casino slot tricks
iShares Core High Dividend ETF ( HDV -0.75% ) is a popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) among those seeking to generate passive income. The fund focuses on holding high-yielding dividend stocks with a consistent record of paying dividends and strong financial profiles. The fund's dividend yield over the trailing 12 months is around 3.4%, almost triple the S&P 500 's dividend yield (1.2%). The fund holds a fairly diversified portfolio of 75 dividend stocks. However, its top two holdings -- oil giants ExxonMobil ( XOM -1.05% ) and Chevron ( CVX -2.57% ) -- account for 16.5% of its net assets. Here's a closer look at this dividend ETF's holdings and whether its high concentration on energy stocks poses a risk to income-seeking investors. Drilling down into the ETF's holdings iShares Core High Dividend ETF aims to track the investment results of an index comprised of U.S.-listed stocks with relatively high dividend yields. It holds 75 established, high-quality companies with healthy financial profiles. Most of its 10 largest holdings are household names: Company Weighting in the Fund Dividend Yield ExxonMobil 9.6% 3.4% Chevron 6.9% 4.1% Johnson & Johnson 6.0% 3.3% AbbVie 5.4% 3.7% AT&T 4.8% 4.7% Philip Morris International 4.6% 4.1% Cisco Systems 4.3% 2.7% Altria Group 3.9% 7.2% Merck & Co 3.8% 3.1% IBM 3.7% 2.8% Data source: iShares. While the fund holds 75 stocks, the top 10 comprise more than 50% of the ETF's assets. Those top holdings feature a mix of oil, healthcare, technology, telecom, and cigarette stocks. If we zoom out a bit further, the sector breakdown of the entire fund is as follows: Energy : 27% weighting in the fund Consumer staples : 18.4% Healthcare : 17% Utilities : 11.1% Information technology : 10.7% Communications : 5.1% Financials : 5% Industrials : 2.5% Materials : 2.1% Consumer discretionary : 0.7% The fund has an outsize allocation to the energy sector compared to the S&P 500 (3.4% weighting). It also has a much higher weighting in the consumer staples (5.8% in the S&P 500), healthcare (11.2%), and utilities (2.5%) sectors. Fueling the fund's income The fund's high concentration on the energy sector and leading oil producers Exxon and Chevron might be a turnoff for some investors. However, the oil giants have exceptional records of paying dividends, which should continue. ExxonMobil recently increased its dividend by another 4%, extending its growth streak to 42 straight years. That's an elite record. Currently, less than 4% of companies in the S&P 500 have had dividend growth of 42 years or more. The company is in an excellent position to continue growing its high-yielding dividend. For starters, Exxon is a cash-flow machine. It has produced $42.8 billion of cash flow from operations through the first nine months of this year and $26.4 billion of free cash flow after funding its high-return capital program. Exxon returned virtually all that excess cash to shareholders, paying $12.3 billion in dividends and repurchasing $13.8 billion of its shares. It could afford to do that because it has a fortress balance sheet with $27 billion in cash and an ultra-low 5% leverage ratio . Meanwhile, Exxon's strategic plans have it on track to add another $14 billion to its industry-leading earnings capacity by 2027 through cost savings and high-return investments. Chevron is a strong second to Exxon in the oil patch. The company has increased its dividend for 37 straight years, delivering peer-leading growth over the last five, including 8% earlier this year. The oil giant expects to grow its free cash flow at a more than 10% annual rate through 2027, assuming oil averages $60 a barrel. That will enable the company to fund its high-return capital program, grow the dividend, and repurchase shares in the range of $10 billion-$20 billion per year. Meanwhile, free cash flow could more than double during that timeframe (assuming $70 oil) if it is successful in acquiring Hess . Add Chevron's strong balance sheet, and its high-yielding dividend is very safe. A terrific duo at the top iShares Core High Dividend ETF might be a little top-heavy, given that oil giants Exxon and Chevron comprise 16.5% of its holdings. However, they've done a fantastic job growing their high-yielding dividends, which seems likely to continue. Because of that, this ETF is a solid option for investors seeking to generate some passive income.Pies feature in key moments in chef Richard Overbye’s life, from bakery pies eaten straight off the plane after returning Perth from travels (good) to post-hike pies he and fiance Grace ate after completing the Whistlepipe Gully trail in Forrestfield (not-so-good; the pies, that is, not the hike). “Grace made this throwaway comment saying, you could do better than this, and I thought, yeah, I can,” says Overbye. “I might have had a little bit too much coffee that morning, but that idea spitballed very, very quickly to become the basis of a business plan.” If everything goes as intended, that business plan fruits this summer as Angelwood, a cosy nostalgia-fuelled takeaway pie shop in Leederville. Overbye with business partner Patrick Wallis. Credit: Rachel Claire Overbye has chalked up time at some very demanding kitchens including Restaurant Amuse and Wildflower here in Perth, plus Oslo’s three-Michelin-starred Maaemo and Melbourne’s three-hatted fine-diner Amaru . While in Melbourne during the week, I bumped into Amaru owner Clinton McIver who, unprompted, told me what a key role Overbye had played in the evolution of the restaurant. So although Overbye’s medium of choice might be the humble pie, it’s safe to assume it will be informed by plenty of kitchen know-how. For now, the plan is to serve 10 different pies each day, most of them savoury. Some fillings will be familiar (mince pies, steak and mushroom, say). Some, such as apricot chicken, Korean-braised eggplant and Japanese-style golden curry will be more left of centre, not least because Overbye is committed to ensuring vegetarians get in on the action. Vegetarians such as Patrick Wallis, the former operations manager at Modus and Overbye’s business partner at Angelwood, who’ll be overseeing the shop’s back-end. Another of Overbye’s commitments will be “real ingredients”, from mushrooms grown by urban farmers The Mushroom Guys and thoughtfully raised meats to the butter – not margarine – he’ll use in pastry. Speaking of which, Angelwood’s pies will feature two different pastries: a shortcrust, sturdier pastry for the bases and a flakier laminated pastry for the lids: “the best of both worlds,” says Overbye. Sweet pie fillings might include cherry and pecan, while Overbye has hinted that trad Aussie bakery items such as vanilla slices may also make appearances. Sausages rolls are another item our man is looking forward to re-examining through the Angelwood lens. Although takeaway is the name of the game, the shop will feature a small counter for people to park up at while waiting for orders and coffees. The rest of the beverage range will follow the same new-meets-old spirit: expect Bundaberg ginger beer and chocolate milk sharing fridge space with small-batch sodas and kombucha from Margaret River’s Waves & Caves. Angelwood (18B 663 Newcastle Street, Leederville) will open Wednesday and Sunday and is due to open this summer. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .
Did Rachel Maddow Break Down Over 'Elon Musk Buying MSNBC' Memes? Truth Behind V...
A WOMAN has landed a lottery jackpot after a simple suggestion. She was in disbelief over the sweet payday , and her family could hardly believe what had happened. The Baltimore, Maryland , resident was not a frequent player but decided to try her luck after a family member's suggestion, per a November 25 release from the Maryland Lottery. Earlier this month, the family member told the woman, a waitress at a local restaurant, that he was going to buy some tickets on his drive home from work. Taking his advice that it's fun to take chances every once in a while on the lottery , she told him to buy her a ticket using the last $5 in her purse. "I told him I didn't care which game, any would do," the woman told officials. Read More on the Lottery He chose the $5 Deluxe Crossword scratch-off game and gave it to her to scratch that evening. When she did, it revealed the game's grand prize amount of $50,000. "When I scratched the ticket that night, I was amazed," she recalled. "Totally in shock." Most read in Money LUDICROUS LUCK The woman said she ran into the other room to show her family the big win, and they all thought she'd "gone crazy" initially. After confirming it for themselves, she said they "all went a little bit crazy." Maryland Lottery officials confirmed that the woman purchased the scratch-off at the Carroll Fuel gas station in Baltimore. The gas station will get a bonus for selling the winning ticket. Since the prize was over $25,000, the woman must have made an appointment with the Lottery Claim Center in Baltimore to get the cash. While there, she would've been confronted with two options to collect the money — a lump sum distribution or annuity payments. Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity? The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize. Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years. Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well. Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once. Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you'll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity. Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option. Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity . GONE IN A FLASH Annuity payments split the money through distributions over several years with less tax implications. The lump sum allows a winner to get the prize all at once but sees significant taxes placed on it upfront. The federal government imposes a 24% tax on all lottery winnings above $5,000, and states set their rates. Maryland's is 8.75% for state residents and 8% for non-residents. That means instead of $50,000, the woman will walk away with around $33,625. Taxes taken out total around $16,375. Read More on The US Sun A Michigan player recently won $2 million from a scratch-off ticket but was forced to hand over $700,000 immediately for taxes. In Massachusetts, a man who won $1 million also instantly lost $300,000 due to his decision.None
MALAGA, Spain (AP) — No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner won matches in singles and doubles to lead defending champion Italy to a 2-1 comeback victory over Argentina on Thursday, earning a return trip to the Davis Cup semifinals. “I’m here trying to do the best I can in the singles,” Sinner said. “If they put me on the court in doubles, I’ll also try my best.” On Saturday, Italy will face Australia in a rematch of last year's final, but this time it will only be for a chance to play for the championship. Australia eliminated the U.S. 2-1 earlier Thursday to reach the final four at the team competition for the third consecutive year. The other semifinal, to be contested Friday, is the Netherlands against Germany. The Dutch got past Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals earlier in the week, sending the 22-time Grand Slam champion into retirement. Italy fell behind 1-0 in the quarterfinals when Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 on an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in southern Spain. But then in stepped Sinner, whose season already includes two Grand Slam trophies — at the Australian Open and U.S. Open — plus the title at the ATP Finals last weekend in Turin, Italy. First he overwhelmed Sebastián Báez 6-2, 6-1. Then Sinner teamed with 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini in the deciding doubles match to win 6-4, 7-5 against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez. “He carried me today,” Sinner said about Berrettini. After arriving late to Malaga from Turin, Sinner did not get a chance to practice on the Davis Cup competition court before taking on Báez and stretching his streak to 22 sets won in a row. “In three minutes, he was perfectly comfortable on court,” Italy captain Filippo Volandri said. “He’s a special one.” Volandri swapped out his original doubles team, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, for Sinner and Berrettini, and the change paid dividends. Australia, the Davis Cup runner-up the last two years, advanced when Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson beat the surprise, last-minute American pairing of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 in that quarterfinal's deciding doubles match. The Shelton-Paul substitution for Paris Olympics silver medalists Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram was announced about 15 minutes before the doubles match began. Ebden and John Peers beat Krajicek and Ram in the Summer Games final in August. The Australians broke once in each set of the doubles. In the second, they stole one of Shelton’s service games on the fourth break opportunity when Ebden’s overhead smash made it 5-4. Thompson then served out the victory, closing it with a service winner before chest-bumping Ebden. The 21st-ranked Shelton made his Davis Cup debut earlier Thursday in singles against 77th-ranked Thanasi Kokkinakis, who emerged from a tight-as-can-be tiebreaker by saving four match points and eventually converting his seventh to win 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (14). No. 4 Taylor Fritz , the U.S. Open runner-up, then pulled the Americans even with a far more straightforward victory over No. 9 Alex de Minaur , 6-3, 6-4. When their match finally ended, on a backhand by Shelton that landed long, Kokkinakis dropped onto his back and pounded his chest. After he rose, he threw a ball into the stands, then walked over to Australia’s sideline, spiked his racket and yelled, before hugging captain Lleyton Hewitt. “I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life. I wanted that for my team,” said Kokkinakis, who won the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles title with Nick Kyrgios. “It could have gone either way, but I kept my nerve.” AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennisVikings thrive under coach of year favorite O'Connell, a relatable state for Packers with LaFleur
Friends, colleagues remember former state Rep. Mary MurphyDell Stock Slips As Revenue Misses Forecasts Despite Earnings Beat
Nutanix Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial ResultsWhy General Motors got the green light that Andretti did not
Jets' Ulbrich says Rodgers 'absolutely' remains the team's starting quarterback
Andrej Stojakovic made 11 free throws to help craft a team-high 20 points, freshman Jeremiah Wilkinson had his second consecutive big game off the bench and Cal ran its winning streak to three with an 83-77 nonconference victory over Sacramento State on Sunday afternoon in Berkeley, Calif. Wilkinson finished with 16 points and Rytis Petraitis 13 for the Golden Bears (5-1), whose only loss this season was at Vanderbilt. Jacob Holt went for a season-high 25 points for the Hornets (1-4), who dropped their fourth straight after a season-opening win over Cal State Maritime. Seeking a fourth straight home win, Cal led by as many as 12 points in the first half and 40-33 at halftime before Sacramento State rallied. The Hornets used a 14-5 burst out of the gate following the intermission to grab a 47-45 lead. Julian Vaughns had a 3-pointer and three-point play in the run. But Cal dominated pretty much the rest of the game, taking the lead for good on a Petraitis 3-pointer with 14:50 remaining. Stojakovic, a transfer from rival Stanford, went 11-for-15 at the foul line en route to his third 20-point game of the young season. Cal outscored Sacramento State 26-17 on free throws to more than account for the margin of victory. Coming off a 23-point explosion in his first extended action of the season, Wilkinson hit five of his 10 shots Sunday. The Golden Bears outshot the Hornets 47.2 percent to 43.1 percent. Joshua Ola-Joseph contributed 10 points and six rebounds, Mady Sissoko also had 10 points and Petraitis found time for a team-high five assists. Holt complemented his 25 points with a game-high eight rebounds. He made four 3-pointers, as did Vaughns en route to 18 points, helping Sacramento State outscore Cal 30-21 from beyond the arc. EJ Neal added 16 points for the Hornets, while Emil Skytta tied for game-high assist honors with five to go with seven points. --Field Level Media
Trump Considering ‘Pretty Significant’ Changes to CFPB