Ex-dividend this week2 AristocratsProcter & Gamble $Procter & Gamble(PG)$ will pay dividend on 18 APR, current yield is 2.6% yield, and 57% payout.Caterpillar $Caterpillar(CAT)$ will pay dividend on 19 APR, current yield is 1.4%, and 26% payout.2 years of dividend growthCVS Health $CVS Health(CVS)$ will pay dividend on 19 APR, current yield is 3.9%, and 30% payout.https://twitter.com/DividendWave/status/1779765634148053281

$Apple(AAPL)$ weak top line; raises dividend by 4%2Q YoYRevenue -4% iPhone -10% ;Services +14% Net Income -2% Dil EPS +1% First 6months OCF flat FCF +4% (lower Capex)New dividend at $0.25/share/quarter (+4%)AAPL apparently IR missed this is Apple´s second quarterImageAAPL segmentsNo Vision Pro breakdownImagea few hours to (a very likely) new dividend levelany guesses?» Another +$0.01/share/Q (keep last 2 hikes trend)?» +$0.02 (+8.3%)» +$0.03 (double digits - First since 2018)» something elseImageAAPL announces a new $110 billion buyback programLast 4 FYs average buyback: $81 billionImagehttps://twitter.com/DividendWave/status/1786134380294873088

$Lowe's(LOW)$ 32% reduction in shares outstanding since FY17 ~$53 B in buybacks~$11 B current buyback authorization~$127 B current market capThese buybacks have materially improved FCF/share (next tweets)ImageLOW DebtFirst the caveatBuybacks have largely been financed by debtNet debt increased from $6B at the end of FY17 to $33 B at the end of FY24ImageLOW Cash flow pictureCash flow from operations (OCF) peaked in FY20 FY24 saw the reversal of a downtrend in OCFAlthough FY24 OCF is still 13% lower than FY20FCF/share has improved 10% vs FY20 (see previous tweet)Effect of shares outstanding reduction from buybacksImageLOW FCF/shareFY24 saw record FCF/share+10% FCF/share vs previous record in FY20 ImageLOW DividendsA side benefit of shares outstanding