Dividends & Dust: Three Pillars in a Shifting World

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The air is thick with change, gentlemen, thicker even than the soup served in the provincial governor’s mansion. Old Bob Dylan, a fellow of some repute, observed that times were shifting. A simple enough statement, one might think. But consider the implications! Artificial intelligences, these clockwork automatons, now threaten to displace honest men. Geopolitical arrangements, once as solid as a landowner’s estate, are dissolving into a most unsettling chaos. And the populations…ah, the populations are aging, becoming increasingly preoccupied with ailments and demanding ever more elaborate remedies. A most curious state of affairs.

Thus, the prudent investor, the man who doesn’t wish to find himself begging for crusts in his twilight years, must seek refuge in the steadfast. Here, then, are three enterprises, three pillars, if you will, upon which one might cautiously rest his fortunes for the coming decade. Or, at least, until the next inexplicable upheaval.

1. Enterprise Products Partners LP

Amidst all this frantic motion, one thing remains stubbornly constant: the world’s insatiable thirst for energy. Natural gas, that invisible spirit, and the liquids it carries, are not mere commodities; they are the lifeblood of modern existence. And who, pray tell, transports this vital essence? Enterprise Products Partners LP (EPD +1.09%), naturally. A most respectable, if somewhat unsung, organization.

They possess, you see, a network of pipelines stretching across the American landscape – over 50,000 miles, a veritable circulatory system for the nation’s energy. And not merely pipelines, mind you! They boast processing trains, gleaming metal beasts, and storage facilities capable of holding an ocean of liquid treasure. Roughly 55% of their revenue originates from the handling of these natural gas liquids – a rather substantial portion, wouldn’t you agree? And another 16% from the gas itself. A most reliable arrangement.

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Income-seeking gentlemen crave stability, a firm foundation upon which to build their estates. Enterprise Products Partners delivers this with the consistency of a well-maintained clock. They have, for years, generated dependable cash flow, even during times of considerable turbulence – the financial crises, the pandemics…mere inconveniences to these masters of logistics.

Their current distribution yield hovers around 6%, a respectable figure. And they have, remarkably, increased their distribution for 27 consecutive years! A streak of such longevity is rare in this age of fleeting fortunes. One suspects they will continue this pattern, barring some unforeseen catastrophe – a meteor strike, perhaps, or the sudden emergence of a society that runs entirely on turnips.

2. Pfizer

It is an unfortunate truth that as men age, they become increasingly susceptible to illness. A most unpleasant business, but a profitable one for those who cater to it. Cancer, those insidious growths, and other maladies become ever more prevalent. And their immune systems…ah, their immune systems weaken, demanding constant reinforcement through vaccination. Pfizer (PFE 1.04%), then, is well-positioned to capitalize on this most natural of human frailties.

They market a staggering 13 blockbuster drugs, each a small miracle of modern chemistry. Seven of these generated over $2 billion in sales last year! A most impressive sum. And they have a pipeline of 102 candidates in clinical testing, 32 nearing completion, and two awaiting the final seal of approval. A veritable army of remedies in the making.

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Of course, they face certain headwinds. Several of their top-selling products will soon lose patent exclusivity, a most regrettable circumstance. But they assure us that their newer drugs will largely offset this decline. A bold claim, perhaps, but one must admire their optimism.

In the meantime, Pfizer offers the most attractive dividend among large-cap healthcare stocks. Their yield tops 6.4%, a rather tempting proposition. And their ability to generate solid free cash flow makes this dividend relatively safe, barring some unforeseen regulatory disaster or the discovery that all modern medicine is, in fact, a placebo.

3. United Parcel Service

Will the transportation of goods and packages remain important over the next decade? The question answers itself. Could artificial intelligence make it easier for new companies to enter this market? Perhaps. But the cost of building a logistics network is simply astronomical. A network of trucks, planes, warehouses…it requires a fortune! Thus, United Parcel Service (UPS 0.63%) should be able to count on steady business for the foreseeable future.

They deliver around 20.8 million packages and documents every day! A staggering number. And they operate in over 200 countries and territories. They possess 295 jets and a fleet of around 125,000 cars, vans, tractors, and even motorcycles. A veritable army of vehicles, traversing the globe. It’s enough to make one dizzy.

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Granted, UPS is undergoing a period of transformation. They are reducing shipments from their largest customer, Amazon (AMZN 0.87%), and reconfiguring their network accordingly. A bold move, perhaps, but they expect to emerge with higher profit margins and a nimbler structure. They hope to replace the Amazon business with opportunities in healthcare logistics, a most promising avenue.

Their forward dividend yield of 6.7% should be quite attractive to income investors. And their improving free cash flow should enable them to continue paying dividends at least at current levels, barring some catastrophic weather event or the sudden invention of teleportation.

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2026-03-16 12:43