Analysts Favor These 3 High-Dividend Stocks Amid Market Volatility
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 02 2026
0mins
Source: Marketbeat
Market Volatility Concerns: Investors are increasingly worried about potential volatility in the stock market due to rising gold and silver prices, alongside fears of international sell-offs of U.S. assets, prompting a shift towards more defensive investment strategies.
Ryman Hospitality Properties: Ryman Hospitality, focused on large hotel and resort investments, is noted for its strong dividend yield of 5.07% and a solid cash position, making it an attractive option for investors seeking dividend income.
Black Hills Corporation's Stability: Black Hills Corporation, a regulated utility company, offers reliable electric and natural gas services, with a dividend yield of 3.71% and a sustainable payout ratio, positioning it as a defensive investment in uncertain markets.
Essential Utilities Merger: Essential Utilities is set to merge with American Water Works, creating one of the largest U.S. water service firms, with expectations of significant earnings growth and a dividend yield of 3.55%, enhancing its appeal to investors.
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Analyst Views on RHP
Wall Street analysts forecast RHP stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 103.540
Low
92.00
Averages
108.71
High
121.00
Current: 103.540
Low
92.00
Averages
108.71
High
121.00
About RHP
Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. is a lodging and hospitality real estate investment trust that specializes in upscale convention center resorts and entertainment experiences. Its holdings include Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center; Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, and Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, which are non-gaming convention center hotels in the United States based on total indoor meeting space. Its segments include Hospitality, which includes its Gaylord Hotels properties, its JW Marriott properties, the Inn at Opryland and the AC Hotel; Entertainment, which includes the entertainment and media assets comprising OEG; and Corporate and Other. It owns the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Its Inn at Opryland is located across the street from Gaylord Opryland, which has approximately 303 rooms.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Wall Street's Latest Rating Changes Analysis
- MSG Sports Upgrade: Seaport upgraded Madison Square Garden Sports from neutral to buy, citing a significant 57.5% trading discount versus intrinsic value, suggesting a potential appreciation ahead of the 2025-26 season, particularly with plans to spin off the Knicks and Rangers into standalone entities.
- ServiceNow Downgrade: UBS downgraded ServiceNow from buy to neutral due to weakened confidence in the software sector, projecting a decline in 2026 free cash flow to 15x, reflecting increased budget pressures on non-AI applications that could impact future performance.
- Shake Shack Sales Growth: Mizuho upgraded Shake Shack from neutral to outperform, anticipating upside in same-store sales for Q1, driven by strong demand and improved restaurant-level margins, indicating robust market momentum and growth potential.
- Nvidia Strong Performance: Raymond James reiterated a strong buy rating on Nvidia, based on favorable trends in its Asia supply chain, with suppliers receiving increased forecasts during the quarter, reinforcing Nvidia's position as a market leader.
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RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES INC: TRUIST SECURITIES INCREASES TARGET PRICE FROM $121 TO $129
Hospitality Properties: Truis Securities has raised the target price for hospitality properties to $129 from $121.
Market Impact: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on the performance of the hospitality sector.
See More
Investment Opportunities in the Live Music Industry
- Market Dominance: Live Nation sits at the center of the U.S. live music industry, serving nearly 160 million fans last year and holding an 80% market share in primary ticketing, showcasing its strong market influence and investment appeal.
- Venue Expansion: The company has tripled its global venue count to 460 since 2020, enhancing its control over the live music experience and profitability through acquisitions and new venue constructions.
- Financial Recovery: Ryman Hospitality Properties reports an adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) of $8.46 per share and a dividend of $4.65, reflecting a 23% and 29% increase from 2019, indicating strong recovery and stable cash flow post-pandemic.
- High Margin Strategy: Live Nation controls sponsorship revenues through venue ownership, with over 70% of this year's sponsorship deals already booked, projecting double-digit adjusted operating income growth by 2026, highlighting its ongoing investment and growth potential in high-margin businesses.
See More
Live Nation and Ryman Hospitality Dominate Live Entertainment Market
- Market Share Control: Live Nation Entertainment controls approximately 80% of the primary ticketing market through Ticketmaster, serving nearly 160 million fans last year, highlighting its dominant position in the live music industry and attracting investor interest in its growth potential.
- Asset Expansion: Since 2020, Live Nation has increased its global venue count to 460, tripling its footprint, which not only enhances its market share but also strengthens its profitability in ticketing and sponsorship revenue.
- Stable Cash Flow: Ryman Hospitality Properties owns five of the top ten non-gaming convention hotels in the U.S., ensuring stable cash flow through long-term bookings from corporate and association groups; despite a pandemic-induced dividend suspension, its adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) and dividends have grown by 23% and 29% respectively since 2019.
- Future Growth Outlook: Live Nation anticipates double-digit growth in adjusted operating income by 2026, bolstered by an increase in sponsorship deals, reflecting strong confidence in the ongoing demand for live entertainment.
See More
RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES, INC. COMPLETES $700 MILLION OFFERING OF 5.750% SENIOR NOTES MATURING IN 2034
Company Announcement: Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. has announced the closing of $700 million in senior notes.
Financial Details: The senior notes have an interest rate of 5.750% and are due in 2034.
See More
Ryman and Lakeland Executives Increase Stock Holdings
- RHP Stock Purchase: Colin V. Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, purchased 7,800 shares at $100.67 each on Friday, totaling $785,226, indicating strong confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Market Reaction: Despite Reed's purchase price being higher than Monday's trading low of $97.41, which is 3.2% below his purchase price, RHP's stock still rose about 0.3% on Monday, reflecting market recognition of its fundamentals.
- Welch's LKFN Purchase: M. Scott Welch, Director of Lakeland Financial, bought 10,000 shares at $57.95 each on Friday, totaling $579,500, demonstrating his optimism about the company's outlook.
- Historical Buying Activity: Prior to this latest purchase, Welch had invested a total of $920,374 in LKFN over the past year, with an average price of $61.36 per share, indicating his sustained belief in the company's long-term value.
See More
Wall Street's Latest Rating Changes Analysis
- MSG Sports Upgrade: Seaport upgraded Madison Square Garden Sports from neutral to buy, citing a significant 57.5% trading discount versus intrinsic value, suggesting a potential appreciation ahead of the 2025-26 season, particularly with plans to spin off the Knicks and Rangers into standalone entities.
- ServiceNow Downgrade: UBS downgraded ServiceNow from buy to neutral due to weakened confidence in the software sector, projecting a decline in 2026 free cash flow to 15x, reflecting increased budget pressures on non-AI applications that could impact future performance.
- Shake Shack Sales Growth: Mizuho upgraded Shake Shack from neutral to outperform, anticipating upside in same-store sales for Q1, driven by strong demand and improved restaurant-level margins, indicating robust market momentum and growth potential.
- Nvidia Strong Performance: Raymond James reiterated a strong buy rating on Nvidia, based on favorable trends in its Asia supply chain, with suppliers receiving increased forecasts during the quarter, reinforcing Nvidia's position as a market leader.
See More
RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES INC: TRUIST SECURITIES INCREASES TARGET PRICE FROM $121 TO $129
Hospitality Properties: Truis Securities has raised the target price for hospitality properties to $129 from $121.
Market Impact: This adjustment reflects a positive outlook on the performance of the hospitality sector.
See More
Investment Opportunities in the Live Music Industry
- Market Dominance: Live Nation sits at the center of the U.S. live music industry, serving nearly 160 million fans last year and holding an 80% market share in primary ticketing, showcasing its strong market influence and investment appeal.
- Venue Expansion: The company has tripled its global venue count to 460 since 2020, enhancing its control over the live music experience and profitability through acquisitions and new venue constructions.
- Financial Recovery: Ryman Hospitality Properties reports an adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) of $8.46 per share and a dividend of $4.65, reflecting a 23% and 29% increase from 2019, indicating strong recovery and stable cash flow post-pandemic.
- High Margin Strategy: Live Nation controls sponsorship revenues through venue ownership, with over 70% of this year's sponsorship deals already booked, projecting double-digit adjusted operating income growth by 2026, highlighting its ongoing investment and growth potential in high-margin businesses.
See More
Live Nation and Ryman Hospitality Dominate Live Entertainment Market
- Market Share Control: Live Nation Entertainment controls approximately 80% of the primary ticketing market through Ticketmaster, serving nearly 160 million fans last year, highlighting its dominant position in the live music industry and attracting investor interest in its growth potential.
- Asset Expansion: Since 2020, Live Nation has increased its global venue count to 460, tripling its footprint, which not only enhances its market share but also strengthens its profitability in ticketing and sponsorship revenue.
- Stable Cash Flow: Ryman Hospitality Properties owns five of the top ten non-gaming convention hotels in the U.S., ensuring stable cash flow through long-term bookings from corporate and association groups; despite a pandemic-induced dividend suspension, its adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) and dividends have grown by 23% and 29% respectively since 2019.
- Future Growth Outlook: Live Nation anticipates double-digit growth in adjusted operating income by 2026, bolstered by an increase in sponsorship deals, reflecting strong confidence in the ongoing demand for live entertainment.
See More
RYMAN HOSPITALITY PROPERTIES, INC. COMPLETES $700 MILLION OFFERING OF 5.750% SENIOR NOTES MATURING IN 2034
Company Announcement: Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. has announced the closing of $700 million in senior notes.
Financial Details: The senior notes have an interest rate of 5.750% and are due in 2034.
See More
Ryman and Lakeland Executives Increase Stock Holdings
- RHP Stock Purchase: Colin V. Reed, Executive Chairman of Ryman Hospitality Properties, purchased 7,800 shares at $100.67 each on Friday, totaling $785,226, indicating strong confidence in the company's future prospects.
- Market Reaction: Despite Reed's purchase price being higher than Monday's trading low of $97.41, which is 3.2% below his purchase price, RHP's stock still rose about 0.3% on Monday, reflecting market recognition of its fundamentals.
- Welch's LKFN Purchase: M. Scott Welch, Director of Lakeland Financial, bought 10,000 shares at $57.95 each on Friday, totaling $579,500, demonstrating his optimism about the company's outlook.
- Historical Buying Activity: Prior to this latest purchase, Welch had invested a total of $920,374 in LKFN over the past year, with an average price of $61.36 per share, indicating his sustained belief in the company's long-term value.
See More
