Dividend Dreams: Ken Griffin’s Top Stock Picks

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Oh, the wealthy ones, those peculiar creatures who swim through oceans of money as though it were nothing more than a tepid bath. Among them strides Ken Griffin, a man whose name is whispered in tones both awed and envious. He is the founder, emperor-for-life, and co-chief sorcerer of Citadel, one of the ten colossal hedge funds that rule over our financial world like greedy ogres atop glittering mountains of gold-$68 billion worth, to be precise.

Now, why should we care about what this particular titan has stuffed into his treasure chest? Because even ogres know where the juiciest berries grow, my dear dividend hunters. Let us peer into the shadowy corners of Citadel’s second-quarter 13F filing, shall we? Here lie its five most prized possessions, each less than 1% of the total hoard, yet gleaming with potential mischief.

  • Nvidia (NVDA): Ah, the great silicon conjurer, weaving spells of artificial intelligence with its shimmering processors. Nvidia has become something of a market marvel, dazzling investors with promises of untold riches. In Q2, Citadel gobbled up an additional 6.5 million shares, perhaps sensing that this tech wizardry will continue to bewitch buyers far and wide. One wonders if they’ve seen the future-or merely convinced themselves they have.
  • Hess: Poor Hess, swallowed whole by Chevron in an all-stock deal after Q2 ended. But lo! The beast that consumed it is no ordinary monster; Chevron is a cash-gushing leviathan, spouting dividends like a fountain of black gold. At recent prices, its yield stood at a respectable 4.4%. A fine choice for those who crave steady payouts while dreaming of oil-soaked fortunes.
  • Amazon.com (AMZN): Who could resist the siren call of Amazon, that insatiable devourer of markets and maker of clouds? It is a colossus striding across e-commerce and computing alike, leaving competitors trembling in its wake. Last quarter, Citadel doubled down on its stake, adding 3.3 million shares to its arsenal. Such confidence! Yet, one must wonder: does Amazon grow too big to fail-or too big to survive?
  • Edwards Lifesciences (EW): Now here’s a curious creature indeed. Born from the belly of Baxter International back in 2000, Edwards Lifesciences specializes in heart-related contraptions, tinkering away at life itself. Citadel holds roughly 2% of the company but recently trimmed nearly 5% of its position. Perhaps they fear the ticker-tape ticker might falter, or perhaps they simply prefer shinier baubles.
  • JPMorgan Chase (JPM): Behold the banking behemoth, JPMorgan Chase, doling out dividends as reliably as clockwork. With a yield of 1.9%, it whispers sweet nothings to income seekers everywhere. Some say the stock is slightly overvalued, but Citadel added to its holdings anyway. Are they wise-or reckless? Only time will tell.

But heed my words, oh seekers of dividends: do not blindly follow the footsteps of these financial giants. For every investor marches to their own drumbeat, shaped by their own fears, hopes, and greed. Dig deeper, think harder, and trust your gut. After all, even the richest ogre can stumble into a bog of bad bets. 🪙

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2025-09-09 19:49