Seeking Stable Dividend Growth Amid Market Turbulence
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 19 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Dividend Growth Strategy: Trivariate Research emphasizes that in turbulent markets, investors should focus on companies with consistent dividend growth over the past five years for downside protection, especially as traditional defensive stocks now represent just over 10% of the S&P 500's market cap.
- Rollins Performance: Pest control company Rollins recently raised its dividend by over 10% to 18 cents per share, and despite a roughly 10% decline in its stock in 2026, analysts remain optimistic about its ability to deliver compounding growth, with Goldman Sachs reiterating a buy rating.
- Cheniere Energy Growth: Liquefied natural gas company Cheniere Energy increased its quarterly dividend by over 10% last October, currently yielding 0.9%, and its stock has risen 26% this year, benefiting from reduced LNG production in the Middle East.
- Analyst Support: Cheniere Energy's first-quarter results exceeded expectations, raising its adjusted EBITDA guidance to between $7.25 billion and $7.75 billion, with analysts bullish on its strong volume outlook and project execution, as 23 out of 24 analysts rate it a buy.
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Analyst Views on ROL
Wall Street analysts forecast ROL stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 45.130
Low
55.00
Averages
68.11
High
72.00
Current: 45.130
Low
55.00
Averages
68.11
High
72.00
About ROL
Rollins, Inc. is a global consumer and commercial services company. The Company provides essential pest and wildlife control services and protection against termite damage, rodents, and insects to both residential and commercial customers through its subsidiaries and independent franchises located in over 70 countries, including in the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia with international franchises in Canada, Central and South America, and others. It operates under one segment, including its three service offerings: Residential service includes pest control services protecting residential properties from common pests, including rodents, insects, and wildlife; Commercial services consist of workplace pest control solutions for customers across diverse end markets, such as healthcare, food service, and logistics, and Termite and Ancillary services offer termite protection services and ancillary services for both residential and commercial customers.
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.
- Scholarship Incentives: Orkin's launch of the Insect 2151 Science Fair offers up to $180,000 in scholarships to winning projects, aiming to inspire teens aged 14-18 to explore entomology and cultivate future innovators, thereby enhancing scientific education and career development.
- Opportunities for Scientific Exploration: The competition encourages students to use insect-inspired ideas to address real-world challenges over the next 125 years, helping them develop critical thinking and innovation skills in science, which can contribute to solutions for complex societal issues.
- Survey Results Support: A YouGov survey indicates that 44% of teens are curious about insects and 50% want to learn more, highlighting potential interest in insect science; Orkin aims to reignite student engagement with insects through this initiative, promoting scientific education.
- Historical Legacy and Future Vision: As Orkin celebrates its 125th anniversary, it continues to invest in insect science education by supporting the Urban Entomology Professorship at the University of Georgia, reflecting the company's long-term commitment to scientific research and the cultivation of future scientists and innovators.
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- Innovation Challenge: Orkin has launched the Insect 2151 Science Fair to encourage students aged 14-18 to explore entomology and inspire future innovations, with a total scholarship pool of $180,000, including a $100,000 prize for the first place, reflecting the company's commitment to education.
- Student Engagement: A YouGov survey indicates that 44% of teens are curious about insects and 50% want to learn more; the fair aims to enhance student interest in insect science through innovative learning methods, fostering future career paths.
- Interdisciplinary Integration: The fair encourages students to apply insect inspiration across various fields such as technology and environmental sciences, showcasing how insect science can intersect with modern technology to address complex societal issues like public health and food security, promoting sustainability.
- Legacy and Future Vision: As Orkin celebrates its 125th anniversary, it continues to support insect science education by endowing the Urban Entomology Professorship at the University of Georgia, making the fair not only a tribute to the past but also an investment in the next generation of innovators.
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- Stock Performance Analysis: NXPI is currently trading down approximately 3.3%, while ROL is down about 2.9%, indicating a similar trend in market volatility that may reflect overall market sentiment.
- Market Sentiment Impact: The comparable declines in both stocks suggest a cautious attitude among investors towards the semiconductor sector and related companies, potentially influencing short-term investment decisions.
- Investor Focus: Despite the declines in NXPI and ROL's stock prices, investors should remain attentive to their fundamentals and future growth potential to identify opportunities during market corrections.
- Industry Trend Observation: The current price fluctuations may be linked to macroeconomic factors and industry dynamics, prompting investors to closely monitor relevant market indicators to assess future trends.
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- Boston Scientific Stock Decline: Boston Scientific shares fell to a 52-week low of $48.13, experiencing a 16% weekly drop due to weak expectations for its Watchman heart device business, with management indicating that U.S. revenue may remain weak for the next two quarters, prompting analysts to lower price targets.
- Li Auto's Profitability Pressure: Li Auto reported weaker profits in its Q1 earnings, forecasting Q2 deliveries between 95,000 and 100,000 vehicles, reflecting soft demand and intense competition in China's EV market, leading Barclays to cut its price target from $18 to $14, implying nearly a 7% downside.
- Rollins Valuation Reset: Rollins reached a new low of $46.85 despite solid operating performance, as investors focused on valuation concerns, with Bernstein downgrading the stock and lowering its price target from $70 to $52, citing the potential negative impact of CFO Ken Krause's departure on profitability.
- Market Sentiment Shift: The stocks of Boston Scientific and Rollins have declined over 49% and 20% respectively this year, while Li Auto has shed over 11%, indicating a shift in investor confidence away from premium-priced growth stocks, with market sentiment changing from 'extremely bullish' to 'bullish'.
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- Stock Decline: Rollins (ROL) shares fell 3.8% to a 52-week low of $46.85 on Friday, primarily due to Bernstein downgrading its rating from Outperform to Market Perform and slashing the price target from $70 to $52, reflecting market concerns about the company's future performance.
- CFO Resignation Impact: The resignation of CFO Ken Krause, considered a central figure in the company's potential margin transformation story, occurred less than two weeks after the Investor Day where he presented a detailed gross margin expansion roadmap, leading to diminished market confidence in the company's future.
- Analyst Perspective Shift: Bernstein analyst Connor Cerniglia noted that Krause's departure has lowered his confidence in Rollins' 30%-35% incremental EBITDA margin target, although he still sees long-term structural prospects for the pest control industry, he expresses skepticism about Rollins' execution capabilities.
- Historical Performance Reference: Cerniglia referenced Krause's successful track record at MSA Safety, where he reduced SG&A as a percentage of sales by 570 basis points over seven years while boosting earnings per share by 118%, which had led to high expectations for his performance at Rollins, but the outlook now appears less optimistic.
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- Executive Transition: Rollins announced that Kenneth Krause will resign as Chief Financial Officer effective June 15, 2026, with William Harkins, who joined in March 2025 as Chief Accounting Officer, stepping into the role, bringing extensive financial management experience from Mohawk Industries.
- Financial Expertise: Harkins previously held leadership positions at Mars and The Coca-Cola Company, showcasing a strong background in financial management within large corporations, which is expected to contribute to new financial strategies for Rollins.
- Growth Forecast: Rollins anticipates organic growth of 7% to 8% in 2026 while maintaining M&A activity at 2% to 3%, indicating a proactive expansion strategy amid stable market demand.
- Quarterly Performance: Rollins reported Q1 revenue exceeding estimates, driven by seasonal demand for its Orkin parent company, demonstrating the company's robust market competitiveness in the current economic environment.
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