The board of First Bancorp (NASDAQ:FBNC) has announced that the dividend on 25th of July will be increased to $0.23, which will be 4.5% higher than last year’s payment of $0.22 which covered the same period. Even though the dividend went up, the yield is still quite low at only 2.2%. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. If it is predictable over a long period, even low dividend yields can be attractive. Having distributed dividends for at least 10 years, First Bancorp has a long history of paying out…
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If you want to earn more interest on your money, it could be time to open a high-yield savings account. Getty Images While there are numerous interest-bearing deposit accounts for savers to consider, high-yield savings accounts have become a popular financial tool. These accounts are easy to open from the convenience of your own home, thanks to the wide variety of online banks that offer them. And unlike traditional savings accounts, high-yield savings accounts allow you to earn hefty returns on your savings.Like other savings tools, though, the potential returns on high-yield savings accounts are largely dependent on the economic climate. These…
The S&P 500 has roared back since the early April sell-off. In fact, the 20% bounce-back means the benchmark index is now in positive territory for the year (+1.7%). This seemed unlikely not long ago. One downside of this, though, is that many US tech shares look very pricey again. Palantir‘s price-to-sales ratio, for example, is an eye-watering 111! However, down 22% in 2025, I think Salesforce (NYSE: CRM) stock offers growth at a reasonable price. So I recently added it to my Stocks and Shares ISA. If it’s opportunity in artificial intelligence (AI) pays off over the next decade,…
Image source: Getty Images The FTSE 250 index contains listed companies with smaller market capitalisations than those in the flagship FTSE 100 index. That can mean some smaller companies with big growth prospects are in the index. With less focus on it than the FTSE 100, the index can also offer some potential bargains that not all investors have spotted. I aim to find such bargains – but here are a trio of risks I am mindful of when doing so. Confusing cyclical growth with sustainable growth Some companies are able to grow their business over the long term. Others…
Image source: Getty Images Generating passive income takes more work than many investors might think. I think the key is to pick high-quality dividend shares that can deliver regular income and weather any economic storms in the long run. That’s why I’ve picked out two reliable dividend payers in the FTSE 100 that I think are worth considering for those investors trying to build a steady second income. Consumer staples giant Unilever (LSE: ULVR) is known as a reliable defensive dividend payer in the Footsie. The company has a wide portfolio with household brands including Dove and Magnum. This gives…
Deep Sky has selected Isometric as the carbon removal registry to monitor activities and issue carbon credits from the Deep Sky Alpha facility in Alberta, Canada. Dubbed as the world’s first cross-technology carbon removal innovation and commercialization center, Deep Sky Alpha serves as a testing ground for 10 different Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies. This novel portfolio of DAC projects is expected to generate the first carbon removal credits to customers in summer 2025, which will be delivered through Isometric’s verification platform Certify. On its end, Isometric will rely on the Isometric Standard, Direct Air Capture Protocol, and science-based digital Monitoring, Reporting, and…
As the Federal Reserve likely holds interest rates steady, mortgage rates are expected to stay in a narrow range. Tharon Green/CNETThe Federal Reserve held interest rates steady for the fourth consecutive time this year at its monetary policy meeting this week. However, rising jobless claims, intensified geopolitical conflict and slowing economic growth could force the central bank to cut rates as early as the fall. As turbulent trade policies pressure financial markets, investors have been wondering how President Donald Trump would influence the Fed’s interest rate forecast. Trump has repeatedly scolded the Fed for not lowering borrowing costs already. The central…
Image source: Getty Images When searching for dividend stocks, it’s important to strike a balance between a juicy yield and the sustainability of income payments. It can be difficult to match the two, as a very high dividend yield can be due to a falling share price. However, some options have a generous dividend forecast while still having a strong track record of payments. Here’s one for consideration. The company in focus I’m talking about the Supermarket Income REIT (LSE:SUPR). As the name suggests, it’s a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in the UK that focuses on investing in…
Image source: Getty Images Last week, the FTSE 100 hit a new record high. Behavioural psychology tells us that people tend to avoid buying when prices are high, believing they aren’t getting good value. To some extent, I agree. But that’s why I think now is the perfect time for me to target undervalued stocks before the crowd rushes in. Trying to beat the crowd If you think about it, the logical step for investors to take after seeing the index breaking to new highs is to look for individual stocks that offer better value. Over the coming year, I’d…
Carbon credits represent the right to offset carbon dioxide emissions and can be traded within carbon markets. These credits are generated through initiatives that either reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere or capture atmospheric carbon dioxide. The tradable nature of these credits facilitates the buying, selling, and transfer of emissions reductions, with a market price typically assigned to carbon emissions. Carbon markets are strategically designed to incentivize the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby promoting environmental sustainability, and supporting efforts toward a cleaner and more sustainable future. Carbon credits offer significant benefits On the environment front,…