planting its flag early. You don’t get many chances to watch a market go from ignored to essential, but you’re seeing one now.

The RK61 is priced at $210, so Nike isn’t testing this market with budget shoes. It’s pushing premium, showing confidence that African consumers want in on the hype at the same level as everyone else.

Why This Move Hits Different

For you, the message is clear: Nike is playing the long game. Winning in Africa today could echo the way it dominated Asia decades ago.

When a sold-out sneaker in Abidjan sends shockwaves back into U.S. hype culture, that’s not just a shoe story. That’s Nike proving again that it sells more than sneakers; it sells the future of cool.

NKE currently trades at $73 and pays a dividend of $1.60 per share, a yield of 2.18%.

Advance Packaging

Can Tape Kings Become Chip Kings?

3M (NYSE: MMM), best known for Post-its and adhesives, just muscled its way into one of the hottest corners of tech: semiconductor packaging. The company has joined JOINT3, a global chip consortium led by Japan’s Resonac, to tackle how next-gen processors actually get built.

For you, the fun part is this: AI models, self-driving cars, and high-performance computing need faster chips, and the packaging that connects them has become the bottleneck. Whoever cracks it gets a huge slice of tomorrow’s tech economy.

The Plumbing That Makes AI Possible

Forget flashy GPUs for a second. The real magic is in “interposers,” the thin layers that let chips talk to each other without melting down. The industry is ditching old-school silicon wafers for advanced organic panels that boost yield and efficiency.

That’s where 3M’s materials science comes in. If you’ve ever wondered how companies quietly make tech work, this is it. And if you’re holding out for real growth, you want to see companies insert themselves into problems the world cannot afford to ignore.

Why It’s a Big Deal

3M isn’t playing middleman anymore; it’s embedding itself right into the semiconductor supply chain. With AI demand exploding, that makes you pay attention. Because sometimes the company known for Scotch tape ends up holding together the entire future 

of computing.

MMM currently trades at $159 and pays a dividend of $2.92 per share, a yield of 1.84%.

Don’t Overlook This (Sponsored)

Don’t Overlook These 5 Stocks with Big Potential

The difference between “nice returns” and life-changing gains often comes down to timing—and information.

Our latest research has identified 5 stocks positioned for massive growth.

These companies combine strong fundamentals with technical setups that suggest the potential for explosive upside.

Past editions of this same report have included stocks that went on to gain +175%, +498%, even +673%.¹

While the past can’t predict the future, the track record speaks volumes.

For a limited time, you can download the full 5 Stocks Set to Double report—absolutely free.

[Get your free copy before midnight tonight] 

Smart investors know: when the window is short, action beats hesitation.

*This free resource is being sent by Zacks. We identify investment resources you may choose to use in making your own decisions. Use of this resource is subject to the Zacks Terms of Service.
*Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk. This material does not constitute investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed dealer, broker, or investment adviser.

Enterprise

Hackers Smell Blood in the Cloud

Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) admitted its E-Business Suite customers got slammed with extortion emails tied to a Russia-linked ransomware crew cl0p. Google flagged the spike first, and Oracle quickly urged clients to patch before things spiraled.

Hackers are swinging for big payouts, with ransom demands stretching as high as $50 million. For a company chasing AI and cloud dominance, that’s the kind of headline you don’t want.

Why This Hits Different

If you’re running a global business, Oracle’s tools are the plumbing you count on every day. That means any crack in the armor can shake confidence, renewals, and upgrades. But it also gives Oracle a chance to show you how fast it can respond under fire.

And don’t miss the flip side. When companies panic, they often double down on security and newer platforms. That could funnel more customers into Oracle’s cloud and security stack, making the fallout less about losses and more about loyalty.

The Bigger Play

You know ransomware is here to stay, but the companies that turn these crises into sticky revenue are the ones worth watching.

Oracle’s job now is proving that this scare ends with stronger defenses and happier clients. Because sometimes the real ransom isn’t the money, it’s your trust and Oracle can’t afford to pay that price.

ORCL currently trades at $289 and pays a dividend of $2.00 per share, a yield of 0.69%.

OZK has increased its dividend payment to 45 cents per share, a rise of 2.27%. Its new yield is 3.55%. 

RPM has boosted its dividend payment to 54 cents per share, an increase of 5.88%. Its new yield is 1.85%. 

SBUX has raised its dividend payment to 62 cents per share, an increase of 1.6%. Its new yield is 2.86%.

Don’t Miss Q4 (Sponsored)

Your Free Guide to 2025’s Closing Surge

The final quarter of 2025 will create two groups of people: those who watched their portfolios stagnate (or worse), and those who capitalized on the coming volatility.

Which group will you be in?

Our new report reveals 7 stocks positioned to thrive in the chaos, with specific entry and exit price targets for each.

This is your blueprint to potentially turn market uncertainty into your biggest advantage of the year.

The market's final big move of 2025 is coming.

By the time it's obvious, it will be too late.

Don't get left behind.

Get Your FREE Q4 Stocks Advantage Report Now!

Everything Else

• Kroger will begin using DoorDash's fulfillment arm to deliver groceries and household goods to customers.

• General Motors set an EV sales record in Q3, with 66,501 deliveries. The automaker also recorded an 8% increase in total vehicle sales.

• Delta Air Lines will partner with logistics technology company Trackonomy to enhance and modernize its cargo operations.