The market has a habit of throwing tantrums. A full-blown sell-off feels like watching a slow-motion wreck. Everyone scrambles, looking for something solid to grab onto. Most find air. But a few things hold. I’ve been watching the boards long enough to know the difference. Right now, two stocks are looking less like falling knives and more like…well, maybe dented silverware. Still usable. Still worth a look.
These aren’t glamour stocks. They won’t make you rich overnight. But they pay. And in a world where promises are cheaper than dirt, a consistent payout is a rare commodity. I’ve been digging through the numbers, and these two seem to have built a foundation that might just withstand the next tremor.
1. Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola. The name itself tastes like nostalgia. They sell more than soda. Water, juice, even plant-based stuff. They’re everywhere. The world’s a thirsty place, and they’ve got a bottle for every hand. It’s a simple business, really. They’ve been at it a long time. A very long time.
Volume growth? A little sluggish. They’re pushing prices, and that’s a gamble. People will only pay so much for a sugar rush. But they’re still gaining market share. That speaks to the brand. It’s a powerful thing, a brand. It’s a ghost that keeps selling even when the product is…ordinary.
The dividend? They’ve been raising it for 63 years. 63. That’s longer than some of us have been alive. They’re a “Dividend King,” which is just a fancy way of saying they’re good at keeping promises. The payout ratio is around 67%. They’ve got the cash. The yield is 2.6%. A little over a point and a half above the S&P 500. It’s not spectacular, but it’s…reliable. Like a worn leather armchair.
2. Realty Income
Realty Income. They own buildings. Retail mostly. A lot of people are scared of retail. They see Amazon and think brick-and-mortar is dead. Maybe it is. But people still need places to buy things. Or at least pick them up. And someone has to own those places. Realty Income does.
They’re a REIT, which means they’re legally required to pay out most of their income as dividends. It’s a good deal for investors. They’ve got a 99% occupancy rate. Almost full. And they’re getting rental increases. The online threat hasn’t crippled them yet. They’ve been at this for a long time. They know how to survive.
They pay monthly. That’s unusual. And they’ve been raising the dividend for 113 straight quarters. 113. That’s a record. They paid out about 75% of their adjusted funds from operations. They’ve got the cash flow. The yield is 5%. That’s a decent return. It won’t make you a millionaire, but it’s a start. It’s a quiet, steady kind of return. The kind that doesn’t shout, but it adds up.
Look, the market is a jungle. It’s full of predators and false promises. These two stocks aren’t going to save you from a bear market. But they might just keep you from getting completely eaten. And in this business, sometimes that’s enough.
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2026-02-16 01:03