Easy Peasy #28: Build Your Dividend Portfolio & Live Off Dividends with Pre-Selected Stock Sets
Dividend Growing Stock Sets – Start with $300, $500, or $1,000 Weekly
MaxDividends Mission: Helping & Supporting Everyone in Building a Growing Passive Income, Retiring Early, and Living Off Dividends.
In this section, we share ready-made sets of promising dividend growth stocks with strong future dividend potential.
We also track performance and provide portfolio links for each set, so you can monitor past results and real-time updates.
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Intro
Hot CPI Sends Markets Lower, but Nasdaq Stays Resilient
The inflation monster is back, and Wall Street didn’t like it
The S&P 500 slid 0.27% to 6,051, while the Dow Jones lost 0.50% to 44,368. Small caps got hit hardest, with the Russell 2000 dropping 0.87% to 2,255. Meanwhile, the Nasdaq fought off the inflation jitters, inching up 0.03% to 19,649 as tech names held firm.
January’s CPI report came in hot, with headline inflation up 0.5% month-over-month—the biggest jump since August 2023. Core CPI also surprised to the upside at +0.4% M/M and +3.3% Y/Y, both above expectations.
Used car prices soared +2.2%, while lodging, airfares, and auto insurance drove inflation higher. Markets initially sold off hard, but by the final hour, losses were trimmed.
The Fed's rate cut timeline? Pushed further out. The futures market now sees only a 35% chance of a cut by June, down from 51% before the CPI release. Treasury yields jumped, the 10-year climbing to 4.635%, as traders adjusted expectations.
Sector Highlights
Retail & Consumer Staples
Restaurant Brands (QSR) beat on Q4 revenue ($2.3B vs. $2.28B est.), with strong demand for Burger King’s value meals and a solid performance from Tim Hortons.
Kraft Heinz (KHC) warned of flat to -2.5% organic sales growth in 2025 and issued weak EPS guidance ($2.63-$2.74 vs. $3.05 est.), sending shares lower.
On Holding (ONON) downgraded at Goldman Sachs, citing a fully valued stock despite strong brand momentum.
Homebuilders & Real Estate
Homebuilders (DHI, KBH, LEN, PHM, TOL) dropped as mortgage rates climbed on CPI-driven yield spikes.
Martin Marietta (MLM) disappointed with its FY25 revenue outlook ($6.63B-$7.23B vs. $7.22B est.), citing weakness in residential construction.
Zillow (Z) fell after a weaker-than-expected Q1 revenue and EBITDA guide, despite Q4 beats.
Leisure, Gaming & Lodging
DoorDash (DASH) popped after Q4 orders grew +19% Y/Y, and GOV revenue ($279M) beat the high-end of guidance.
Lyft (LYFT) fell as bookings guidance for Q1 (10-14% Y/Y) missed estimates by 3 points.
Red Rock Resorts (RRR) posted +8% revenue growth in casinos and food & beverage, driving an earnings beat.
Energy & Industrials
EOG Resources (EOG) upgraded at RBC, citing strong execution, rising natural gas prices, and potential buybacks.
Chevron (CVX) announced plans to cut 15-20% of its global workforce by 2026.
Exelon (EXC) boosted its capex plan to $38B (+10%), while raising FY25 EPS guidance ($2.64-$2.74 vs. $2.63 est.).
Financials
Upstart (UPST) soared as Q4 revenue beat estimates, guiding for +57% growth in FY25 and promising GAAP profitability.
AIG posted a Q4 EPS beat on improved underwriting, guiding for 10%+ ROE in 2025 despite $500M wildfire losses.
Mercury General (MCY) upgraded at Raymond James, citing the strongest underlying results in a decade and potential subrogation claims from wildfire losses.
Auto insurance rates up 55% since 2022, the fastest three-year spike since 1975-78, per Charlie Bilello.
Biotech & Pharma
Biogen (BIIB) topped Q4 estimates but guided for mid-single-digit revenue declines in 2025.
Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP) upgraded at TD Cowen, citing less downside risk despite ongoing Casgevy launch concerns.
Gilead (GILD) delivered a Q4 beat, guiding FY25 EPS above consensus on strong HIV and oncology drug sales.
Technology & Media
Intel (INTC) extended gains after VP JD Vance vowed to keep the world’s most powerful AI systems built in the U.S..
Salesforce (CRM) announced a $500M AI investment in Saudi Arabia, betting on Middle East growth.
Equifax (EFX) downgraded at Argus, citing slowing mortgage demand.
Semiconductors
GlobalFoundries (GFS) upgraded at Needham, citing a return to growth in 2025 and margin expansion.
NXP Semiconductors (NXPI) upgraded at Morgan Stanley, forecasting Auto chip outperformance in 2025.
Super Micro (SMCI) missed expectations but guided FY26 revenue to $40B, crushing consensus of $29.2B.
Key Takeaways
The Fed just got a new headache. With CPI hotter than expected, rate cuts are slipping further into the future, and markets are adjusting fast. Small caps got hammered, while tech held its ground.
Treasuries sold off, energy tumbled, and financials faced pressure from higher rates.
All eyes now turn to Thursday’s PPI report and whether it echoes today’s CPI shocker. Buckle up.
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But none of this news really matters to MaxDividends members. We're focused on growing the cash flow that lands in your pocket every month—not stressing over price swings or stock market noise.
At MaxDividends, we focus on a dividend growth strategy, perfect for investors seeking capital appreciation, solid safety, and a steadily growing income.
A rising dividend is a strong sign that a company is thriving—and wants its shareholders to thrive with it.
Top Stuff is Going On Inside. Check Your Status & Upgrade to Paid to Join the movement.
This week, we’ve rolled out a fresh batch of ready-to-go Stock Sets 💪.
Easy Peasy #28: Pre-Selected Dividend Growth Stock Sets
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