Don’t Send Chocolates or Flowers… Send Stocks

Kelly Green
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February 14, 2024
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Comments

Valentine’s Day is the second biggest holiday after Christmas for exchanging greeting cards. It’s also one of the most popular days for marriage proposals. That means consumer discretionary dollars flowing out of wallets and into the economy.

Americans spent nearly $26 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts last year. Over 50 million pounds of chocolate are bought in the seven days prior to February 14. It’s estimated that more than 250 million roses are grown for just this one day. And according to Hallmark, 145 million cards are exchanged. That doesn’t include the little cards exchanged by kids.

There is a lot of money thrown around today. But candies get eaten and flowers die. I’d rather spend my money on dividend stocks that will continue to gift returns year after year. So, sticking with the spirit of the occasion, I set out to find some related dividend stocks for you to gift to your Valentine today.

Dividend Stocks with a Heart

I’m from Maryland and have a soft spot for memorable trips to Hersheypark as a kid. So, I started there.

Hershey (HSY) is the company behind popular candy names like Hershey’s bars, Kisses, Reese’s, Twizzlers, and Jolly Rancher, just to name a few. The company was founded in 1894 based on the iconic Hershey’s milk chocolate bar. Today, it has over 90 brands in its stable of sweets.

In 2023, the company had net sales of over $11 billion. And last week the company announced a 15% dividend increase on its common shares. The $1.37 quarterly payment gives Hershey a yield of just 2.8% at current prices.

How about a jewelry dividend payer?

Both Pandora (PANDY) and Tiffany parent company Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMUY) pay an annual dividend of just 1.5%. Shares of these stocks can make great gifts for fans of these products. The dividends, however, definitely won’t help your Valentine add to their collections.

What about restaurant stocks? Everyone loves a romantic meal, and this is where you can find the most variety of dividend stocks. Better yet, it’s the only place where you’ll find some dividend yields over my preferred minimum of 3.5%. Plus, you can customize your gift to match your Valentine’s favorite eatery.

If they prefer diner-style home cooking, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL) pays a whopping 6.7% dividend. IHOP’s parent company, Dine Brands Global (DIN), which also owns Applebee’s, pays out 4.35%.

If you’re going to take your Valentine to Outback, Carrabba’s, Bonefish Grill, or Flemings Steakhouse, you might consider shares of Bloomin’ Brands (BLMN) that pay a 3.4% yield. Darden Restaurants (DRI), the parent company of Olive Garden, LongHorn, Cheddar’s, and Yard House, will serve you a 3% dividend.

If they crave unique culinary experiences in cities such as New York, Las Vegas, DC, and Atlantic City, you might gift the shares of Ark Restuarants (ARKR) that currently yield 5.1%.

Dividends Keep on Giving After Those Flowers Die

Although none of those companies are my favorite dividend stocks, they would all reward your Valentine with quarterly gifts for years to come.

I’ve talked about some of my favorite stocks here before, and here’s how they compare.

The average person spends $193 on a Valentine’s gift. Instead, you could buy 7 shares of Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) which yields 7.8%. Or 11 shares of AT&T (T) which yields 6.5%. Or 2 shares of plastics recycling giant LyondellBasell Industries (LYB) which yields 5.2%.

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Or, do you know what might make an even better gift (shameless plug alert)?

You could give your Valentine a subscription to my premium research service Yield Shark for just $99. That’s way less than what most people pay for a Valentine’s Day gift. And it’s bound to make you more money over the next year than a box of chocolates.

For more income, now and in the future,

Kelly Green

P.S. We only have 1 week until the MoneyShow in Vegas. Let’s celebrate my birthday on Wednesday. Then on Friday I’ll be presenting on how to “Triple Your Dividend Yield Without Excessive Risk.” Plus, I was also added to a MoneyMasters Course panel in the afternoon. You can still get your 3-day pass for just $99 and see all the details of both presentations here.