These Dividend Stocks and Funds Justify an International Investment Journey
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 18 2026
0mins
Should l Buy SCHW?
Source: Barron's
- Stock Market Strengths: America’s stock market has various strengths, but it lacks in providing high dividends.
- Seeking High Yield: For investors looking for high yield and income, exploring international markets may be more beneficial.
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Analyst Views on SCHW
Wall Street analysts forecast SCHW stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
14 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 91.480
Low
91.00
Averages
116.64
High
148.00
Current: 91.480
Low
91.00
Averages
116.64
High
148.00
About SCHW
The Charles Schwab Corporation is a savings and loan holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services. The Company provides financial services to individuals and institutional clients through two segments: Investor Services, and Advisor Services. The Investor Services segment provides retail brokerage, investment advisory, and banking and trust services to individual investors, and retirement plan and business services, as well as other corporate brokerage services, to businesses and their employees. The Advisor Services segment provides custodial, trading, banking and trust, and support services to independent registered investment advisors (RIAs), independent retirement advisors, and recordkeepers. Its products and services include brokerage, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managed investing solutions, alternative investments, banking, and trust.
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.
Key Strategies for Retirement Financial Planning
- Regular Financial Reviews: It is recommended to review your spending and income plan at least annually during retirement planning to address risks from inflation or portfolio declines, thereby maintaining financial control and reducing anxiety.
- Focus on Risk Capacity: Calculate the cash flow needed for the upcoming year and combine it with guaranteed income sources like Social Security and pensions to assess risk capacity in the current economic environment, ensuring retirement plans remain intact.
- Tax Strategy Planning: Developing a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy is crucial, especially in retirement, and leveraging a financial advisor's expertise can help optimize tax treatment of investments, extending the longevity of savings.
- Maintain Flexibility and Adaptability: Changes in living conditions and health status post-retirement will impact financial decisions, thus regularly updating budgets and investment strategies is essential to adapt to the evolving economic landscape and personal needs.
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Robinhood Faces Market Challenges Ahead
- Growth and Risks: In Q1 2026, Robinhood achieved a 15% year-over-year revenue growth, yet transaction revenue only increased by 7%, indicating that the revenue surge heavily relied on a 320% rise in 'other' income, particularly from prediction markets, showcasing innovation success but also revealing risks from revenue concentration.
- Decline in Crypto Trading: Once a stronghold for Robinhood, transaction revenue from crypto trading plummeted by 47%, reflecting waning customer interest in cryptocurrencies, which could lead to greater customer attrition risks for the company, especially during market downturns.
- Increased Competitive Pressure: Robinhood's price-to-earnings ratio remains higher than that of Interactive Brokers and nearly double that of Charles Schwab, suggesting that even after significant stock price declines, investors should approach its valuation with caution, potentially impacting future investment decisions.
- Market Sentiment Impact: Should a deep bear market occur, Robinhood's newer investor base may cease investing due to fear, which could result in the company losing its customer base in the long term, thereby affecting its market position and future growth potential.
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Charles Schwab Officer Plans to Sell $10 Million in Common Stock, According to Form 144
Stock Sale Announcement: Charles Schwab intends to sell 109.3K shares of its common stock on May 4, with an estimated market value of around $10 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Since February 4, 2026, Schwab has reduced its shareholding in Charles Schwab (SCHW.US) by 468.23K shares, valued at approximately $45.92 million.
See More
Charles Schwab's Trading Activity Index Sees Significant Decline
- Index Decline: Charles Schwab's STAX trading activity index fell to 50.10 in April from 56.04 in March, marking a second consecutive month of decline and indicating increased caution among retail investors.
- Shift in Investor Sentiment: Strategist Joe Mazzola noted a significant rotation from high-beta individual stocks to lower-beta ETFs this April, diverging from the typical pre-Tax Day selling pattern, which suggests a notable dip in market sentiment.
- Reduced Market Exposure: Market exposure among the most active traders hit its lowest levels since December, with declines observed across all age groups in April, reflecting a broader decrease in investor confidence.
- Stock Popularity Changes: Popular stocks purchased in April included Microsoft, Tesla, and Netflix, while net sales included NVIDIA and Amazon, indicating a reassessment of investment strategies amidst market volatility.
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DTCC Plans Tokenized Securities Trading Launch in 2026
- Tokenized Securities Timeline: DTCC announced that its tokenization service will begin limited trading in July 2026, with a full launch in October 2026, aiming to integrate tokenized equities, ETFs, and Treasuries into existing market infrastructure, thereby enhancing liquidity and transparency.
- Investor Rights Protection: These tokenized assets will retain full investor rights and protections in digital form, ensuring that investors enjoy the same rights as traditional securities, which is crucial for maintaining market confidence.
- Broad Industry Participation: Over 50 financial firms are involved in DTCC's Industry Working Group, including Bank of America, BlackRock, and JPMorgan, demonstrating a deep integration of traditional finance with crypto infrastructure and driving market innovation.
- Towards Web3 Financial Infrastructure: DTCC CEO Frank La Salla stated that the goal is to bridge TradFi and DeFi through tokenization, enhancing market efficiency, marking a significant step towards a Web3-based financial system.
See More
Schwab Trading Activity Index Declines Significantly
- Significant Index Decline: The Schwab Trading Activity Index (STAX) fell to 50.10 in April from 56.04 in March, marking the largest month-over-month decline in a year, indicating a growing caution among retail investors.
- Investor Behavior Shift: In April, clients were net sellers in nine of the eleven S&P 500 sectors, with only Consumer Staples and Utilities being favored as defensive investments, reflecting a notable shift in market sentiment, particularly the rotation from high-beta stocks to lower-beta ETFs.
- Diminished Market Sentiment: Market exposure decreased across all age groups in April, with the most active traders experiencing their lowest levels of market exposure since December, highlighting increasing concerns about market prospects among investors.
- Popular Stock Dynamics: Among Schwab clients, Microsoft, Tesla, and Netflix emerged as top buys in April, while NVIDIA and Amazon faced net selling, indicating a waning confidence in technology stocks among retail investors.
See More
Key Strategies for Retirement Financial Planning
- Regular Financial Reviews: It is recommended to review your spending and income plan at least annually during retirement planning to address risks from inflation or portfolio declines, thereby maintaining financial control and reducing anxiety.
- Focus on Risk Capacity: Calculate the cash flow needed for the upcoming year and combine it with guaranteed income sources like Social Security and pensions to assess risk capacity in the current economic environment, ensuring retirement plans remain intact.
- Tax Strategy Planning: Developing a tax-efficient withdrawal strategy is crucial, especially in retirement, and leveraging a financial advisor's expertise can help optimize tax treatment of investments, extending the longevity of savings.
- Maintain Flexibility and Adaptability: Changes in living conditions and health status post-retirement will impact financial decisions, thus regularly updating budgets and investment strategies is essential to adapt to the evolving economic landscape and personal needs.
See More
Robinhood Faces Market Challenges Ahead
- Growth and Risks: In Q1 2026, Robinhood achieved a 15% year-over-year revenue growth, yet transaction revenue only increased by 7%, indicating that the revenue surge heavily relied on a 320% rise in 'other' income, particularly from prediction markets, showcasing innovation success but also revealing risks from revenue concentration.
- Decline in Crypto Trading: Once a stronghold for Robinhood, transaction revenue from crypto trading plummeted by 47%, reflecting waning customer interest in cryptocurrencies, which could lead to greater customer attrition risks for the company, especially during market downturns.
- Increased Competitive Pressure: Robinhood's price-to-earnings ratio remains higher than that of Interactive Brokers and nearly double that of Charles Schwab, suggesting that even after significant stock price declines, investors should approach its valuation with caution, potentially impacting future investment decisions.
- Market Sentiment Impact: Should a deep bear market occur, Robinhood's newer investor base may cease investing due to fear, which could result in the company losing its customer base in the long term, thereby affecting its market position and future growth potential.
See More
Charles Schwab Officer Plans to Sell $10 Million in Common Stock, According to Form 144
Stock Sale Announcement: Charles Schwab intends to sell 109.3K shares of its common stock on May 4, with an estimated market value of around $10 million.
Reduction in Shareholding: Since February 4, 2026, Schwab has reduced its shareholding in Charles Schwab (SCHW.US) by 468.23K shares, valued at approximately $45.92 million.
See More
Charles Schwab's Trading Activity Index Sees Significant Decline
- Index Decline: Charles Schwab's STAX trading activity index fell to 50.10 in April from 56.04 in March, marking a second consecutive month of decline and indicating increased caution among retail investors.
- Shift in Investor Sentiment: Strategist Joe Mazzola noted a significant rotation from high-beta individual stocks to lower-beta ETFs this April, diverging from the typical pre-Tax Day selling pattern, which suggests a notable dip in market sentiment.
- Reduced Market Exposure: Market exposure among the most active traders hit its lowest levels since December, with declines observed across all age groups in April, reflecting a broader decrease in investor confidence.
- Stock Popularity Changes: Popular stocks purchased in April included Microsoft, Tesla, and Netflix, while net sales included NVIDIA and Amazon, indicating a reassessment of investment strategies amidst market volatility.
See More
DTCC Plans Tokenized Securities Trading Launch in 2026
- Tokenized Securities Timeline: DTCC announced that its tokenization service will begin limited trading in July 2026, with a full launch in October 2026, aiming to integrate tokenized equities, ETFs, and Treasuries into existing market infrastructure, thereby enhancing liquidity and transparency.
- Investor Rights Protection: These tokenized assets will retain full investor rights and protections in digital form, ensuring that investors enjoy the same rights as traditional securities, which is crucial for maintaining market confidence.
- Broad Industry Participation: Over 50 financial firms are involved in DTCC's Industry Working Group, including Bank of America, BlackRock, and JPMorgan, demonstrating a deep integration of traditional finance with crypto infrastructure and driving market innovation.
- Towards Web3 Financial Infrastructure: DTCC CEO Frank La Salla stated that the goal is to bridge TradFi and DeFi through tokenization, enhancing market efficiency, marking a significant step towards a Web3-based financial system.
See More
Schwab Trading Activity Index Declines Significantly
- Significant Index Decline: The Schwab Trading Activity Index (STAX) fell to 50.10 in April from 56.04 in March, marking the largest month-over-month decline in a year, indicating a growing caution among retail investors.
- Investor Behavior Shift: In April, clients were net sellers in nine of the eleven S&P 500 sectors, with only Consumer Staples and Utilities being favored as defensive investments, reflecting a notable shift in market sentiment, particularly the rotation from high-beta stocks to lower-beta ETFs.
- Diminished Market Sentiment: Market exposure decreased across all age groups in April, with the most active traders experiencing their lowest levels of market exposure since December, highlighting increasing concerns about market prospects among investors.
- Popular Stock Dynamics: Among Schwab clients, Microsoft, Tesla, and Netflix emerged as top buys in April, while NVIDIA and Amazon faced net selling, indicating a waning confidence in technology stocks among retail investors.
See More
