Altria, Verizon, and Ares Capital: High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 14 2026
0mins
Should l Buy ARCC?
Source: Fool
- Altria's Dividend Advantage: Altria pays a forward dividend rate of $4.24 per share, translating to a 7.1% yield, and despite the U.S. smoking rate hitting a 60-year low, it is expected to sustain its dividend by raising prices and investing in smokeless products, with adjusted EPS projected to grow 6% to $5.44 in 2025.
- Verizon's Transformation Potential: Verizon offers a 7.1% dividend yield, with analysts forecasting a 2% increase in adjusted EPS to $4.59 in 2025; despite competitive pressures, its acquisition of Frontier Communications and expansion into fiber broadband is expected to add over 2.2 million new subscribers, enhancing its market position.
- Ares Capital's High Yield: Ares Capital boasts a forward yield of 9.4%, and while EPS is expected to decline by 14% to $1.99 in 2025, its $28.7 billion investment portfolio and 11 times forward earnings make it attractive for risk-tolerant investors, especially as interest rates stabilize.
- Market Environment Impact: As the Federal Reserve cuts rates six times in 2024 and 2025, investors are shifting focus back to high-yield stocks like Altria, Verizon, and Ares Capital instead of fixed-income products, potentially driving their stock prices higher.
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Analyst Views on ARCC
Wall Street analysts forecast ARCC stock price to rise
4 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 18.070
Low
20.00
Averages
21.75
High
23.00
Current: 18.070
Low
20.00
Averages
21.75
High
23.00
About ARCC
Ares Capital Corporation is a specialty finance company focused on providing direct loans and other investments in private middle market companies in the United States. The Company invests primarily in first lien senior secured loans (including unitranche loans, which are loans that combine both senior and subordinated debt, generally in a first lien position), and second lien senior secured loans. In addition to senior secured loans, it also invests in subordinated debt, which in some cases includes an equity component, and preferred equity. It also may invest up to 30% of its portfolio in non-qualifying assets. Its investment activities are focused on industries, such as software and services, health care services, commercial and professional services, financial services, commercial and professional services, insurance services, energy, food and beverage and others. The Company is externally managed by Ares Capital Management LLC (investment adviser).
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.
Analysis of High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Attractiveness of Ares Capital: Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC), the largest publicly traded business development company, has generated total returns approximately 40% higher than the S&P 500 since its IPO in 2004, with a forward dividend yield of 10.5%, making it particularly appealing after the software stock sell-off, despite AI disruption risks, management remains confident in their clients' resilience.
- Stability of Enbridge: Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) operates over 18,000 miles of crude oil pipelines and 19,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, serving 7.1 million customers, with a forward dividend yield of 5.3%, and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, showcasing its low-risk, utility-like nature, with approximately $50 billion in growth opportunities identified through 2030.
- Resilience of Realty Income: Realty Income (NYSE: O), the sixth-largest global REIT, owns 15,511 properties and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, boasting a forward dividend yield over 5%, and has outperformed the S&P 500 during 11 of the 13 significant market drawdowns since 1994, with strong growth prospects in the largely untapped UK and European markets.
- Response to Market Volatility: Despite increasing market volatility, income investors need not worry as long as they hold these proven high-yield stocks; companies like Ares Capital, Enbridge, and Realty Income demonstrate strong resilience and stable dividend payments, making them suitable for long-term investment.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Ares Capital Performance: Ares Capital (ARCC), the largest publicly traded business development company, has generated total returns approximately 40% higher than the S&P 500 since its IPO in 2004, with a forward dividend yield of 10.5%, showcasing its stability and appeal amid market volatility.
- Enbridge's Growth Potential: Enbridge (ENB) operates over 18,000 miles of crude oil pipelines and 19,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, identifying around $50 billion in growth opportunities over the next decade, which is expected to translate into approximately 5% annual earnings growth, while offering a dividend yield of 5.3%.
- Realty Income's Resilience: Realty Income (O), the sixth-largest global REIT, has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with a forward dividend yield exceeding 5%, and has delivered positive total operational returns over the past 30 years, demonstrating resilience during market downturns.
- Market Appeal: Amid increasing market uncertainty, these three high-yield stocks not only provide stable cash flows but also exhibit strong long-term growth potential, attracting income investors seeking safe investments.
See More
TPG is Well-Positioned to Handle the Private Credit Unwind: Retain Your Shares.
Challenging Market Conditions: The start of 2026 is proving to be difficult for alternative investment managers, with significant declines in shares of private equity and private credit firms.
Investor Concerns: There are growing worries among investors regarding the effects of artificial intelligence on funds, especially those linked to software technology.
Crisis of Confidence: The opaque nature of underlying valuations in the industry, along with reports of fund redemption requests, is contributing to a crisis of confidence among investors.
Impact of Technology: The intersection of artificial intelligence and investment strategies is raising alarms, leading to increased scrutiny and volatility in the market.
See More
"Understanding 'PIK' Loans: A Growing Concern in Private Credit and Their Significance."
- Shift in Investor Focus: Investors are moving away from private credit investments and are now concentrating on Paid in Kind (PIK) interest metrics.
- Understanding PIK Interest: PIK interest represents an IOU that borrowers provide to lenders instead of cash payments.
See More
Emerging Indicators of Strain in the Unstable Private Credit Sector
- Shift in Investor Focus: Investors are moving away from private credit investments and are now concentrating on Paid in Kind (PIK) interest metrics.
- Understanding PIK Interest: PIK interest represents an IOU that borrowers provide to lenders instead of cash payments.
See More
JPMorgan Positioned to Weather Private Credit Market Stress
- Risk Management Strategy: JPMorgan's proactive decision to mark down the value of certain software-related loans reflects its active risk management approach, reducing exposure to specific private credit funds and indicating no expected losses, showcasing its ability to manage underlying collateral effectively.
- Industry Growth Comparison: With revenue growth approximately double that of the industry over the past decade, JPMorgan has lessened its reliance on riskier deals, highlighting its competitive position and market strength amid increasing scrutiny in the private credit sector.
- Complexity of Credit Structures: While the private credit industry faces risks from increasingly complex loan structures, JPMorgan typically lends through senior financing structures that historically yield lower loan losses, demonstrating its superior credit management capabilities compared to smaller lenders.
- Market Performance Volatility: Despite JPMorgan's shares falling over 6% this month and declining for the third consecutive month, with a nearly 13% drop in 2026, analysts believe the bank remains well-positioned to withstand market pressures due to its robust monitoring and risk management practices.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Attractiveness of Ares Capital: Ares Capital (NASDAQ: ARCC), the largest publicly traded business development company, has generated total returns approximately 40% higher than the S&P 500 since its IPO in 2004, with a forward dividend yield of 10.5%, making it particularly appealing after the software stock sell-off, despite AI disruption risks, management remains confident in their clients' resilience.
- Stability of Enbridge: Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) operates over 18,000 miles of crude oil pipelines and 19,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, serving 7.1 million customers, with a forward dividend yield of 5.3%, and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, showcasing its low-risk, utility-like nature, with approximately $50 billion in growth opportunities identified through 2030.
- Resilience of Realty Income: Realty Income (NYSE: O), the sixth-largest global REIT, owns 15,511 properties and has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, boasting a forward dividend yield over 5%, and has outperformed the S&P 500 during 11 of the 13 significant market drawdowns since 1994, with strong growth prospects in the largely untapped UK and European markets.
- Response to Market Volatility: Despite increasing market volatility, income investors need not worry as long as they hold these proven high-yield stocks; companies like Ares Capital, Enbridge, and Realty Income demonstrate strong resilience and stable dividend payments, making them suitable for long-term investment.
See More
Analysis of High-Yield Stock Investment Opportunities
- Ares Capital Performance: Ares Capital (ARCC), the largest publicly traded business development company, has generated total returns approximately 40% higher than the S&P 500 since its IPO in 2004, with a forward dividend yield of 10.5%, showcasing its stability and appeal amid market volatility.
- Enbridge's Growth Potential: Enbridge (ENB) operates over 18,000 miles of crude oil pipelines and 19,000 miles of natural gas pipelines, identifying around $50 billion in growth opportunities over the next decade, which is expected to translate into approximately 5% annual earnings growth, while offering a dividend yield of 5.3%.
- Realty Income's Resilience: Realty Income (O), the sixth-largest global REIT, has increased its dividend for 31 consecutive years, with a forward dividend yield exceeding 5%, and has delivered positive total operational returns over the past 30 years, demonstrating resilience during market downturns.
- Market Appeal: Amid increasing market uncertainty, these three high-yield stocks not only provide stable cash flows but also exhibit strong long-term growth potential, attracting income investors seeking safe investments.
See More
TPG is Well-Positioned to Handle the Private Credit Unwind: Retain Your Shares.
Challenging Market Conditions: The start of 2026 is proving to be difficult for alternative investment managers, with significant declines in shares of private equity and private credit firms.
Investor Concerns: There are growing worries among investors regarding the effects of artificial intelligence on funds, especially those linked to software technology.
Crisis of Confidence: The opaque nature of underlying valuations in the industry, along with reports of fund redemption requests, is contributing to a crisis of confidence among investors.
Impact of Technology: The intersection of artificial intelligence and investment strategies is raising alarms, leading to increased scrutiny and volatility in the market.
See More
"Understanding 'PIK' Loans: A Growing Concern in Private Credit and Their Significance."
- Shift in Investor Focus: Investors are moving away from private credit investments and are now concentrating on Paid in Kind (PIK) interest metrics.
- Understanding PIK Interest: PIK interest represents an IOU that borrowers provide to lenders instead of cash payments.
See More
Emerging Indicators of Strain in the Unstable Private Credit Sector
- Shift in Investor Focus: Investors are moving away from private credit investments and are now concentrating on Paid in Kind (PIK) interest metrics.
- Understanding PIK Interest: PIK interest represents an IOU that borrowers provide to lenders instead of cash payments.
See More
JPMorgan Positioned to Weather Private Credit Market Stress
- Risk Management Strategy: JPMorgan's proactive decision to mark down the value of certain software-related loans reflects its active risk management approach, reducing exposure to specific private credit funds and indicating no expected losses, showcasing its ability to manage underlying collateral effectively.
- Industry Growth Comparison: With revenue growth approximately double that of the industry over the past decade, JPMorgan has lessened its reliance on riskier deals, highlighting its competitive position and market strength amid increasing scrutiny in the private credit sector.
- Complexity of Credit Structures: While the private credit industry faces risks from increasingly complex loan structures, JPMorgan typically lends through senior financing structures that historically yield lower loan losses, demonstrating its superior credit management capabilities compared to smaller lenders.
- Market Performance Volatility: Despite JPMorgan's shares falling over 6% this month and declining for the third consecutive month, with a nearly 13% drop in 2026, analysts believe the bank remains well-positioned to withstand market pressures due to its robust monitoring and risk management practices.
See More
